Can You Play Shinnecock Hills on Trackman? Here’s How

Shinnecock Hills is the oldest golf club in America. The current William Flynn course dates from 1931, and it remains one of the most respected and feared tests of golf in the world.

The course sits on a bluff overlooking Shinnecock Bay on Long Island. The terrain is open, rolling, and exposed to the wind. The course is not long by modern standards. It does not need to be. The greens are the defense.

On Trackman, Shinnecock Hills is an officially licensed LIDAR build that captures the coastal terrain, the wind, and the green complexes that make this course a true examination.

Why Shinnecock Works on Trackman

Shinnecock Hills is a test of shotmaking. The course is open and exposed, which means the wind is a factor on every shot. The greens are the most complex in American golf, with internal contours that are difficult to read and harder to execute.

Trackman’s radar physics engine handles the wind calculations better than any other sim software. The wind affects the ball flight, the trajectory, and the landing angle. On Shinnecock, where the wind is constant and the greens are firm, the wind calculation is the difference between a good round and a bad one.

The greens are the defining feature of the course. The 7th green is a crowned tabletop that repels anything short or off line. The 15th green is a two-tiered monster that punishes approach shots that land above the hole. The LIDAR data captures the internal contours with precision.

How to Access It

Open Trackman Virtual Golf. Navigate to the course library. Search “Shinnecock Hills.” Load it from the championship tees. Set conditions to firm. Set wind to 10-15 mph. This is the US Open setup.

The Holes That Define the Round

The 7th Hole — The Crowned Green: A 190-yard par 3 that plays uphill to one of the most famous greens in golf. The putting surface is crowned and repels anything that lands short or off line. On Trackman, this hole is a pure test of shotmaking. Hit the perfect shot or three-putt from 30 feet.

The 11th Hole — The Par 4 with the View: A 360-yard par 4 that plays downhill to a fairway that runs toward the bay. The approach is to a green that sits below the level of the fairway. On Trackman, the view of the bay in the background makes this one of the most visually rewarding holes on the platform.

The 14th Hole — The Short Par 4: A 340-yard par 4 that requires a precise drive between bunkers. The green is elevated and protected by bunkers on both sides. On Trackman, the approach shot requires a full commitment to the target.

The 18th Hole — The Finisher: A 480-yard par 4 that plays uphill to a green set against the clubhouse. The fairway tilts right to left. The approach is long and demanding. On Trackman, the uphill shot plays a full club longer than the yardage.

How It Compares to Other Versions

GSPro has community builds of Shinnecock Hills that capture the coastal terrain well. The open landscape makes for good LIDAR data. E6 Connect has a professional version in the Expanded tier.

Trackman’s version is the most accurate for the wind conditions and the green complexes. The internal contours of the greens are more precise, and the wind calculations are more realistic. If you are playing Shinnecock to understand the course, Trackman is the definitive version.

The Verdict

Shinnecock Hills on Trackman is the most accurate sim version of the five-time US Open venue. The combination of open terrain, constant wind, and complex green complexes makes it one of the most challenging and rewarding courses in the Trackman library.

For the full list of courses worth playing on Trackman, read the Best Courses on Trackman Performance guide.