
Lower Course
Baltusrol Golf Club

About this 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 itโs the feeling of the club that keeps members bonded to Baltusrol.
Rankings
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
Best in USA
Best in NJ
Quick facts
- Location
- Springfield, NJ, USA
- Access
- Private
- Holes
- 72
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,550 yards
- Difficulty
- 146
- Course Vaults score
- 9.1
Getting there
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
Common questions about Lower at Baltusrol Golf Club
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 152 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.






