GOLF COURSE REVIEW - BALTUSROL GC (LOWER COURSE)
Course Architect: A.W. Tillinghast (1922), Robert Trent Jones (1954, 1967,
1980), Rees Jones (1992-2010s)
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),
U.S. Open (1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980, 1993),
U.S. Women's Open (1961, 1985),
U.S. Amateur (1904, 1926, 1946, 2000),
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.
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.
