GOLF COURSE REVIEW - BALTUSROL GC (LOWER COURSE)
Course Architect: A.W. Tillinghast (1922), Robert Trent Jones (1954, 1967,
1980), Rees Jones (1992-2010s), Gil Hanse (Restoration, 2020)
Year Opened: 1895
Location: Springfield, New Jersey
Slope: 143. Rating: 74.4
Par: 70 (Par 72, 7,015 yards from the Tillinghast Tees)
Yardage: 7,409
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 478 Yds 10 - Par 4 464 Yds
2 - Par 4 379 Yds 11 - Par 4 444 Yds
3 - Par 4 503 Yds 12 - Par 3 219 Yds
4 - Par 3 194 Yds 13 - Par 4 432 Yds
5 - Par 4 423 Yds 14 - Par 4 430 Yds
6 - Par 4 482 Yds 15 - Par 4 430 Yds
7 - Par 4 505 Yds 16 - Par 3 230 Yds
8 - Par 4 380 Yds 17 - Par 5 650 Yds
9 - Par 3 212 Yds 18 - Par 5 554 Yds
Par 34 3,556 Yds Par 36 3,853 Yds
Key Events Held: PGA Championship (2005, 2016, 2029),
U.S. Open (1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980, 1993),
U.S. Women's Open (1961, 1985), KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (2023),
U.S. Amateur (1904, 1926, 1946, 2000), U.S. Junior Amateur (2018),
U.S. Women's Amateur (1901, 1911),
PGA War Relief Tournament (1917).
Awards Won: 40th by Golf Digest - America's 100 Greatest Courses (2005),
2nd by Golf Digest - Best-in-State rankings (New Jersey, 2005),
38th by GolfWeek - America's Best Top 100 Classic Courses (2004),
27th by Golf Magazine - Top 100 courses in the U.S. (2003),
45th by Golf Magazine - Top 100 Courses in the World (2003),
National Historic Landmark (2014).
Website: baltusrol.org
HISTORY: This course is so steeped in history, that when you look in your Webster's Dictionary under the word "History", there is a picture of Baltusrol Golf Club. Dating back to the late 1890s when the club was founded, Baltusrol has been one of the premier golf destinations in the world. Baltusrol has hosted 15 USGA championships, the most of any club in the country, including
seven U.S. Opens.
Before we delve into past championships, one must first look into the club's beginnings. BGC was the brainchild of New York Social Register publisher, Louis Keller, who owned 500 acres of prime real estate in Springfield (NJ) Township back in the 1890s. Some fifty years earlier, the property was farmed by a Scottish immigrant by the name of Baltus Roll (hence the name Baltusrol),
who was robbed and murdered in 1831 by two men, while his wife watched in horror. One suspect was a man named Peter B. Davis, who after a week of trial, was released on a not guilty verdict. Interestingly enough, Davis was arrested on forgery charges right after the trial and after pleading guilty on three counts, was sentenced to 24 years of hard labor, where he eventually died in prison. The other suspect, Lycidius Baldwin, hearing that Davis was arrested, went to a nearby tavern, took a room and killed himself with an apparent overdose of narcotic.
Keller, who had a nine-hole golf course constructed with the help of George Hunter and a farm house converted into a clubhouse, opened the new club in October of 1895. The club, with its Scottish design, flourished, opening with 30 members and growing to nearly 400 in no time, so an additional nine holes were added. Surprisingly, Keller didn't even play golf, but he had many
acquaintances who loved the game. The land itself overlooked the Battle of Springfield in the Revolutionary War and was located at the foot of Baltusrol Mountain, only 17 miles from New York. Just six years after opening, the United States Golf Association brought the U.S. Women's Amateur to Baltusrol, as Genevieve Hecker captured the title, defeating Lucy Herron on the "Original Course."
