The U.S. Open Comes to Southampton. The Rental Jackpot Doesn’t

Too Many Mansions, Not Enough Golf Fans. As the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills, available rentals are rising faster than demand.

For months, Hamptons homeowners were buzzing about the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. They pictured a huge rush of renters, thinking well-heeled golf fans would flood the East End and drive up prices. With the tournament coming back to Southampton for the first time since 2018, plenty of owners figured they were about to hit the jackpot.

Things have been quieter than expected.

Bloomberg, citing AirDNA data — a comprehensive market intelligence resource that tracks short-term rental listings on performance, pricing, and availability metrics and trends — says average nightly rental rates in the Hamptons are actually down 2.5 percent compared to last year — even with the big tournament around the corner. Sure, staying in the Hamptons still costs over $1,100 a night on average, but the big price jump everyone anticipated hasn’t happened.

A Great Demand and a Greater Supply

It looks like the problem isn’t demand — it’s supply.

There are way more rental listings out there this year, up more than 17 percent. That’s a lot of new properties flooding the market, and now homeowners are fighting harder for a limited number of U.S. Open visitors.

Where the Rental Market Has Been Soft

The market’s been softest in Hampton Bays. There, average daily rates have dropped by about 7 percent since last year. In Southampton, where Shinnecock Hills sits among some of the priciest addresses in America, rates are pretty much unchanged—up just 0.4 percent. Over in Westhampton, though, prices actually jumped nearly 8 percent. So, not everyone’s in the same boat.

Given how big this tournament is supposed to be, the numbers feel underwhelming. More than 150,000 people are expected during championship week — practice rounds start June 15, with the main event from June 18 to June 21.

Still, lots of owners set their expectations high, banking on scarcity instead of reading the market. There’s no shortage of luxury listings out there, either, with six-figure weekly rentals still waiting for takers just weeks before the U.S. Open kicks off.

Rentals Are Up, but Where is ther Dramatic Price Surge?

That doesn’t mean the Hamptons rental market is in trouble. Actually, bookings are up roughly 11 percent this season overall. Southampton remains a hot spot, pulling in average nightly rates close to $1,730. The area’s holding strong — it’s just that the tournament hasn’t sparked the dramatic price surge some folks imagined.

The U.S. Open will still draw a crowd and pump a lot of money into the region. Last year’s tournament in Pennsylvania brought in about 200,000 people and generated over $288 million for the local economy. It’s a big deal.

And there’s still time for a last-minute rush. Luxury renters often wait until the eleventh hour, especially when there’s a big pool of homes left to choose from. But with so many options on the table this year, the reality check for homeowners is that even a massive golf event can’t beat simple supply and demand.

For renters, though, all these choices — and maybe a softer price — might end up being the real win.

Ty Wenzel

Ty Wenzel is an award-winning writer, designer, and marketing professional with a career spanning fashion, publishing, media, and digital innovation. A recent breast cancer survivor, she began her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s before serving as fashion editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, and she is the author of a memoir published by St. Martin’s Press. In 2020, Wenzel co-founded James Lane Post, where she covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture, and interiors. She previously served as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. Her work in journalism, social media, and design has been recognized with multiple PCLI and NYPA awards, including best website design and best magazine. Wenzel is also the founder of the Hamptons-based social media agency TWM Hamptons Social Media, where she develops high-level branding and digital strategy for luxury clients.