Baltusrol Golf Club Review (2026): Named After a Murder, Built for Legends

The club is named after a murder victim. The 4th hole was declared “too hard” by members — until the architect holed out a one-iron to prove them wrong. Jack Nicklaus won here twice. And in 2029, the PGA Championship returns for a 20th major.

That’s Baltusrol Golf Club in five sentences. And somehow, it undersells the place.

Here’s the full Baltusrol Golf Club review — two restored championship courses, 130 years of history, and a wine program that rivals the golf. Let me walk you through everything.

Baltusrol Golf Club — Quick Facts

The Story Behind the Name

Most golf clubs are named after landscapes or founders. Baltusrol is named after a murder.

Baltus Roll was a Dutch farmer who owned this land in the early 1800s. On February 22, 1831, two thieves broke into his farmhouse seeking hidden treasure. They killed him. The murder became local legend.

When Louis Keller purchased the land in 1895 to found a golf club, he kept the name as a tribute to the property’s history. That’s how America’s most storied private golf club got its name from a homicide victim.

What I Liked — The Pros

• Two restored Tillinghast masterpieces. The Lower Course (Gil Hanse, 2021) and Upper Course (Gil Hanse, 2025) are both now at their best in decades. This is the first time in Baltusrol’s history that both 18-hole courses are simultaneously at championship-caliber conditioning.
• 19 major championships — soon to be 20. Seven U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships, two Women’s Opens, and more. The 2029 PGA Championship on the Lower Course will be the 20th major hosted here. No private club carries more championship history per acre.
• The 4th hole story alone is worth the trip. When members complained that architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. had made the par-3 too hard, Jones grabbed a club, walked to the tee, and holed out in one. He then turned to the members: “Gentlemen, I believe the hole is eminently fair.” The hole stayed. The story stayed.
• The wine program is extraordinary. A 300+ bottle list with roughly 25% under $100. World-class selections priced below retail. Staff who track member preferences across visits. Six to seven paired dinners annually. Monthly tastings. This isn’t what people expect when they think of a golf club — and that’s exactly the point.
• The clubhouse is a National Historic Landmark. The 80,000-square-foot Tudor Revival building, completed in 1909, holds the kind of golf memorabilia most clubs would put in a museum. Bobby Jones’ scorecard. Championship artifacts. A custom 9-foot interactive touchscreen in the Scoring Room documenting the club’s history.
• Walking with a caddie here is the right way to play golf. Caddies are mandatory between 7am and 2pm, available all day. The members’ caddie culture is one of the most respected in American golf — and for good reason. You read the greens differently when someone who’s walked them 300 times is standing next to you.

What I Didn’t Like — The Cons

• Impossible to access without knowing members. Reports suggest you need to know eight members for at least three years before a membership is seriously considered. An estimated $150,000 initiation fee follows. This isn’t a club you stumble into.
• The Lower Course greens are punishingly fast. Maintained at tournament speed year-round. Wrong-side positions create 3-putts and 4-putts even for skilled players. First-timers are at a significant disadvantage because the contours are subtle and deceptive.
• The flat middle section of the Lower Course (holes 7–12) is the least visually compelling stretch. For a course this celebrated, some reviewers note this stretch is surprisingly ordinary.
• The Upper Course is newly reopened. The Hanse restoration finished in 2025. Limited independent reviews exist yet. You’re playing a restored masterpiece — but one without much post-restoration public feedback to draw from.
• No tipping policy (except caddies) can create awkward moments for first-time guests. It’s a club tradition and a good one — but it catches guests off guard when they instinctively reach for their wallet after a meal.

The Two Courses — Upper vs. Lower

Most visitors focus on the Lower Course. Members often prefer the Upper. Here’s why.

Here’s something almost no review mentions: these two courses sit on completely different geological formations. The Lower Course was built on a glacial moraine deposit — land shaped by ice sheets 18,000 years ago. The Upper Course sits on Baltusrol Mountain, formed by ancient lava flows 200 million years ago. One property. Two geological eras. Two completely different feels underfoot.

Signature Holes — Lower Course

• Hole 4 “The Famous Fourth” (par-3, 195 yards): The hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. aced to silence the critics. An elevated green surrounded by four bunkers, sloping sharply left. Several tee positions allow varying approach angles. The most famous par-3 in New Jersey golf.
• Hole 17 (par-5, 647 yards): Features the legendary “Sahara” bunker — repositioned 40 yards closer to the tee by Hanse to restore the challenge. John Daly is the only player in history to reach the green in two shots. Tiger Woods overshot it in two at the 2005 PGA Championship.
• Hole 18 (par-5): Jack Nicklaus hit his famous 1-iron approach here in 1967 to clinch his first US Open title. The closing hole returns to the Tudor clubhouse with water from the tee.

