Lower Course




Baltusrol's Lower Course, forever linked with Jack Nicklaus's twin U.S. Open victories, is a muscular testament to Golden Age design. Carved into the rolling hills of Springfield, New Jersey, the Lower presents a stern test that favors power and precision. The long par 4s and strategic bunkering, hallmarks of its era, demand confident ball-striking, rewarding players who can shape shots into firm, undulating greens. A.W. Tillinghast, the original architect, imbued the Lower with a sense of grandeur. Subsequent renovations by Robert Trent Jones and his son, Rees Jones, have ensured its relevance for the modern game, preserving Tillinghast's strategic intent while lengthening the course to challenge elite players. It has held multiple high profile tour events since its inception, including major championships most recently the 2016 PGA Championship. Baltusrol's membership reflects a deep appreciation for golf's traditions. While boasting a competitive spirit on the course, the club exudes a warm and convivial atmosphere off it, fostering camaraderie among those who value the game's rich history. The course is a destination, but itβs the feeling of the club that keeps members bonded to Baltusrol.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
All courses
Best in USA
All courses
Best in NJ
All courses
Most visitors to Baltusrol Golf Club arrive through Newark Liberty International (EWR), a straightforward twenty-five-minute drive west into the wooded hills of suburban Essex County. Teterboro Airport serves as the preferred gateway for private aviation, positioned even closer to Springfield's leafy enclaves. The route from either hub traces a gentle ascent from the urban corridor into increasingly serene residential terrain, where the road narrows and the canopy thickens, before delivering you to the understated entrance of one of American golf's most storied sanctuaries - a place where championship pedigree and old-guard discretion have coexisted for more than a century.

FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 9.1 out of 10 based on 149 logged golfers.
Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Lower is 72.
Lower plays 7,550 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Lower is 146.
Lower is a 72-hole course.
Lower Course



Baltusrol's Lower Course, forever linked with Jack Nicklaus's twin U.S. Open victories, is a muscular testament to Golden Age design. Carved into the rolling hills of Springfield, New Jersey, the Lower presents a stern test that favors power and precision. The long par 4s and strategic bunkering, hallmarks of its era, demand confident ball-striking, rewarding players who can shape shots into firm, undulating greens. A.W. Tillinghast, the original architect, imbued the Lower with a sense of grandeur. Subsequent renovations by Robert Trent Jones and his son, Rees Jones, have ensured its relevance for the modern game, preserving Tillinghast's strategic intent while lengthening the course to challenge elite players. It has held multiple high profile tour events since its inception, including major championships most recently the 2016 PGA Championship. Baltusrol's membership reflects a deep appreciation for golf's traditions. While boasting a competitive spirit on the course, the club exudes a warm and convivial atmosphere off it, fostering camaraderie among those who value the game's rich history. The course is a destination, but itβs the feeling of the club that keeps members bonded to Baltusrol.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
All courses
Best in USA
All courses
Best in NJ
All courses
9.1
149 players
Played 2013 Ivies here and came back this spring post-redo. As good as I remember. Not a weak hole on the course. Tests the whole bag. Rewards great shots and punishes poor ones. Tillinghast at his best. Club vibe is relaxed and down to earth, and our host was delightful.
Insanely hard with the wind blowing 30+ all day. Nonetheless, I love Tilly designs and this was no different. Hope to get back out there someday to play the Upper course.
Amazing layout and history!
Public courses closest to Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club.
Most visitors to Baltusrol Golf Club arrive through Newark Liberty International (EWR), a straightforward twenty-five-minute drive west into the wooded hills of suburban Essex County. Teterboro Airport serves as the preferred gateway for private aviation, positioned even closer to Springfield's leafy enclaves. The route from either hub traces a gentle ascent from the urban corridor into increasingly serene residential terrain, where the road narrows and the canopy thickens, before delivering you to the understated entrance of one of American golf's most storied sanctuaries - a place where championship pedigree and old-guard discretion have coexisted for more than a century.

FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 9.1 out of 10 based on 149 logged golfers.
Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Lower is 72.
Lower plays 7,550 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Lower is 146.
Lower is a 72-hole course.