Baltusrol (Upper)

Mr Baltus Roll once farmed this land in the 19th century but he was murdered and the estate later found its way into the hands of Louis Keller, owner and publisher of the New York Social Register. Keller decided to build a golf course and in 1895 the Baltusrol Golf Club opened for play.

Today’s Baltusrol bears little resemblance to Keller’s original Old course layout, which was scrapped to make way for the two new courses. Both the Upper and Lower courses at Baltusrol were originally laid out by the "Creator of Golf Courses", the legendary A. W. Tillinghast in the Roaring Twenties and the Upper remains as one of his finest creations. As its name suggests, the Upper is built on rather hilly terrain and the greens are devilishly contoured with bunkers of every conceivable shape and size.

The Upper course was the venue for the 1936 US Open which resulted in an unlikely win for Tony Manero who came from nowhere to win by two shots, beating Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper, who bogeyed three of the last five holes. Cooper never won a major championship, despite winning more than 30 times on the PGA Tour.

Millions watched the 1954 US Open on television in utter amazement as Ed Furgol won the title by playing two different courses during his final round. After a wayward tee shot, he played via the 18th fairway of the Upper course before putting out on the 18th green of the Lower to save par and eventually win the title by a single stroke. Uniquely, the US Open has been played seven times on three different Baltusrol courses, the Old, Upper and Lower courses. It’s unlikely that this amazing record will ever be beaten.

Today's Upper course is still an exacting test with its contoured, hilly terrain. Tee shots must be struck with precision and there is no better example than the par five 11th with a line of bunkers that stretch for 100 yards along the left side of the fairway. Measuring close to 600 yards the 11th green will be reached in two only by the longest and most accurate. A swale protects the entrance to the green which is ringed with bunkers.

The club is certainly not resting on its laurels as “The Open Doctor” has implemented comprehensive changes to both courses here at Baltusrol in recent years. In conjunction with co-designer, Steve Weisser, Rees Jones has moved numerous tee boxes and changed every bunker on the Upper course.

Baltusrol announces Gil Hanse as course consultant