Just two years later, the USGA opted again to hold a championship at Baltusrol, this time it was the U.S. Open. 1903 saw former Baltusrol professional Willie Anderson capture the second of his four U.S. Open titles and the first of his three consecutive championships, as he defeated David Brown in a playoff. Anderson, who led Brown, the 1886 British Open champion by six shots heading into the final round, shot 82 while Brown carded a 76 to force the playoff. The next day, rain played havoc throughout the delayed round with Anderson carding 82 to Brown's 84 to become the first two-time U.S. Open champion. Sadly, just seven years later Anderson died of arteriosclerosis at the age of 30. It was also in 1903 that Baltusrol hired Scottish born golfer George Low as its head professional and greens keeper. Low, who would stay on until 1925, is credited as the inventor of a rake and furrowed bunker. To penalize a ball in a trap, Low devised a rake that produced furrows in the sand about an inch and a half deep and three inches wide. This was done to prevent players from using their putters to escape.
The following year, the Original Course played host to the U.S. Amateur, where medalist H. Chandler Egan captured the first of his back-to-back Amateur titles with an 8 & 6 thrashing of Fred Herreshoff. It should be noted that Egan defeated future Baltusrol architect A.W. Tillinghast in the opening round and Theodore A. Havemeyer, the first president of the USGA, in the third
round.
The U.S. Women's Amateur returned to Baltusrol for the 1911 event, as Margaret Curtis defeated Lillian B. Hyde, 5 & 3. Just two years earlier, a fire had destroyed the original clubhouse, thus paving the way for the current structure, a magnificent English Tudor.
Just a year later, Baltusrol welcomed for the first time a President of the United States, as William Howard Taft, in April of 1912, played a round of golf at the club.
For the second time, the U.S. Open was staged at Baltusrol in 1915, as four-time U.S. Amateur champion Jerry Travers captured the title. Five shots back after round one, Travers carded rounds of 72-73 to move into first and held a one-shot lead over James Barnes and Louis Tellier. Both Barnes and Tellier could do no better than 79 and tied for fourth. Tom McNamara, however shot 75 and was in at 298, meaning Travers would need a back nine of 37 for the title. After making two sensational pars on 10 and 11, Travers three-putted for bogey on 12 and needed to play even par just to tie. Following pars on 13 and 14, Travers birdied the par-five 15th and then parred in for the title, to become the second amateur to win the U.S. Open. Amazingly, Travers announced his
retirement from competition, declaring that it was impossible to earn a living and play championship golf at the same time and he never played in another national championship.
Despite World War I, Baltusrol continued to grow and Keller decided that the club needed two new courses to replace the Original Course, or as it was called the "Old Course." Legendary course architect A.W. Tillinghast was brought in to create a pair of masterpieces - The Lower and Upper Courses. Tillinghast had great credentials, having crafted Philadelphia Cricket Club,
Winged Foot Golf Club and San Francisco Golf Club, but nothing of the magnitude of Baltusrol. Six years later, Tillinghast completed his work, however, Keller died just a few months before the official opening of the new courses. Keller, although just the secretary of the club, ran the club as he saw fit during his 27-year regime. He was the owner of the property and ruled
with an iron hand. Rumor has it that on more than one occasion after some members had finished their rounds, Keller had their lockers emptied out and dismissed them from the club.
It took only four years for the USGA to return to Baltusrol, as the 1926 U.S. Amateur returned. Played on the Lower Course, George Von Elm knocked off medalist Bobby Jones, 2 & 1, slowing the incredible run by Jones. After winning the Amateur in 1924 and '25 and finishing second in '26, Jones claimed the title the next two years and would add his record fifth championship in 1930. On the last day, over 15,000 fans turned out to watch the championship
match.
In 1934, Baltusrol hired legendary player Johnny Farrell as its head professional. Farrell, who had won eight straight events in 1927, captured the U.S. Open championship in a 36-hole playoff with Bobby Jones at Olympia Fields in 1928. Elected to the Golf Hall of Fame in 1961, Farrell held his position at Baltusrol until 1972.
