Baltusrol Golf Club: Lower

I had the pleasure of attending an event at a truly beautiful venue. The staff were exceptionally friendly, and the decorations were lovely. The food was absolutely delicious, and the chicken was particularly tender.

Baltusrol Golf Club is an exceptional and historic course that offers a world-class golfing experience. The greens are immaculate, the fairways beautifully maintained, and the layout is both challenging and enjoyable for all skill levels. The clubhouse is elegant, with top-notch service and warm hospitality from the staff. The overall atmosphere is refined and relaxing, making every visit memorable. A truly iconic destination for golf enthusiasts.

Let me tell you something straight, friend: Baltusrol’s Upper Course, freshly unearthed and reborn by Gil Hanse, is no longer just a golf course—it’s a fever dream sculpted into the Watchung Mountains. Tillinghast built the bones, but Hanse brought the thing roaring back to life like Frankenstein in plus-fours. This is not a renovation. This is resurrection. The fairways sweep and roll like some ancient battlefield—wide enough to tease you, but sloped just enough to betray your second shot if you’re even one degree off-kilter. Greens the size of aircraft carriers, yes, but tiered, canted, and grinning at you like a coyote in the moonlight. Miss long and you’re lost. Miss short and you’re watching your ball trickle back like a bad idea. Bunkers? Man. These aren’t hazards—they’re ambushes—jagged, deep, and carved into the land like relics from a forgotten war. Placed with such malevolent precision, you almost respect them even as they ruin your card. But here’s the kicker—the final, beautiful touch of madness: Gil Hanse refused to put his name on the scorecard. No signature. No credit. Just A.W. Tillinghast—front and center. That’s not ego. That’s reverence. That’s a man channeling the ghost of a master and leaving no fingerprints behind. Pure Tillinghast, down to the last ridge and bunker lip. This isn’t just a restoration. It’s a full-blown revival meeting in the church of golden age golf. Five stars. And if you’re lucky enough to walk it, you’ll hear the sermon loud and clear.

Amazing experience but its only available to members. I had the privilege to dine at the infamous Baltusrol Golf Club where the PGA championships were hosted many times in the past. Their hall of fame boasts the legendary icons of the golf championship world. The dining experience at one of the eight on-site restaurants was excellent as you can expect from a top tier global club. The menu had a great selection of traditional meat, seafood, salads and desserts at surprisingly affordable prices. The halibut and salmon were amazing (perfectly cooked) and so was the crab cake which they split into two. The complimentary home made selection of baked goods (bread) for starters was a classy beginning. This truly was a treat and thank the team at Baltusrol for the wonderful hospitality.

What an epic, historic, and challenging golf course! Upper is more enjoyable and scenic, arguably the better course as the lower is just a straight forward championship golf course that will test you. Club house is awesome with a great bar and restaurant and the memorabilia in there is just second to none. Play if you have a chance at all costs.