what kind of course is baltusral

by Gwendolyn O'Kon 7 min read

A.W. Tillinghast’s Dual Courses The first of their kind, and regarded among the finest courses in America Championship Legacy Since 1901, the story of American championship golf has been told continually at Baltusrol An American Landmark In 2014, Baltusrol was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service

Baltusrol Golf Club
Club information
Length7,348 yards (6,719 m)
Course rating75.9
Slope rating151
Baltusrol Golf Club
42 more rows

Full Answer

What is Baltusrol like to play?

Baltusrol is a wonderful test of golfing skill. It doesn't need to be "tricked" up to be a test, just play it like they normally maintain it. The routing is excellent. The greens are subtle, but deadly. And the bunkering is some of the best I've ever seen.

What is the difference between upper and lower Baltusrol courses?

Both the Upper and Lower courses at Baltusrol were originally laid out by the legendary A. W. Tillinghast in the Roaring Twenties and the Lower was stiffened up ahead of major championships by Robert Trent Jones in 1952 and, some forty years later, by his son Rees. The Lower course is not as hilly as the Upper layout.

Is Baltusrol a National Historic Landmark?

In fact, his seminal work at Baltusrol was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Baltusrol is also listed on the State of New Jersey and Federal Registers of Historic Places.

Why is it called Baltusrol Golf Club?

Baltusrol Golf Club was named after Baltus Roll (1769–1831), who farmed the land on which the club resides today. In 1831, he was murdered at age 61 on February 22 by two thieves who believed that he had hidden a small treasure in his farmhouse on Baltusrol mountain.

How many members does Baltusrol have?

Several years after the duke died in 1962, the club became the property of its 450 members and remains the most exclusive club in continental Europe. The Baltusrol Golf Club is a private 36-hole golf club in Springfield, New Jersey.

Where did the name Baltusrol come from?

The name of the Club was derived from the land's previous owner, Baltus Roll, a Dutch farmer who was brutally murdered at his farmhouse during a robbery attempt in 1831. Some sixty years later, Roll's first and last names were contracted to form the Club's moniker: Baltusrol Golf Club.

How many courses are at Baltusrol?

Both courses were originally designed by A. W. Tillinghast in 1918. The club has been the site of seven U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships....Baltusrol Golf Club.Club informationUpper CourseDesigned byA. W. TillinghastPar72Length7,348 yards (6,719 m)42 more rows

Which golf course is higher, Baltusrol Lower or Winged Foot?

1. While Baltusrol Lower grabs the majority of major tournament glory these days, and enjoys a higher position in GOLF Magazine’s course rankings (Number 32 in the U.S. in 2015-2016), Baltusrol Upper fares remarkably well with our panelists, placing Number 64 in the U.S. Among private clubs, only Winged Foot has a tandem of courses ranked higher.

Who designed the Baltusrol Upper?

2. Baltusrol Upper was hardly an afterthought. Architect A.W. Tillinghast designed “Dual Courses,” two courses intended to be of equal strength and character, and opened them on the same day, June 17, 1922. He did this after controversially scrapping the club’s existing Old Course, which had played host to five USGA National Championships, including the 1903 and 1915 U.S. Opens.

Is there a golf course with a sister?

Sibling rivalries in golf are nothing new. Ever since the New course appeared at St. Andrews in 1895 to challenge the Old, debate has roiled within many golf course families as to which of their tracks is better. Every serious golf fan is familiar with Baltusrol’s Lower course, site of this year’s PGA Championship. Less well-known, yet equally respected is its Upper course. Here are 12 things you need to know about Balty’s sizzling sister.

What is the history of golf at Baltusrol?

The history of golf at Baltusrol is a reflection of the history of golf in America – like the gutty golf ball, hickory shafts and persimmon club heads of yesterday have advanced to today’s multi-piece balls, light weight graphite shafts, and highstrength composite metal heads. The courses which opened in 1922 were the culmination ...

When was the golf course at Baltusrol built?

Tillinghast between 1918 and 1922.

Is Baltusrol a national park?

In fact, his seminal work at Baltusrol was designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Baltusrol is also listed on the State of New Jersey and Federal Registers of Historic Places.

Where is Baltusrol located?

What has helped Baltusrol build its reputation goes beyond the staging of key golf events over the years. Being located in the New York / New Jersey metro region has given the club a proximity to the nation's key media market. The club has also been the beneficiary in having had long and deep relationships with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and more recently with the Professional Golfer's Association of America (PGA). In addition, with a large base membership the club has had the wherewithal to tap into a stream of key contributors whenever called upon -- many well-placed in the business and corporate world.

Where does Baltusrol Golf Club get its name?

Reviews for Baltusrol (Lower) Description: Baltusrol Golf Club takes its name from Mr Baltus Roll who once farmed this land in the 19th century before his untimely murder.

How many golf championships has Baltusrol hosted?

