Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Evan Schiller/Courtesy of the club
Baltusrol Golf Club: Lower
Springfield, NJ • Private
Baltusrol Golf Club: Lower
201 Shunpike Rd
Springfield, NJ 07081-2160
United States
Overview
Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Opens on Baltusrol's Lower Course, setting a tournament record each time. Phil Mickelson and Jimmy Walker won PGAs on it. But the Lower’s most historic event was the ace by architect Robert Trent Jones in 1954 on the par-3 fourth, instantly squelching complaints of critical club members who felt Trent’s redesign made it too hard. Trent’s younger son, Rees, an avowed A.W. Tillinghast fan, lightly retouched the Lower’s design for the 2016 PGA Championship. But there has been another changing of the guard at Baltusrol, as architect Gil Hanse and his team took over as the club’s new consulting architects, and re-opened the restored Lower course—after carefully examining Tilly's old plans and reclaiming green sizes and rebuilding bunkers—in May 2021. Hanse's team performed a similar restoration on Baltusrol's Upper course, which reopened in May 2025.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
Highest ranking: 15th, 1985-1986.
Previous ranking: 45th.
2025-'26 ranking: 42nd.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 2nd.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Difficult without beating you up. Challenging rough. Nice mix of par 3 holes. Every tee shot makes you think about optimal placement for your particular game. Beautifully manicured; recent addition of fescue beyond rough adds character."
Read More2025
Review
“Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course is a classic masterpiece originally designed by the legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast and opened over 100 years ago. Tillinghast’s design is distinguished by its strategic complexity, featuring a wide variety of bunker placements and shot options that challenge players to think carefully about course management. The layout embodies a challenging yet fair test of golf, and further differentiated by its intricate greens and strategic bunkering. Recently, celebrated architect Gil Hanse led a meticulous restoration of the Lower Course, completed in 2021, aiming to revive Tillinghast’s original design intent. Hanse’s work restored the natural flow of the fairways, reinstated key bunkering features and preserved the strategic intricacies that define the course. The renovation also enhanced agronomic health and updated infrastructure to ensure exceptional conditioning, making the course not only a tribute to golf’s golden age but also a modern championship venue. Overall, Baltusrol’s Lower Course offers a visually stunning, well-maintained layout that requires a diverse range of shots and strategic approaches, offering players an exciting and fair challenge rooted deeply in golf history and expert design stewardship"
Read More2025
Review
“Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course is a classic masterpiece originally designed by the legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast and opened over 100 years ago. Tillinghast’s design is distinguished by its strategic complexity, featuring a wide variety of bunker placements and shot options that challenge players to think carefully about course management. The layout embodies a challenging yet fair test of golf, and further differentiated by its intricate greens and strategic bunkering. Recently, celebrated architect Gil Hanse led a meticulous restoration of the Lower Course, completed in 2021, aiming to revive Tillinghast’s original design intent. Hanse’s work restored the natural flow of the fairways, reinstated key bunkering features and preserved the strategic intricacies that define the course. The renovation also enhanced agronomic health and updated infrastructure to ensure exceptional conditioning, making the course not only a tribute to golf’s golden age but also a modern championship venue. Overall, Baltusrol’s Lower Course offers a visually stunning, well-maintained layout that requires a diverse range of shots and strategic approaches, offering players an exciting and fair challenge rooted deeply in golf history and expert design stewardship"
Read More2025
Review
“This A.W. Tillinghast parkland designed golf course completed in 1922 is a challenging test with strategic bunkering, quick greens and penalizing rough. The course located in Springfield, N.J. was later updated by Robert Trent Jones and further modified by Rees Jones and Gil Hanse. This is an excellent walking course to appreciate the subtle changes in elevation, the exceptional bunkering and the superlative conditioning of the course. The course from its tips plays to 7,575 yards providing ample length for top tier golfers while there are 6 tee boxes to choose from, making it enjoyable for all levels of play. There are ample landing areas of the tee box although there is a big premium on driving accuracy. The bermuda grass rough is generally thick throughout the course penalizing the golfer at least 1/2 strokes. The second shots are often too well protected greens. Placement on the green is also important due to speedy and undulating greens. The greens have deceptive breaks but run true. Overall, Baltusrol - Lower Course is an exceptional layout that provides a strong test for even the low handicap golfer both strategically and physically. It's superlative conditioning will add to the enyoyment of this fine- tuned course."
Read More2025
Review
“The Lower Course has been beautifully restored by Wagner and Hanse. The reimagination of the bunkers to reflect Tillinghast's "bold and beautiful" style is a resounding success. Course conditioning is also near-perfect."
Read More2024
Review
“Major Championship venue designed by A.W. Tillinghast and brilliantly restored recently by Gil Hanse. Even though it has championship length, this is a thinking man's course that requires force and precision to play well here. The beautiful bunking really dictates how you play each hole. Extra teeing areas were added during the restoration which provides options for every skill level. This is a wonderful private club where an invite should surely be accepted."
Read More2024
Review
“Baltusrol is an absolute gem in New Jersey. From the moment one arrives on property, they are instilled with a deep sense of history, tradition and a desire to have and maintain two phenomenal golf courses. The staff are welcoming and ensure that you are well taken care of from start to finish. The Lower Course speaks for itself in terms of conditioning and strategic golf shot values. Each hole provides the player with something different to consider while playing, and the routing beautifully explores the boundaries of the vast property. If you can spend a day at Baltusrol, just say "yes.""
Read More2024
Review
“The course is spectacular, with a design that builds interest from start to finish. Could the great course with a storied past and the golf is in for a treat."
Read More2023
Review
“Was fortunate to play the Lower Course a few days after they had hosted the KPMG Women's PGA, superb firm and fast conditioning despite recent rains as well as penalizing rough. Very challenging off the tee on par 4's and par 5's with large undulating green complexes in Tillinghast's traditional motif. Recent renovation by Gil Hanse brought the size back to the green complexes and character back to the bunkering w/ fescue surrounds. Challenge is also presented with the overall length hole to hole and the approaches required as a result. Unique finish w/ back to back par 5's."
Read More2023
Review
“A.W. Tillinghast, 1922 Gil Hanse renovation, 2021 The lower course re-opened May 2021 after Hanse completed a multi year project to restore the course to the original Tillinghast design. Bunkers are strategically located through the fairways and green complexes."
Read More2023
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