Southampton, Snacks, and Surviving My First US Open

We made it back, everyone! My trusty hybrid survived a week of carrying four incredible women across state lines, and I am officially back home at Oxford Greens, trying to explain to Enzo and George, why I left them alone for a week just to watch people hit a tiny white ball into the fescue.

As I promised in my pre-trip diary, Whaling Captains, Colonial Silver and Beating US Open Traffic, Thursday morning was 100% my day to call the shots. While the other girls were stressing about the legendary traffic on County Route 39, I had a much better plan: an immediate detour for snacks, shopping, and some historic drama.

🏛️ Mansions, Silver, and True Crime Vibes

Our first stop was the historic Rogers Mansion via the Southampton History Museum. Built in 1843 by a wealthy whaling captain, this place gives off major historical true-crime podcast energy. While Emma was busy analyzing the architecture, I was hunting down the good gossip about 19th-century high-society scandals.

Right down the road, I dragged the squad into The Pelletreau Silver Shop, which has been continuously operating since 1686. Standing inside one of the oldest businesses in the country, looking at 300-year-old colonial craftsmanship, I convinced myself that buying an antique silver spoon counted as "essential tournament prep." Denise had to physically pull me away before I spent my entire summer budget.

But my absolute favorite part of the day? We completely bypassed the miles of idling car bumpers by hopping on the Long Island Rail Road. The USGA set up a dedicated, temporary train platform right at the MTA LIRR Shinnecock Hills Station. Gliding right past thousands of gridlocked cars while sipping an iced latte and stepping directly onto the pedestrian bridge to the tournament gates? Literal perfection. It felt like getting VIP access on a reality TV show.

🏆 Chasing the Roars (and Finding the Food)

Witnessing a major championship in person is wild. On Sunday, the crowd tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Local security actually had to escort a few rowdy hecklers off the property for shouting "get in the bunker!" mid-ball flight during Wyndham Clark's rounds. As someone who spends half her time in the sand anyway, I felt personally attacked.

The absolute peak of the weekend happened at the brutal par-5 16th hole on Sunday. Clark drove his ball straight into a horrendously thick patch of fescue. I thought it was game over. But he stayed completely poised, executed a spectacular recovery, and drained a mind-boggling 24-foot birdie putt from the back of the green to secure his lead. When he lagged his final par putt on the 18th to win by a single stroke at 4-under par, the collective gasp from the gallery was unreal.

The sweetest moment, though? Watching his dad surprise him on the green after catching a last-minute redeye flight from Denver just to be there for Father's Day. I’m not crying, you're crying.

🚗 Tales from the Road: Snacks, Decompression, and the Haul

You can't walk seven miles a day tracking sports history without proper sustenance. For our mid-day fuel stop on Saturday, I lead us to Sean's Place, a deli in Southampton. We crushed "Matt Attacks", the local favorite, while Hannah hyper-analyzed the live leaderboard data like a coach in a war room.

Every night after the final putt dropped, our decompression routine was hilarious. Hannah tried to force us into an athletic recovery lounge situation with foam rollers and lacrosse balls in the living room. I tried my best to match her rep-for-rep, while Denise sat on the couch with a perfectly chilled glass of rosé, looking at us like we were completely unhinged.

Our casual Thursday night hangout was at The Publick House in Southampton. We ordered a ridiculous mountain of wood-fired pizzas and spicy chicken wings. We laughed until our stomachs hurt as Emma re-enacted the exact moment a rogue gust of wind sent a spectator's flying hot dog wrapper directly into Denise's designer sunglasses.

Of course, I couldn't leave without hitting the massive merchandise pavilion. I completely embraced my love for shopping and picked up:

• A heavy-duty, weatherproof U.S. Open commuter backpack by Vineyard Vines, packed with plenty of pockets for my school gear.
  

• A rugged, tournament-navy double-walled stainless steel Corkcicle water bottle to keep my beach drinks cold all summer.
  

• A solid brass, heavy-weight ball marker to remind me of the greens when I'm hacking my way through my next round.

Back at Oxford Greens

I'm currently resting my feet but the summer fun doesn't stop! Chris tells me the next major is in England but I'm way more excited about Boardshorts and Birdies. When I stepped into golf, I thought I'd have to leave my beach-loving, water-sport soul at the gate.

I hope to see you all here but remember, you don't have to wait for Summer's Hottest Golf Tournament for your next great round at Oxford Greens. Book your next tee time today!