Baltusrol Golf Club (Upper)

Tillinghast's hilltop course at Baltusrol, host of the 1936 U.S. Open, recently restored by Gil Hanse: steeper ground and more contoured greens than its famous sibling, the Lower.

Baltusrol's two courses opened together in 1922, when A.W. Tillinghast replaced the club's original 1895 layout. The Upper climbs the slopes of Baltusrol Mountain, while the Lower stays on the flatter ground below. The Upper has a championship record of its own. It hosted the 1936 U.S. Open, which Tony Manero won after Harry Cooper bogeyed three of the last five holes, and later the 1985 U.S. Women's Open and 2000 U.S. Amateur.

The hillside dictates almost everything. Tee shots cross sloping fairways, and approaches come from uneven lies into heavily contoured greens. Ponds come into play on the 9th and 13th, and creeks cross the 10th, 13th and 15th. The par-5 11th runs close to 600 yards with a line of bunkers along the left for about 100 yards, and a swale guards the front of its green. The Upper is also part of the 1954 U.S. Open story: Ed Furgol escaped trouble on the Lower's 18th by playing down the Upper's 18th fairway.

Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner closed the course after the 2023 season for a $22.9 million restoration. They rebuilt every green to modern specifications and reshaped bunkers, tees and fairways toward Tillinghast's style. They also installed new irrigation and drainage so the course could play firm. Hanse has said the Upper had stayed closer to Tillinghast than the Lower, and it reopened in May 2025.

Holes to know

8

Par 5

Hanse's favorite on the course: the fairway tumbles over rumpled ground to a green set up on a shelf, defended by modest but well-placed bunkers.

11

Par 5

Close to 600 yards, with bunkers running about 100 yards down the left and a swale in front of a ringed green.

13

One of the holes where both a pond and a creek come into play on the hilly back nine.

Championships

• U.S. Open 1936
• U.S. Women's Open 1985
• U.S. Amateur (with the Lower Course) 2000

Design history

• Rees Jones with Steve Weisser: moved numerous tees and rebuilt every bunker (pre-Hanse)
• 2023–25: Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner restoration of all greens, bunkers, tees and fairways; reopened May 2025