Whaling Captains, Colonial Silver and Beating US Open Traffic

This week, I’m loading up the mighty hybrid to hit the road with colleagues from our sister courses for the ultimate US Open road trip from the Tunxis parking lot to Long Island and the gates of Shinnecock Hills.

Meet My Co-Pilots

Writing for the Oxford Greens crowd means keeping things practical and sharp. I've handled the logistics of a major championship before at the PGA, but keeping this particular four-person field on schedule requires a masterclass in diplomacy:

• Emma Novak (Red Tail Golf Club): An indie-vibe enthusiast and BU writer who keeps us grounded in design, culture, and analytics.
  

• Hannah Braun (Tunxis Country Club): An elite, hyper-competitive scratch player who treats the fairways like a high-performance laboratory.
  

• Denise Miles-Eckhart (Shining Rock Golf Club): Our absolute standard for coastal elegance, fine local dining, and high-society flair.

To survive a multi-day carpool with four wildly headstrong women and our vastly different definitions of a "perfect day," we have instituted a strict "Give and Take" rule: every single day, a different person completely calls the shots on our itinerary. No complaints, no vetoes. And for the morning of the opening round, I am masterminding a stress-free, deeply strategic plan to get us to the course completely traffic-free.

If you've ever talked to anyone who has attended a major tournament on the South Fork, they will all tell you the same thing: County Route 39 turns into a literal parking lot during tournament week. My contribution to the itinerary? We are avoiding the gridlock entirely by parking the car early and taking a deep dive into local history before catching the train right to the first tee.

On my day, here is our opening-round game plan:

Stop 1: Stepping Back in Time at Rogers Mansion

Before the roars of the gallery take over our afternoon, our first stop of the morning is the historic Rogers Mansion via the Southampton History Museum. Built in 1843 by a whaling captain, this Greek Revival estate anchors a property filled with 12 historic structures, including a 19th-century paint shop and an 1830 one-room schoolhouse. It’s a stunning, quiet sanctuary where we can walk the historic grounds and appreciate the deep coastal heritage of the island before the chaos of the tournament sweeps us up.

Stop 2: The Revolutionary Silversmith

Right down the road in the village, I’m taking the girls to The Pelletreau Silver Shop. Built around 1686, this tiny building is one of the oldest continuously operated places of business in the entire United States. It was the actual workshop of historic American patriot and master silversmith Elias Pelletreau. I've already told Emma she isn't allowed to look for hidden treasure, but watching the girls look at 300-year-old colonial craftsmanship is going to be the perfect creative pause before the modern golf spectacle.

Stop 3: Bypassing the Traffic via the LIRR

To put the ultimate logistical exclamation point on the day, we are bypassing the gridlock by leaving our car safely parked and hopping on the train. The USGA has coordinated a dedicated, temporary train platform right next to the course at the MTA LIRR Shinnecock Hills station. We will glide right past the miles of idling bumpers, step off the platform onto the pedestrian bridge spanning Route 39, and walk straight through the gates.

The Heart of the Adventure

Standing by the ropes at a historic venue like Shinnecock Hills is a bucket-list moment. But as I look at the three women sitting in the car with me, I’m reminded that the true magic of golf isn't just the history made by the pros on Sunday afternoon. It’s the late-night laughs, the shared meals, and the ridiculous compromises you make with your favorite people along the way.

Whether your ultimate victory is successfully executing a brilliant logistical shortcut or simply navigating a cross-state road trip with your best friends, we are all out here collecting our own lifelong trophies.

The Road Trip Route

My day is all about the destination, but the journey to get there is a masterclass in varied perspectives. See our full week of stops below:

• Monday (Emma's Day): Slowing down in Central CT with artisan eats at Brew Bakers, a downtown board game cafe, and rustic cones at Oxford's Rich Farm Ice Cream.

• Tuesday (Hannah's Day): Hammering drives on the swing plates at ZSTRICT at Chelsea Piers, stocking up at the PGA TOUR Superstore in White Plains, and scouting Winged Foot.

• Wednesday (Denise's Day): Immersing in the East End lifestyle with whimsical pastries at Carissa's The Bakery, fine arts at Guild Hall, and a classic sunset seafood spread at Duryea's in Montauk.

Lock In Your Predictions!

Who is your absolute lock to lead the field after Day 1 at Shinnecock Hills? Drop your opening-round predictions and your favorite U.S. Open memories in the comments below!

And if you want to experience your own championship-caliber layouts closer to home, make sure to book your next tee time online at Oxford Greens!