Jimmy Dunne: Shinnecock Is The Greatest Golf Course In The World
Nobody knows Shinnecock like Jimmy Dunne. A South Shore Long Island kid who caddied and painted houses in the summers, Dunne played Shinnecock at 16 after landing a painting job at a member’s house in Southampton. He walked off the 18th convinced it was the greatest golf course in the world. Now the president of Seminole GC and a member at Augusta National, Pine Valley, and Cypress Point, he still feels that way. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, Tom Coyne joins Dunne in his Southampton golf shrine to share what he loves about Shinnecock and preview the U.S. Open. Dunne also discusses his legendary 63 at Shinnecock, how memorizing every caddie’s name at Augusta became a dealmaker’s cheat code, and what it was like helping steer the PGA Tour through its war with LIV. It’s a rare look at one of the world’s most iconic grounds through the eyes of someone who’s played them all.
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I grew up at Yeamans Hall Club where Roger Milliken had a 5000sf cottage on the creek in the woods. I was 10 when I started out there with my Dad. In 1973 we were in the pro shop when Secretariat won Belmont. In 1989 when Hugo tore through here Mr Milliken had 400 truck loads of old growth pulp wood taken out of there. There is a connection with YHC and the Masters. One year in the late 70’s or very early 80’s right after the Masters Ben Crenshaw came with Jay Haas and Billy Duncan who was a member won our club championship then moved next door to Jay Haas in Greenville. We got to follow them. Crenshaw and Billy shot 71 and Haas shot 66.