Despite the Great Depression, Baltusrol held tough and was once again playing host to the U.S. Open, this time on the Upper Course in 1936. "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper, who was denied the title in 1927 by Tommy Armour, seemed a lock for the championship after shooting 73 in the final round for a 284 total, which was two better than the Open record held by Chick Evans and Gene Sarazen. Celebrating his supposed win, word came back to the clubhouse that a little known player, Tony Manero had an outside chance to catch Cooper. Starting the day four back, Manero reached five under for the day through 16 holes and held the lead with two holes to play. With the title on the line, Manero parred 17 and 18 for 67 to defeat Cooper by two shots. Manero was paired in the final round with boyhood pal, Gene Sarazen, who had requested the pairing feeling it might help the high-strung Manero. People claimed the support was against the rules, but the USGA upheld his championship. Born in the New York City suburbs, Manero, of Italian descent, gave up tournament golf after World War II and opened a successful steakhouse in Connecticut and along with his family, ran a small chain of Manero's restaurants.
With World War II in full swing, Baltusrol did its fair share to support the War effort and the troops. Victory gardens were established on the fairways of the Upper Course and livestock grazed the Lower Course fairways with the proceeds donated to the Red Cross. Eight acres where used for crops and 1 1/2 acres were used to grow vegetables. When the U.S. Amateur was reinstated in
1946, Baltusrol's Lower Course was once again named the venue. Stanley (Ted) Bishop came out on top, as he defeated Smiley Quick on the 37th hole. The galleries at the event were the largest for a national championship since 1930.
The 1954 U.S. Open at Baltusrol brought with it the most significant change in golf, television, as it became the first event to be broadcast nationally. Prior to the championship, Robert Trent Jones was hired to revise the Lower Course for the event, and revise he did, as it became the longest Open course in history, stretching to 7,060 yards. Jones was way ahead of the times, as he added fairway bunkers and eliminated traps that no longer came into play. This single event put golf and Baltusrol on the map, more than it ever had been. With millions of viewers watching, little known pro Ed Furgol defeated an exceptional field for the title. Shooting rounds of 71-70-71, Furgol led Dick Mayer by one shot and Gene Littler, Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff by
three. Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were a distant five behind. On the final hole, Littler had a chance to tie, but missed a seven-foot putt. Furgol, who was on the tee, hooked his drive into the trees and had no shot out to the fairway. Instead, he played his second shot towards the adjacent 18th fairway of the Upper Course, reached the green on his third and two-putted for the title.
As it was back in the day, major events continued to be played at Baltusrol. Next up was the 1961 U.S. Women's Open, where Mickey Wright, second on the all-time wins list with 82, won going away by six shots. It wasn't all roses for Wright, who trailed by four heading into the third round, thanks to an eight-over-par round of 80 on day two. Wright, however steadied the ship, as she recorded the only sub-70 round of the tournament, a three-under 69 in round three and was never caught. Wright's final round of 72, was the low score of the day, as she finished ahead of Betsy Rawls. Wright commented that this win was the "most satisfying victory, as it transpired on such a marvelous test of the game."
The next two events at Baltusrol's famed Lower Course were the 1967 and 1980 U.S. Opens, a pair of the most remarkable events in golf history. Despite having won all four majors in his short career and six overall, Jack Nicklaus came into the '67 Open as the second-most popular player, as legendary golfer Arnold Palmer gained most of the headlines. Palmer opened with rounds of 69-68
for a one-shot lead over Nicklaus. Round three saw the "Golden Bear' draw even with the "King", shooting a two-over 72 to Arnie's 73, but it was a promising amateur, Marty Fleckman who went into the final round with a one-shot advantage over the dynamic duo and 1966 Open winner Billy Casper. Despite the logjam at the top, the tournament boiled down to Palmer and Nicklaus, as Fleckman faded early and often en route to an 80 while Casper shot 72 to finish fourth. Palmer took the early lead thanks to a Nicklaus bogey at No. 2 and it could have been more, but Palmer, who struggled with the flat stick all day, missed from 12 feet. Nicklaus rebounded however, as he birdied the next three holes to take the lead. Nicklaus bogeyed the sixth and stood 25 feet away for birdie on seven while Palmer was just eight feet away and in form to gain a share of the lead. With one stroke of his putter, Nicklaus sank the birdie putt and Palmer missed and the rest is history. Nicklaus would add another birdie on eight, his fifth birdie in six holes to lengthen his lead. With a birdie at the last, Nicklaus finished with a sizzling 65 compared to
Palmer's 69 and a total of 275, a new U.S. Open record, breaking the previous mark set by Ben Hogan. Palmer, despite finishing under the magic 280 mark for the second straight year, finished in second once again in what was the last great duel between these two icons. For the week, the course played to a scoring average of 74.34 with only 26 rounds under par. It should be noted
that Nicklaus earlier in the week was having putting problems and after borrowing a putter from a friend of Deane Beman, shot 62 in the Wednesday practice round.
