If you’ve ever tried to book a hotel room in Pinehurst or Southampton during a major championship week, you already know the deal. It’s basically impossible unless you’re planning years—literally years—in advance. Most people think the USGA and the USTA just pick a spot and roll with it, but the reality of upcoming US Open sites is a massive, multi-decade puzzle involving "anchor sites" and billion-dollar stadium overhauls.
Honestly, the way these venues are being locked down now is a complete shift from how things worked twenty years ago. We used to see a lot of variety. Now? We’re entering the era of the "rotation."
The Golf Blueprint: Why the USGA Is Obsessed With Anchor Sites
For a long time, the USGA wandered around. They’d go to a new course, realize the logistics were a nightmare, and then scurry back to the classics. That’s over. They have officially embraced the "anchor site" model. This basically means they’ve picked a handful of legendary courses and told them, "You’re our forever home."
Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina is the poster child for this. It’s officially the first anchor site, and it’s on the schedule so often it might as well have its own permanent USGA office. We’re looking at returns in 2029, 2035, 2041, and 2047. If you’re keeping track, that’s a visit every six years like clockwork.
Then you have the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Southampton in June is a vibe, but for the players, it’s a meat grinder. The last time they were there in 2018, the wind whipped off the Atlantic and turned the greens into glass. Brooks Koepka survived it, but barely. It was the fifth time Shinnecock hosted, and the 2026 date will make it six.
The Heavy Hitters on the Horizon:
- 2026: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southampton, NY)
- 2027: Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach, CA)
- 2028: Winged Foot Golf Club (Mamaroneck, NY)
- 2029: Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (No. 2) (Pinehurst, NC)
- 2030: Merion Golf Club (Ardmore, PA)
Merion is a fascinating one. It’s "short" by modern standards, but it’s so tight and tricky that it drives the big hitters crazy. It’s the kind of course where you see pros hitting irons off the tee just to stay alive. Following that, 2031 takes us to Riviera in California—the "Hogan’s Alley"—which hasn't hosted a U.S. Open since 1948. That’s going to be a massive deal for West Coast golf fans.
The $800 Million Face-Lift in Queens
While the golf world is busy moving from coast to coast, the tennis world stays put—but the physical site is changing in a way most fans haven't processed yet. When we talk about upcoming US Open sites for tennis, we’re always talking about the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.
But by 2027, you won’t recognize Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The USTA is currently in the middle of a massive, $800 million "reimagining" of the grounds. I’ve seen the plans, and it’s intense. They’re basically gutting the inner workings of the world’s largest tennis stadium to make it feel less like a concrete bunker and more like a luxury experience.
Phase two is happening right now, between the 2025 and 2026 tournaments. They are ripping out the existing suites and the courtside level to build a new, expanded "courtside bowl." If you’ve ever sat in the upper promenade of Ashe and felt like you were watching ants play, this is for you. They’re adding 2,000 new courtside seats, which is a huge shift in the stadium's geometry.
There’s also a new Player Performance Center being built on the west side of the campus. Right now, the players are tucked away in the basement of Ashe. It’s cramped. It’s loud. The new center will have its own player-only café, a sensory room for relaxation (very 2026, right?), and even outdoor training turf. All of this is scheduled to be fully wrapped up by the 2027 U.S. Open.
The Women’s Open Is Moving Into the Spotlight
One thing most casual fans get wrong is assuming the Women’s U.S. Open follows the men’s schedule. It doesn't, but the gap is closing. The USGA is finally putting the women on the same "cathedrals of golf" that the men play.
In 2026, the women go to Riviera. That’s the same year the men are at Shinnecock. In 2027, they head to Inverness Club in Ohio. But here’s the kicker: they are also hitting the anchor sites. In 2029, both the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Opens will be held at Pinehurst No. 2 in back-to-back weeks.
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It’s a logistical nightmare for the grounds crew, but for a fan, it’s a bucket-list fortnight. You can basically rent a house in North Carolina for two weeks and see every single top golfer in the world on the exact same patch of grass.
Why Oakmont Still Reigns Supreme
You can't talk about upcoming US Open sites without mentioning Oakmont. Located just outside Pittsburgh, it’s arguably the hardest course in the country. The greens are naturally kept at a speed that would make most amateur golfers quit the sport.
Oakmont just hosted in 2025, and it’s already locked in for 2033, 2042, and 2049. It has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course. There’s a specific kind of "Oakmont fatigue" some fans feel, but the USGA loves it because the infrastructure is already there. They know how to move 50,000 people through those gates.
What This Means for Your Travel Plans
If you’re looking to attend any of these, you have to change how you think about tickets. Gone are the days of just showing up.
- The Hospitality Pivot: For the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, the "1895 Club" and "Trophy Club" packages are already the primary way people are getting guaranteed access. A gallery ticket is one thing, but if you want to be on the 17th hole with actual AC, you’re looking at significant lead times.
- The Tennis "Double Week": With the new renovations at Flushing Meadows, the USTA is pushing for higher attendance in the first week. If you want to see the new Ashe renovations before the 2027 completion, the 2026 tournament (August 30 – September 13) is the sweet spot where the new courtside seating will be active but the full "spectacle" of the new entrance isn't quite finished yet.
- The West Coast Swing: 2027 (Pebble Beach) and 2031 (Riviera) are going to be the hardest tickets to get. California majors always have a different energy, and the TV times for the East Coast (prime time finishes) mean the USGA pours a lot of marketing money into these specific years.
Honestly, the "anchor site" strategy is a win for fans who like tradition, but it’s a bit of a bummer if you liked seeing the Open go to random, quirky courses in the Midwest. We’re moving into a corporate, highly polished era of the Major.
Your next move? If you’re eyeing that 2029 Pinehurst "double," start looking at lodging in the Village of Pinehurst or Southern Pines now. The USGA has already started booking out blocks of rooms for officials and media for years that aren't even on the horizon yet. If you wait until 2028, you'll be staying an hour away in Fayetteville.
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For the tennis fans, keep an eye on the 2026 session schedule. With the "reimagining" of the concourse, the grounds-pass experience is actually going to be much better than the stadium-seat experience for the first few days of the tournament. More space, fewer food carts blocking the way, and that new bar overlooking the Unisphere is going to be the place to be.