Every Hole at Shinnecock Hills - No. 12, Tuckahoe

‍No. 12 - Tuckahoe

Par 4 | 469 yards

A slight cooldown after three wild holes, the 12th unfurls over softly rolling land near the sixth hole at neighboring Southampton Golf Club.

The tee shot is characteristic of William Flynn's fondness for non-linear landing zones. Initially offset to the left from the line of play, the fairway rises up and over a dune, then jogs right between a diagonal array of bunkers. This creates a choice: you can play to the generous expanse of fairway at the top of the rise, leaving yourself an approach of 240-plus yards, or challenge the bunkers and fescue on the right in hopes of catching the downslope and getting within iron distance. (Every player in the U.S. Open will choose the latter option; these days, No. 12’s strategic design applies mainly to amateurs.)

The approach is played directly over Tuckahoe Road; both players and drivers are expected to proceed with care. Eighty yards past the traffic, the broad, open-fronted green sits on a natural back-to-front slope. This ground-hugging target offers some relief after the elevated, exposed greens on Nos. 9, 10, and 11.

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Strategy Notes for the U.S. Open

• Players have the prevailing wind behind them on this relatively easy downhill tee shot.
• Despite its long scorecard yardage, the hole plays much shorter because it is downhill and typically firm. You’ll see plenty of players take less than driver off the tee since the hole does not play anywhere near its listed length.
• By Shinnecock’s standards, the green is mild. Players will try to avoid going over the back of this back-to-front sloping green, where they would be left with a delicate chip if their approach bounds over.
• Strategically, the 12th is among the least complicated on the course. –Joseph LaMagna

Historical Tidbits

• Charles Hugh Alison was a fan of the 12th. “For golfing merit combined with charm of scenery,” he wrote in his 1929 analysis of William Flynn’s work, “this hole can have few equals.”
• Tied for the lead with Hal Sutton, Payne Stewart hit an outstanding mid-iron from the long grass right of the fairway to 10 feet and made the putt to pull ahead.
• Corey Pavin’s back-nine dash to the 1995 trophy started on 12 with a beautifully judged approach in a left-to-right crosswind and a confident birdie putt.

Our Take

The 12th is one of the handsomest holes at Shinnecock, draped artfully over fine topography. It is strategically compelling, too, when players feel challenged to carry the fairway bunkers and must consider laying up. In high-level men’s competition, unfortunately, this would only be the case in a north/northeast wind — a rarity in the warm months.

Course Routing

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Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Southampton, NYWilliam Flynn1891

A Golden Age architect’s magnum opus thanks to a sublime setting and stellar design, Shinnecock Hills is deep-rooted in American golf history.

Hole 1 - Westward Ho

Par 4399 yds

Hole 2 - Plateau

Par 3220 yds

Hole 3 - Peconic

Par 4469 yds

Hole 4 - Pump House

Par 4409 yds

Hole 5 - Montauk

Par 5537 yds

Hole 6 - Pond

Par 4453 yds

Hole 7 - Redan

Par 3189 yds

Hole 8 - Lowlands

Par 4394 yds

Hole 9 - Ben Nevis

Par 4435 yds

Hole 10 - Eastward Ho

Par 4415 yds

Hole 11 - Hill Head

Par 3159 yds

Hole 12 - Tuckahoe

Par 4469 yds

Hole 13 - Road Slide

Par 4374 yds

Hole 14 - Thom's Elbow

Par 4463 yds

Hole 15 - Sebonac

Par 4409 yds

Hole 16 - Shinnecock

Par 5540 yds

Hole 17 - Eden

Par 3180 yds

Hole 18 - Home

Par 4426 yds

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