Saying he was over the hill at the age of 40, Nicklaus came to the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol winless in over a year. He silenced the critics with his course-record 63 in the opening round and shared the lead with Tom Weiskopf. Five shots behind, Isao Aoki drew even with Nicklaus after three rounds thanks to three consecutive 68s. Playing together on the final day, Nicklaus took the lead for good on the second hole, as Aoki made bogey. At the turn, Nicklaus held a two-stroke lead. Nicklaus continued to play solid golf, making par after par, but Aoki kept pace. At the long 17th, Nicklaus stood in the same predicament he had against Palmer. Aoki was tight, just five feet away for birdie while Nicklaus was 22 feet from the cup. As fate would have it, Nicklaus once again sank his putt and although Aoki made his, the two-stroke advantage was too much for Aoki. Both players birdied the last for a record-setting performance. Nicklaus' total of 272 was two clear of Aoki and set a new scoring mark, three better than his 1967 performance. It should be noted that Keith Fergus, who tied for third, was the only player in the field to post all four rounds at par or better. The galleries, whom 13 years before were chanting for Palmer, were screaming in unison, "Jack is back, Jack is back."
The United States Golf Association celebrated its 40th anniversary of the U.S. Women's Open in 1985 by staging it on Baltusrol's Upper Course. Little known pro Kathy Baker (Guadagnino) turned away the hottest player on the LPGA Tour, Nancy Lopez to win for the first time in her career. Lopez, who had won 30 times in just eight years on tour, opened with a pair of two-under-par 70s for a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend. A third-round 68 would put Baker in front of Lopez and Judy Clark (Dickinson) by one with the final round remaining, as Clark shot a Women's Open record of 65 on Saturday. Lopez got off to a horrendous start, bogeying three of her first four holes to fall out of contention, tying for fourth. Baker increased her lead to two after back-to-back birdies on seven and eight. Through 15 holes, Baker continued to lead by two at seven-under-par. On the 16th hole, Baker birdied from four feet and Clark made bogey to ensure the win. Baker was the lone player in the field to post all four rounds at par or better. Lopez, who finished her career with 48 titles, would never capture the one event which eluded her entire career, the U.S. Open. Baker on the other hand, would win just one more time three years later.
The U.S. Open returned to the Lower Course in 1993, for the seventh time, as Lee Janzen outdueled Payne Stewart for the first of his two Open titles, both at the dismay of Stewart. Janzen opened with back-to-back 67s to hold a two-shot advantage over Stewart and Tom Watson, as his total of 134 equaled the mark set 13 years earlier by Jack Nicklaus. Following a two-under 68 by
Stewart, Janzen's lead slipped to one heading into the final round. The duo were paired together on Championship Sunday and both played steady with 35s on the opening nine. The first big break for Janzen came on the 10th, as his second shot carried through branches of some trees and landed on the green, where he was able to save par. A Janzen bogey on 12 had them even, however he regained the lead with a birdie on 14. After pars on 15, Janzen seemed ready to fold, as his second on the 16th missed the green, however a miraculous chip in from 30 feet put him ahead by two. Both players made birdie on 18 giving Janzen a two-shot win and a record-tying total of 272, once again equaling Nicklaus' mark set in 1980. With his four rounds in the 60s, Janzen became the
first player in history to win the Open with four sub-70 rounds. A couple of notes from 1993 - Vijay Singh made his first appearance in a U.S. Open, missing the cut, the only time in his career that he has missed out on the weekend at the U.S. Open. The par-five 16th hole played to 630 yards, the longest at the time in major championship history. Although he finished tied
for 33rd, John Daly made headlines, as he reached the green in two, striking his one-iron from 290 yards on to the green and two-putting for birdie. Stewart certainly played the steadier of the two, making only three bogeys and shooting par or better in all four rounds, however Janzen was able to make 17 birdies for the week, while Stewart made just 11.
