Baltusrol Golf Club: Lower
Springfield, NJ, United States • Private
Evan Schiller
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 Tillie's old plans and reclaiming green size and rebuilding bunkers—in May 2021. The results, while praised, did not alter the course's standing in the 100 Greatest ranking--it remains at no. 45.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 45th.
Highest ranking: 15th, 1985-1986
Best in State: Ranked in Top 5 in New Jersey since 1977.
Current ranking (and previously): 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
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Layout Variety
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Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
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
Review
“Extremely beautiful green complexes that are challenging but fair. Large greens with enough movement for a mentally exhausting round. Course coming off LPGA event was in extraordinary condition. Good flow and directional changes, bunkers in great spots to affect shots. Many holes offer differing approach shot options."
Read More2023
Review
“Excellent work by Hanse to get some variety, character and green details back into this championship layout. There used to be a monotony to its difficulty, but now there are different flavors of hard. Very good shaping on the greens with lots of new options, which creates new lines of charm working back to the tee to make sure you have the right approach lines. Difficult counterintuitive shaping on the putting surfaces making them hard to read, but not unfair, you just have to pay attention to things like drainage exits."
Read More2022
Review
“Lives up to the reputation. A classic lay out, with modern touches post restoration. I played on a day with a bit of rain and was really cool to see how well the sub-air in the greens worked. The conditioning is immaculate"
Read More2022
Review
“A truly championship design. Firm, fast, and what a collection of holes."
Read More2022
Review
“Hanse's redesign has revived this old classic. Not to be missed!"
Read More2022
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