In his speech on the USGA’s centennial celebration in 1994, John Updike charted the path, mostly one of expansion and success, of the game in the United States but concluded with some hard questions.
“We have come a long way in American golf, but has it been a journey without a price?” he said. “Amid the million-dollar tournaments and the multi-million dollar clubhouses, might we be losing the elemental charm of the game itself?”
The “shrink” movement may have found its major. The 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is a shining example of scaling down and simplifying one of golf’s biggest business weeks into its championship elements. It has been an antidote to the Ryder Cup some 60 miles away nine months ago, where triple-decker corporate chalets and heckling drunks looking to perform for their friends made it feel like the golf matches nearby were an attendant nuisance to the networking convention, whether it be business deals or on social media.
The plan from the USGA and host club this week produced a throwback theme, with fewer grandstands, activations, and corporate buildouts than we’ve become accustomed to in these all-important golf tentpole weeks. The grandstands on 18 are atypically small after conversation and negotiation with the club about trying to preserve more of the fescue aesthetic surrounding the finish. On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy, who has seen it all in this boom era of championship golf, noted the presence of fewer structures after he went around on the practice days. It was a positive review — go out on the field and play and let the fans chase where they can.
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This is not to suggest the U.S. Open has suddenly turned into a Walker Cup or U.S. Amateur, with fans following along in the fairways. It is still big business, but the priority has been the golf championship. That comes in contrast to an era when the R&A is choosing venues heavily based on how many thousands of fans can fit, Ryder Cups that can only be played on courses with never-ending fields for non-golf infrastructure and corporate pop-ups, LIV Golf looking for a DJ booth spot, and the Tour trying to appease a stakeholders’ puzzle of sponsors, markets, and schedules to make their business work. Expect more on that next week, with new and improved input from a private equity-backed sports conglomerate! The USGA is not innocent or idyllic at all; it’s just that this week has been a noticeable change from recent trends and expansion. The players, like Rory, have noticed, and so have fans (and media). Those fans are not priced out, as has been the case with other majors and many other sporting events or concerts in recent months.
One issue emerged Saturday, when thinned out crowds and nearly empty grandstands greeted the final groups as they got to the end of their rounds. It was a bad look, and Wyndham Clark said it felt “flat” coming into the clubhouse for some very big moments. This is due in large part to a very late start to appease TV programming preferences and a railroad system that does not seem to accommodate flexible departure times or speedy, efficient travel back to the city. People understandably headed for the exits after touring the course and watching those marquee groups and leaders play earlier in the day. This does little to disqualify Shinnecock as a golf championship destination but is an issue that can and should be fixed for atmosphere reasons.
The Athletic reported that the USGA is leaving millions on the table. They’re not pricing people out or making tickets unavailable. They’re not going after every dollar. They, plus the club, prioritized the golf championship on a great golf course. Are we supposed to be mad about this?
This deliberate choice, combined with the golf course itself, has created a sort of nirvana for the golf fan this week. You have one of the greatest championship courses in the world. It is breezy and comfortable. There has been sun, fog, lots of wind, and no rain. It is relatively easy to get around, with greens and tees converging and triangulating on a routing across the property that promotes quick jumps and multiple viewing spots across the treeless hills. Whether you’re a player or a fan, getting here can be a challenge, but once you make it, it is as good as it gets.
Could we say the same about the Ryder Cup last September? Do not confuse the preference for this championship experience as a preference for the course’s policies on who is welcome all the other days of the year. In his speech, Updike also noted the Americans taking the rugged origins of the game on “worthless” links land and turning it into one “for gentleman, played at private country clubs.” Bethpage is a state park. Shinnecock, even though it has an admirable history of Black and Native Americans playing in its first-ever U.S. Open and welcoming women’s play from its earliest days, remains one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.
The championship outside the ropes has been done right. Inside the ropes is one of the best golf courses in the world. The setup of that course remains a constant subject of scrutiny as the winds and syringes come and go. The modern mega-industrial complex of golf course setup discussion has become a little too precious and overcooked itself, leaving little room for anything that’s either natural or satisfactory. Maybe the next rollback could come for the pampered pros and couch agronomists. This week’s golf nirvana has been a great reminder that simplifying things down to their best, shining elements, is often the way to go.