The next celebration for Baltusrol, was the 100th edition of the U.S. Amateur Championship, played on both courses. When all was said and done, Jeff Quinney outlasted James Driscoll on the 39th hole for the title. Along the way, Quinney defeated current professionals, Matt Weibring (Nationwide Tour), Lucas Glover, Ben Curtis and Hunter Mahan (all on the PGA Tour) and David Eger (Champions Tour) prior to knocking off Driscoll (PGA Tour). Trailing 2-down
with just two holes remaining, Driscoll evened the match when he birdied the 17th and then sank a 10-footer on 18. After two extra holes, a lightning warning went off and play was suspended. The following day, Quinney sank a curling, downhill 30-footer for birdie on the third extra hole for the title.
History was once again made at the 2005 PGA Championship, as Phil Mickelson captured the Wanamaker Trophy, defeating Thomas Bjorn and Steve Elkington by one shot. Mickelson opened with a three-under 67 to share the lead with five other players, the largest contingent to tie for the lead at a major since the 1989 British Open. On a day when the temperature reached the mid-90s, 27 players broke par, however Tiger Woods was not one of them, as he carded a five-over 75, which included just one birdie. Mickelson assumed control after round two, thanks to a sizzling 65, which gave him a three-shot lead over Jerry Kelly, who matched Mickelson's score. Woods, with four birdies on the back nine, including one on the last, was able to make the cut on the number, four over par. Trailing by nine shots, Thomas Bjorn was the talk of the town on round three, as he vaulted up the leaderboard thanks to a course-record tying 63, which included a five-under 31 on the inward nine. Davis Love III was able to tie Mickelson for the lead after three rounds, following his third straight 68 while Lefty carded a two-over 72 to complete three rounds at six-under-par. Once again, the heat was oppressive, as temperatures soared to 102, but 25 players managed to break par, including Woods, who fashioned a 66 to reach even par. Sunday was to be another scorcher, as the thermometer reached triple digits and lightning forced the completion of the final round to be played on Monday, however not before Mickelson and Love would be challenged for the lead. After a birdie on the fourth to reach seven- under, Mickelson played holes six through 10 at four-over par and fell back to two shots behind the new leader Steve Elkington. The 1995 PGA Champion, who parred the opening eight holes, sandwiched two birdies (9 and 11) around a bogey on 10 to take the lead at five-under-par. Mickelson rebounded with a birdie on 13 while Elkington, who three-putted 13 for bogey, made another bogey on 15 to fall one
behind. After four bogeys in his first seven holes, Love never really threatened until a birdie at 10, however, a bogey at 11 would end his chances. With five holes remaining, the weather forced a suspension of play, as Mickelson led by one over Elkington and Bjorn while Woods completed his tournament at two-under-par after his third straight round in the 60s, a two-under 68. Returning on Monday morning, Mickelson would par his next two holes, however, a bogey on 16 would put him back into a tie with Elkington and Bjorn, the latter had birdied the 17th to reach 3-under. On the 650-yard 17th, Mickelson missed from 15-feet for birdie while Elkington and Bjorn both missed birdie chances at the last. With the tournament in the balance, Mickelson
split the fairway on 18, just shy of the plaque commemorating the one-iron shot by Jack Nicklaus on the final day of the 1967 U.S. Open. Tapping the monument with his fairway club for "some good karma", Mickelson would say afterward, his second shot landed just to the right of the green in thick rough. Needing birdie to win, Mickelson chipped to within three-feet for the
win. Baltusrol once again proved to be quite a test for the best players in the world, as the Lower Course played to a scoring average of 72.454.
