Every Hole at Shinnecock Hills - No. 15, Sebonac

‍No. 15 - Sebonac

Par 4 | 409 yards

After finishing on the 14th green, players climb to the course's third significantly elevated tee in a row. No. 15 is a transitional hole in Shinnecock’s routing, descending from the dunesy highlands around the clubhouse back toward the flatter lowlands of the front nine.

While docile-looking in comparison to the 14th, the 15th frustrates in subtle ways. From the tee, players have two main options: lay back to the widest part of the fairway at the elbow of the dogleg on the left or push farther up on the right. The latter is a risky play: the fairway sits on a left-to-right diagonal and becomes progressively narrow in the approach to the green — a tough target to hit with a driver, particularly in the prevailing left-to-right wind.

Earning a short approach matters, though. A cluster of six bunkers fronts the green, and the back half of the putting surface falls away from the line of play. The farther back you are, the more you must challenge the bunkers to hold the green. 

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Strategy Notes for the U.S. Open

• Anything over 250-270 yards off the tee introduces a high level of risk, as the fairway narrows significantly.
• Long iron or a wood is a completely acceptable play off the tee, leaving a wedge into a well-protected green. But don’t get greedy with a wedge in hand. Par is a fine score on No. 15. Control your distance and aim for the center of the green. –Joseph LaMagna

Historical Tidbits

• William Flynn’s initial plans for the 15th showed the backmost tee box midway up the ridge, closer to the 14th green. From that spot, No. 15 would have played as Shinnecock’s shortest par 4. Ultimately, though, Flynn decided to add a back tee on top of the hill, lengthening the hole by 50 yards. (WM)
• Tom Lehman’s approach to 15 in the final round of the 1995 U.S. Open shows the difficulty of holding the green when trying to attack a back — or even middle-back — pin.
• After a great approach to a front pin, Phil Mickelson birdied the 15th in 2004 to draw even with Retief Goosen.

Our Take

On the one hand, No. 15 gets overshadowed — justifiably, perhaps — by the two world-class holes that it connects. On the other, with its cleverly oriented fairway and quietly challenging green, “Sebonac” is a strong hole in its own right.

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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