Baltusrol holds a cherished place in golf’s rich history. It has hosted 16 national championships. The giants of golf have walked its fairways for more than a hundred years: Bobby Jones was here. So, too, were Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and, of course, Tiger Woods. Talk about Founding Fathers! Even George Washington maneuvered troops over this land during the Revolutionary War. Baltusrol has the distinction of being the only 36-hole facility to host a U.S. Open on both its courses. Jack Nicklaus won two of his four U.S. Opens on the Lower course (the one I played). Even with such an illustrious history, Baltusrol isn’t nearly as well known as places like Shinnecock or Pebble Beach…#N#Baltusrol is not a course with many memorable holes. It has no ocean, lake or mountain range to frame it. Rees Jones said it perfectly: “You may not remember a lot of the holes, but you remember they are interesting and challenging to play.” Even Lee Janzen said, “It’s strange, but I went back after winning the U.S. Open there, and I didn’t remember all of the holes.”…#N#After we hit a few balls, Bob and I and our caddie were off. The caddie’s dad had been a career caddie at Baltusrol, and he had been there eight or nine years himself, so he knew the place like the back of his hand. I needed it, too. The breaks of the greens are clearly affected by Baltusrol Mountain, and the greens are very tricky with extremely subtle, hard-to-read breaks. As helpful as my caddie was, I had a poor score, but it was a fun day overall. Larry Berle.#N#November 18, 2014

Who laid out the golf course at Baltusrol?

Both the Upper and Lower courses at Baltusrol were originally laid out by the legendary A. W. Tillinghast in the Roaring Twenties and the Lower was stiffened up ahead of major championships by Robert Trent Jones in 1952 and, some forty years later, by his son Rees. The Lower course is not as hilly as the Upper layout.

Is Baltusrol a good golf course?

Baltusrol, is a great experience in general, wonderful old school clubhouse, great history and an excellent golf atmosphere. The course is tough, they take pride in having their greens running as fast as possible and their rough next to their narrow fairways as high as possible.

Who was the owner of Mr Baltus Roll?

After his untimely murder, the estate later found its way into the hands of Louis Keller, owner and publisher of the New York Social Register.

Is Baltusrol golf land flat?

The land is extremely flat and not very interesting as golf land goes. The history that has occurred at Baltusrol brings it to our attention, but renovating it to withstand onslaught of the most proficient 500 golfers in the world has harmed it for most of the other 50 million golfers.

Who is Baltusrol Golf Club named after?

The History of Baltusrol: A Golf Course Murder Mystery. Baltusrol Golf Club was named after Baltus Roll , the man who farmed the land but was murdered by two thieves in 1831. He was found not far from the first tee of the seven-time U.S. Open venue.

Where is Baltus Roll buried?

They’re buried roughly five miles from the Baltusrol clubhouse, in the Revolutionary Cemetery, in Westfield, New Jersey.

Who was the pit bull in the courtroom?

Among other highlights, the courtroom spectacle featured a pit-bull of a defense attorney, a “Johnnie Cochran of his era,” in the words of one modern-day newspaper story, as well as the testimony of a rope expert, who linked rope found on the three-shoed horse to rope that had been used to hogtie Roll.

Where is Baltusrol Golf Club?

The peaceful ambience of Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., one of the game’s oldest facilities in the United States, is a stark contrast to the horror of Feb. 22, 1831, when Roll—who raised oxen and grew apples on the land where golf’s best will compete for a major championship this week—lost his life in late-night robbery attempt.

Who is Baltus Roll?

More than one might guess, because the character, “Baultie Rawle, ” who met his unfortunate end in Cummins’ book was a thinly disguised version of a real person, Baltus Roll, who had been killed 33 years earlier in one of the most notorious murders committed in New Jersey during the 19 th century.

Why is Baltusrol named after Roll?

Following Roll’s death, a small peak near the scene of the crime was designated Baltusrol Mountain in honor of the Dutchman. And when an enterprising New York City resident, Louis Keller, founded a golf club nearby in 1895, there was no doubt about the name. “They named the mountain after him, and the area around it became known as Baltusrol,” says ...

What was Baltusrol's first national championship?

The club was his life’s work and lasting achievement.”. Only six years after it was founded, Baltusrol hosted its first national championship, the 1901 U .S. Women’s Amateur, establishing itself as one of American golf’s important institutions. The New York Times made note of the roots behind the club’s unusual name.

Who found Baltus' body?

In shock and fearing for her safety, Susannah fled. When she returned at daylight with a neighbor, she found the body of Baltus, 61, outside their house. “There were no mortal wounds on the deceased,” a coroner judged, “but his throat appeared to be so hard pressed as to convince me that he had been choked to death.”.

Where is Boltus Roll buried?

Meanwhile, Roll had been laid to rest in a Westfield, N.J., cemetery, where his name is spelled “Boltus Roll.” The gravestone includes an epitaph.

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