In 2017 it was time for a restoration on the Lower Course, as Gil Hanse was brought in to restore the course to what Tillinghast had intended.
“It’s been a long time since major championship golf has seen the Lower Course at an A.W. Tillinghast golf course and it’s back,” said Greg Boring, the Director of Grounds at Baltusrol. “We’re very excited to let the golf world see what A.W. Tillinghast built here many years ago and that’s what I think they’ll be presented with the week of the championship.”
Hanse, who has done extensive work at other Tillinghast courses, such as Winged Foot and Quaker Ridge, was up to the challenge. “It was trying to restore the golf course to Tillinghast design with as high a level of specificity that we could, while also understanding the game has changed dramatically since he laid out the golf course. So, ultimately how do we position bunkers off the tee and how do we set the tees in which they're going to provide the appropriate challenge.”
The biggest changes to the course were the expanded green complexes and the redesign of the bunkers surrounding the putting surfaces. “Getting that context back in shape and then restoring some of those lost hole locations I think will make the greens the most important part of Tillinghasts’ story at Baltusrol,” said Hanse.
Next up for Baltusrol was the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2023. Ruoning Yin carded a final-round of 67 to defeat Yuka Saso by one shot and claim the $1.5 million first-place prize. Lee-Anne Pace opened with a five-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over three players. After a second-round 68, Leona Maguire took the lead by one over Xiyu Janet Lin. Round three was highlighted by 23 players breaking 70, led by Anna Nordqvist and Jenny Shin who shot 66. Maguire after her third straight, sub-70 round held the lead at 7-under-par. Yin stood three shots back heading into the final round, while Shin was just one behind. Yin’s final round 67 enabled her to capture the 69th staging of this historic event. Five players finished tied for third, including Anna Nordqvist, who carded a 65 and Carlota Ciganda who fired 64.
COURSE REVIEW: The course opens with a stern par-four, stretching 478 yards. The real danger is the tee ball, which must dissect out-of-bounds left and bunkers and a stream right. Left-fairway is key to set up the best approach to the rather small and tightly trapped green. Not an easy hole to birdie, so take par and move on. In 1967, Deane Beman scored a total of just 12 strokes during the four rounds, making eagle, birdie, birdie and par.
The second is a birdie hole with an asterisk. Just 378 yards, this dogleg left appears on paper as rather simple, however trees and out-of-bounds left, a tight landing area and crossing bunkers just 240 yards away, make this hole as difficult as any. Fairway-metal or iron off the tee, as the hole play's slightly uphill. Just a short-iron remains to a well-bunkered green, that slopes hard from right to left. Play below the hole, thus removing the chance for a three-putt.
What started out as a 390-yard hole when Tillinghast created it, is now a blistering 503-yard, dogleg-left, downhill par-four. A big, sweeping draw is needed just to have any shot at reaching this beauty in two. Trees guard both sides of the sloping fairway and any shot missing the short grass will leave an almost impossible second shot. A stream rolls through the fairway, 40 yards shy of the putting surface. The green itself is quite difficult, with a big ridge in the center, creating angling putts. Two deep traps flank the right, while one bunker stands left. Could be the most difficult hole on the course. During the 2005 PGA Championship, the third played to a scoring average of
4.406, the second most difficult hole during the event with just 28 birdies made.
