The Scenic Route to Shinnecock Hills

This week I hit the road with colleagues from our sister courses for the ultimate US Open road trip, from the parking lot at Tunxis all the way to Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. Since I’m representing Red Tail on this trek, you might be wondering who else is cramming into Samantha's SUV with me.

Meet the Squad

• Hannah Braun (Tunxis Country Club): Our absolute resident purist and scratch-golfer. She’s all about high performance, high energy, and premium gear.
  

• Denise Miles-Eckhart (Shining Rock Golf Club): Our elegant, sophisticated lifestyle guru who appreciates fine dining, local culture, and high-end aesthetics.
  

• Samantha Lindstrum (The Golf Club at Oxford Greens): A former water-sports athlete and practical mastermind who handles our logistics, shortcuts, and mapping.

When the planning committee for our multi-property U.S. Open excursion met, it was decided that we would operate under a strict "Give and Take" rule: four distinct voices, four consecutive days, and absolute dictatorial control over the itinerary for whoever owns the day.

As the youngest of the caravan, I claimed Monday. While Samantha, Denise, and Hannah are itching to hit the highway and stare at the gates of Shinnecock Hills, I am insisting on a deliberate, culturally grounded transition out of our daily club routines. No highway gridlock today, no swing thoughts—just pure regional exploration through central Connecticut before we officially cross the Sound.

Our rendezvous begins early this morning at Tunxis Country Club. Once our luggage is secured, I am immediately routing us away from the standard interstate corridors and down toward Middletown.

Today, we're going to experience a masterclass in independent curation. Our first official operational base is Brew Bakers on Main Street. You can’t launch a cross-state road trip on empty stomachs, and their eclectic, bustling local indie atmosphere is exactly the mood I wanted to establish. Over standard-defying iced lattes and custom breakfast wraps, we’re going to lay out our master map.

From there, I’m dragging the group into a beloved local indie bookstore, forcing everyone to trade their yardage books for paperbacks. Then, we are transitioning directly into a strategy board game café right on Main Street. To understand great golf course architecture—like the spatial problems presented by Red Tail or Shinnecock—you have to understand game theory. Watching Denise try to casually negotiate a cooperative tabletop strategy while Hannah hyper-analyzes the rulebook for victory-oriented loopholes is going to be worth the price of admission alone.

To wrap up my day before we settle in for the evening, we are taking a slight detour to Rich Farm Ice Cream in Oxford. You can keep your corporate high-end dessert lounges; if I can't have chocolate cake, give me farm-fresh, small-batch ice cream eaten on a rustic wooden bench any day of the week. Hannah claims she is only going to have a single scoop to maintain her athletic routine, but I know she won't be able to resist their legendary flavors.

Tomorrow, Hannah takes the wheel, and I am fully prepared for things to get significantly faster and much louder. But for one beautiful Monday, we are slowing down, appreciating the details, and proving that a great road trip is all about the unexpected stops.

The Road Trip At-A-Glance

• Tuesday (Hannah's Day): We're crossing into NY for high-tech simulator baselines at ZSTRICT at Chelsea Piers, gear upgrades at the PGA TOUR Superstore in White Plains, and a pass by Winged Foot (it’s a must-see, I’m told).
  

• Wednesday (Denise's Day): A sophisticated dive into Hamptons culture featuring pastries at Carissa's The Bakery, local art at Guild Hall, and a Montauk sunset dinner at Duryea's.
  

• Thursday (Samantha's Day): Opening Round logistics! Bypassing the South Fork traffic entirely by touring the historic Rogers Mansion and The Pelletreau Silver Shop before taking the train straight to Shinnecock Hills via the MTA LIRR Shinnecock Hills Station.

Over to You!

What is your absolute favorite hidden gem or indie spot to hit when you're passing through central Connecticut? Let me know your top regional recommendations in the comments below!

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