Springfield, NJ—New Jersey is the 46th largest State in area in the United States, but its reputation in the golf arena clearly exceeds its limited geographical size—both historically and carrying through to the present day. In boxing terms, no other state in America carries as much punch for such a limited size in total area. Unfortunately, because the State is bracketed by the likes of New York City and Philadelphia it is often thought to be nothing more than an appendage to those larger cities. Far from it.
The Garden State has a golf history that is rich—in terms of the key courses located there and the many interesting people who have played various roles in the development of golf in America.
Leading the way is Baltusrol Golf Club. Founded in 1895 by Louis Keller, the Springfield-based club has played an active role in staging major golf championships, stretching back to the earliest days of golf in the 20th century. With this year’s PGA Championship Baltusrol will have hosted 17 national championships—including seven U.S. Opens and two PGA’s. The club is also the only facility in America in which both courses—Lower and Upper—have been host sites for the U.S. Open.
The formidable Lower Course—originally an A.W. Tillinghast design and opened for play in 1922—was updated in the early 1950’s by Montclair resident and world renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The work that Jones created proved so demanding members suggested he play the strengthened par-3 4th hole with its daunting water carry. Jones came to Baltusrol and proceeded to hit a 4-iron into the hole. Without skipping a beat he pronounced, “Gentlemen, as you can see, the hole is eminently fair!”