After redesigning the fourth hole for the 1954 U.S. Open, Robert Trent Jones was criticized for making it too difficult. So Jones, with his group of critics in tow, took out a four-iron and calmly knocked it in for an ace. "As you can see, the hole is eminently fair," said Jones. The hole can stretch to as much as 199 yards and is all carry across water. The putting surface is quite large with two tiers and sand left and behind. Although a back-left flag takes the water out of play, it is one of the hardest to get to. Despite being the shortest par-three on the course, the fourth is the toughest. Charles Howell III had little trouble with the pesky fourth during the 2005 PGA Championship, as he played the hole in three-under-par, which included an ace during the third round.
The fifth is a stellar, straightaway par-four, just 423 yards in length. The fairway is tight with traps guarding both sides of the landing area. A mid-iron is required to reach the elevated putting surface. The green slopes hard from back to front. Any shots landing on the front quarter of the putting surface, will funnel back off the green. Deep bunkers protect the left, front and right of the green.
Another humongous par-four, the sixth stands 482 yards from the tips. From a chute, the tee shot is partially blind and calls for a long and accurate shot. With a pinpoint blast, the sloping fairway can be negated to leave a mid- to long-iron to the green. If not, then fairway traps and deep rough await. The putting surface, which is an extension of the fairway, is quite deep with bunkers on either side. Not a hole to take lightly, but four is not out of the question since the green is fairly simple.
Playing as a par-five for the members, the seventh is over 500 yards and a par-four in competition. Start off with trees and out-of-bounds left, trees and sand right and deep rough throughout. The hole also doglegs slightly to the right and if the pin is back-right, you might have a tough time seeing the flag. Ideally, a big drive down the left side with leave a long-iron or
fairway-metal to the green. No gimmicks on the putting surface, but 50 yards short of the green, in the center of the fairway, is a mounded bunker. The hole is now 40 yards longer than the original design. During PGA Championship week, the seventh played to a scoring average of 4.479, easily the hardest hole on the course.
Finally, a birdie opportunity. The eighth is only the second par-four hole under 400 yards on the course (second is the other). A slight dogleg to the right, just a three-metal or iron is needed to split the tight fairway. Deep, long bunkers guard both sides of the landing area, so accuracy is key. Just a
wedge should remain to a slick, undulating green, protected by numerous bunkers. The putting surface slopes right to left and is quite slick.
The final hole on the outward nine is described by Jack Nicklaus, as "one of the most British looking holes on the course." The par-three is quite demanding with a long, narrow green surrounded by plenty of bunkers. Behind the green, a crescent-shaped trap will snare any long attempt at a back pin position. For some reason, par-three's are ranked as the four easiest holes on
the course. Not the ninth.
The back nine starts out with a difficult par-four to say the least. Deceiving off the tee, the fairway narrows at 280 yards with sand left and trees right. A long-iron is left to a wide green, protected on both sides by deep traps. A rough start to the homeward holes. During the final round of the 1993 U.S. Open, Lee Janzen facing a difficult second shot over the trees on the right, mis-hit his five-iron and miraculously it went through without nicking a leaf and he was able to make par.
The sharpest dogleg on the course, the 11th is one of the most demanding holes on the Lower Course, since you must shape your tee shot to conform with the fairway. Your first play must be down the left side of the fairway, thus opening up your second to the green. Any shot right of the fairway will leave a blind approach to the putting surface, not to mention flirting with traps. The green is quite large and undulating, so club selection, albeit a short-iron will be key.
One of the three 200-yard plus one-shotters on the course, the 12th is made difficult by the huge bunker fronting the putting surface and the green is large and sunken down. During the 1993 Open, there were only two birdies made during the four rounds by the top-five players (one each by Janzen and Stewart). Reaching the putting surface should be no problem, but two-putting
for par could be quite a task. No problem for Sandy Lyle and Mike Hulbert in 1993, as they both aced the hole.
The 13th is one of the finest holes on the course and not because of length. The par-four only measures 432 yards, but it requires pinpoint accuracy. First of all, the hole doglegs to the right. Next, a diagonal creek runs down the right side of the fairway and lastly, bunkers protect the left side of the landing area. So, start off with a three-metal, cutting off as much as possible. This will set up a mid-iron to a fairly undulating green, guarded by deep traps, left and right. Below the hole will set up a possible birdie attempt. Remember what happened to Bobby Jones at the 1926 U.S. Amateur? He tried to bite off too much of the dogleg and ended up in the stream, as he
lost the championship match to George Von Elm. Scuttlebutt has it that Jones thought so highly of the 13th, that he patterned the 13th at Augusta National after it.
