\u201cMan, those are some expensive looking yachts in that marina.\u201d<\/p>\n
I look back ahead. We arrive at the intersection. A woman in a flowing white linen dress walks across the street holding her son\u2019s hand. We wave them across. <\/p>\n
The boy, who I estimate is around eight years old, looks at my grey 2012 Prius C. The engine sounds a little choppy. Then he looks at me. Then he looks back at my car. He makes an \u201cick\u201d face. Pity is in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when it hits me. There are levels to things out here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Crossing Over<\/p>\n
The first round of the U.S. Open is about an hour from starting. We\u2019re creeping along in traffic on Highway 27 on our way to the media parking lot next to Southampton Golf Club. It\u2019s 5:15 a.m. The sky is dark. It\u2019s foggy. \u201cGood Day\u201d by Nappy Roots is playing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I notice police lights in my left sideview mirror. The cop is driving up the left side of my car. We’re in the left lane. He’s on the grass median. Two more cars follow behind him. <\/p>\n
The first cop car passes. A courtesy car undoubtably transporting a player to the course passes next. A second cop car follows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They turn left at a crossover and start driving the wrong way down the highway, east on the westward lane. The lane is coned off, clearly created to allow players to avoid the traffic that always plagues this stretch of road, created by what locals call \u201cthe trade parade,\u201d in reference to all the trade workers who come and go from this affluent area.\u00a0The traffic the trade parade causes is a topic of conversation in these parts. It seems the people are annoyed by it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWish I could get into that lane.\u201d<\/p>\n
We can\u2019t. A sign by the crossover reads \u201cUSGA Authorized Vehicles Only.\u201d This lane is for the elite.<\/p>\n
Canceled Tee Time<\/p>\n
The first round of the U.S. Open is over. We\u2019re driving back to the rental house. \u201cRoses\u201d by Outcast is playing. Thankfully, there\u2019s no traffic. Suddenly, I remember something from 12 hours earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MORE:\u00a0Winners and Losers From Third Round of the 2026 U.S. Open<\/a><\/p>\n “Wonder if she played.” <\/p>\n We arrived at the top of the 12th hole grandstands at Shinnecock around 6:30 A.M. to write a story about how hard the 10th and 11th holes are<\/a>. You can see those holes from the right side of the 12th grandstand. I start chatting with an affable woman wearing a Shinnecock quarter zip. She\u2019s a member.\u00a0<\/p>\n We discuss my story about Janet and Beatrix Hoyt<\/a>, who were influential women in Shinnecock\u2019s history, which she tells me she\u2019ll read. I wonder if she did.\u00a0<\/p>\n Today is supposed to be windy, so we talk about wind directions and how the course can change based on Mother Nature\u2019s will. The wind isn’t as bad as forecasted, but the weather isn’t great. We have a lovely chat.\u00a0<\/p>\n After an hour or so, she says she has to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m playing next door in the afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t ask if she means National Golf Links of America, Sebonack Golf Club or Southampton Golf Club. Honestly, it doesn\u2019t matter. Like Shinnecock Hills GC, they\u2019re all amazing courses designed by legendary architects, nearly impossible to join, and quite costly even if you do get the look. It\u2019s nearly impossible to play one of those courses unless you know someone. Then she adds:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really wish I could cancel.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Pardon me, what?! I\u2019ve been lucky enough to play all four courses and would probably skip my son\u2019s preschool graduation if I got invited to play one on the same day. And she wants to cancel.\u00a0<\/p>\n What world am I living in right now?\u00a0<\/p>\n Also, relax, it\u2019s only preschool.\u00a0<\/p>\n $35,000,000 House Party\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019re in a minivan leaving the media parking lot after Wednesday’s practice round. It\u2019s a rental car for Dan Evans of The Dan Evans Show<\/a>. Some country music is playing. As I said, not my car.\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019re headed to a party at Malbon House. Malbon, the golf\/lifestyle apparel company noted for Jason Day’s bold outfits at the Masters<\/a>, hosts gatherings at Augusta for the Masters. This is their first at a U.S. Open. The party is in Easthampton.\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019ve turned off the main road and are in a residential area. Mansions line both sides. One, which you can\u2019t see from the road and has a gate blocking the entrance way, has sprinklers watering a long stretch of grass in front of the hedgerows blocking our view.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHow rich do you have to be to have sprinklers for a patch of grass you only see when entering your house and leaving?\u201d I ask.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s insane. How much do you think that costs?\u201d Dan says.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI bet $15-$20 million.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n We turn left at the address provided for Malbon House. A long driveway framed by trees on each side is ahead. On our right is a small orchard with lines of wine grape vines growing. Nothing big, but my god, you have a vineyard growing on your property?\u00a0<\/p>\n We continue up to the valet. Beyond the workers are hedgerows obstructing the view of what appears to be a 10,000 square foot brown cedar shingle mansion. A massive sculpture of what looks like the Statue of Liberty\u2019s head sits on the grass. There\u2019s another brown shingle barn on the right and another smaller white barn on the left. I\u2019m sure neither is used for farming.\u00a0<\/p>\n The party is lovely. A country music band I don\u2019t know performs live. There\u2019s a mobile wood fire pizza stand and a soft serve ice cream truck. There are bartenders serving drinks and a golf cart filled with nicotine pouches, if that’s your thing. The smell of marijuana being smoked nearby lingers in the air. <\/p>\n We wander around the property a few times. The detached pool house is about 1,000 square feet. There’s a massive outdoor grill area. <\/p>\n We get back in the car and first first question is obvious: How much do you think that place costs?<\/p>\n \u201c$25 million,\u201d I guess.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c$30 millions,\u201d says Dan.\u00a0<\/p>\n I looked it up on Zillow. It was listed for sale in 2017 for $35,000,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Westward Home<\/p>\n
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