Jon Jennings honored with E.J. Marshall Platter at conclusion of 2026 U.S. Open

The United States Golf Association (USGA) presented Jon Jennings, CGCS, golf course superintendent of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, with the E.J. Marshall Platter following the conclusion of play at the 126th U.S. Open Championship.

Jennings, a 41-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), has guided the agronomic care at Shinnecock Hills since 2012. In preparation for the championship, Jennings and his team of 40 worked with USGA Senior Director of Championship Agronomy Darin Bevard to present the historic Long Island routing to the world’s best players. 

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Jon and his maintenance team at Shinnecock, who have been exceptional partners as we prepared for this week,” said Bevard. “Jon knows the Poa annua greens and sandy terrain at Shinnecock like no other. His leadership, precision and agronomic expertise ensured the course met – and exceeded – the standards of a U.S. Open.” 

Jennings helped usher in a long-term restoration of the course’s classic William Flynn design by widening the fairways to restore original playing angles, clearing invasive stones from greenside bunkers, expanding native fescue seedhead boundaries and adjusting irrigation positions to protect the natural, sandy appearance of the historic dunes.  

Shinnecock Hills holds the unique distinction of being the only venue to host the U.S. Open across three different centuries. Jennings is also believed to be the only person who has been superintendent at two of the USGA’s five original charter clubs. Prior to his tenure at Shinnecock Hills, Jennings spent 12 years transforming and restoring Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. – another USGA founding club – which included hosting the 2005 Walker Cup. 

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