Bending slightly to the left, the 14th is the second of three consecutive 430-plus par-fours. The key once again is the tee shot, which must carry the corner of the left fairway bunker. By accomplishing the task, this will leave a clear opening to the green. A word of caution, do not miss left off the tee, as a stand of trees flanks the entire side. The putting surface is wide and slick with sand all around. During the most recent renovation, the right greenside bunkers were deepened and the hole was lengthened some 25 yards.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a quartet of holes more daunting than the final four at Baltusrol. The 15th is a straightaway par-four, with bunkers left and right off the tee, along with stands of trees on both sides. A creek protrudes in the left rough down past the landing area, so most of the longer hitters will use three-metal off the tee. Your approach shot will be slightly uphill to the elevated green, which is protected by numerous traps. The putting surface slopes from back to front, making it one of the most difficult on the course. Despite winning in 1993, Janzen made two bogeys and two pars in his four rounds on No. 15.
The tee on 16 is elevated, showing you what trouble lies ahead on the longest par-three on the course. Stretching a mighty 230 yards, the hole requires a fairway-metal or rescue-club with the utmost of accuracy. See, the entire putting surface is surrounded by sand and the green has many subtle nuances, making this one bear of a hole. In 1993, Janzen chipped in for a two on the final day en route to his U.S. Open title.
John Daly or anyone else for that matter will be hard pressed to reach the 17th hole in two, as he did in 1993. Now measuring 650 yards, 20 some odd yards longer than in '93, this dogleg left monster requires a long tee shot favoring the right side of the fairway and then an equally long second, over the crossing bunkers, just to set up a wedge to the green. The putting surface is elevated and fronted by six traps, one bunker left and tall trees right. Australian Craig Parry found the hole quite simple, making three birdies during his stay at Baltusrol.
History certainly surrounds the closing hole of the Lower Course. From Ed Furgol's back-and-forth play in 1954, to Nicklaus' exquisite one-iron in 1967 or Janzen's tournament record-tying putt in '93, the 18th has had its share of excitement. "It could make for a lot of excitement, if you come to 18 needing an eagle. It is the only hole on the course where you've got that chance," commented Payne Stewart. The elevated tee sets the hole up nicely, showing you exactly what's in front of you. A long drive down the center or just right will leave an uphill second to this rather small and undulating green. Danger lurks all around, as tall stands of pines guard both sides of
the fairway and a creek runs through the center of the hole prior to your climb to the finish. The green is quick and protected by numerous traps which sit below the surface. After an opening-round bogey, Stewart birdied the hole the remaining three rounds. Although tying for 52nd in 1993, Keith Clearwater dominated the 18th with three birdies and an eagle, as did Tony Johnstone, who tied for 77th.
FINAL WORD: You'll be hard pressed to find another course in the country with more history than Baltusrol, from its seven U.S. Opens and four U.S. Amateurs to its U.S. Women's Opens and the 2005 PGA Championship. The ambience and mystique of the club is remarkable. It certainly has proven itself in regards to scoring difficulty, despite Nicklaus' 63.
Conditioning, well, in a word, "mint". What you have to do at Baltusrol is hit it long and straight and putt like there's no tomorrow. The rough is thick and the greens are slick. If you're going to err, long on most holes is better, as there are rarely any traps behind the greens. Having said that, the thickness of the primary cut rivals most top-notch venues, like Oakmont and Merion.
As far as remembering the holes and variety, well it doesn't quite stack up to the top-25 courses around the country. Over the years, many changes have been made to the course, but none of the improvements have taken away from the original Tillinghast design.
Despite the plainness of some of the holes, the Lower Course at Baltusrol is one impressive track.