Membership & Fees

Baltusrol does not publish official fee schedules. Third-party estimates from multiple sources in 2026:

Membership is fully transferable — members can sell upon departure. Young Executive memberships offer reduced fees for younger members. Contact (973) 376-1900 for current information.

Best Time to Visit

May through June and September through October are the prime months for Baltusrol golf in New Jersey. Spring conditions after both Hanse restorations are stunning — courses are in peak conditioning with lush bentgrass throughout.

Fall — especially October — offers ideal temperatures, firm fairways, and foliage views from the Upper Course’s ridge that are among the best in New Jersey golf.

Avoid January through March. New Jersey winters limit play significantly and course conditions aren’t worth the visit.

Dress Code

• ✅ Slacks or shorts with collared shirts; golf shirts tucked in
• ✅ Proper golf footwear (no metal spikes)
• ❌ Jeans, denim, cargo pants, sandals, flip-flops
• ❌ No hats or caps inside the clubhouse
• After 6pm: jackets required in the Main Dining Room and on the main floor
• Jackets + ties required for lunch and dinner in the Main Dining Room

Who Is Baltusrol For?

This is for you if you’re a serious golfer with ties to the New York metropolitan area and the opportunity to pursue membership through existing connections. The 36-hole depth, caddie culture, championship history, and wine program make it arguably the most complete private golf club experience in the northeastern US.

Worth pursuing if you genuinely prioritize golf above everything else and value a club where serious players dominate the membership. The handicap profile here — 189 members below a 5 — tells you everything about who calls Baltusrol home.

Not for you if you want public access, a relaxed dress code, or a trendy social scene. Baltusrol is traditional, serious about golf, and unapologetic about it.

People Also Ask

How much does it cost to join Baltusrol Golf Club?

Baltusrol Golf Club does not publicly disclose membership fees. Third-party estimates consistently cite an initiation fee of approximately $150,000 with annual dues of ~$18,500 per year. Membership is invitation-only — you must be sponsored by existing members and navigate an informal waitlist. Contact the club at (973) 376-1900 for current information.

Is Baltusrol Golf Club open to the public?

No. Baltusrol Golf Club is strictly private — public tee times do not exist. Non-members may only play as guests of an existing member. Membership requires sponsorship from current members. There is no online application or walk-in inquiry process. The club’s contact number is (973) 376-1900 for any general inquiries.

How many US Opens has Baltusrol hosted?

Baltusrol Golf Club has hosted seven U.S. Opens: 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980, and 1993. The 1954 Open was also the first U.S. Open broadcast on national television (NBC, with Lindsey Nelson calling the action). Jack Nicklaus won twice at Baltusrol — in 1967 and 1980 — setting the 72-hole US Open record both times.

What courses does Baltusrol Golf Club have?

Baltusrol has two 18-hole championship courses — the Upper Course and the Lower Course — both designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in June 1922. Both were recently restored by Gil Hanse: the Lower Course reopened in 2021 after a $22–23 million restoration, and the Upper Course reopened in 2025 after a $23 million reconstruction. Together they represent the finest 36-hole facility in the northeastern US.

Who won the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol?

Jimmy Walker won the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course, shooting a final-round 67 to finish at 14-under-par. It was his first major championship title. Baltusrol is set to host the 2029 PGA Championship on the Lower Course — its 20th major championship overall, which would make it one of the most decorated major venues in US golf history.

Why is Baltusrol Golf Club called Baltusrol?

Baltusrol Golf Club is named after Baltus Roll, a Dutch farmer who was murdered on the property on February 22, 1831, by two thieves looking for hidden treasure. When Louis Keller purchased the land in 1895 to found a golf club, he kept the name as a tribute to the property’s history. It’s one of the most unusual naming stories in American golf.

Final Verdict — GCR Score: 4.8 / 5

Baltusrol earns 4.8 out of 5 because there is no private golf club in America that combines championship depth, architectural quality, historical significance, and dining excellence at this level. The $46 million investment across both Hanse restorations has brought both courses to their finest condition in decades — simultaneously, for the first time in the club’s history.

The only reason it’s not a perfect 5 is access. The $150,000 initiation fee and invitation-only membership mean that for most golfers, Baltusrol will remain a name on a scorecard they’ll never hold.

But if you have the opportunity — take it. Few things in American golf match a morning round on the Lower Course at Baltusrol, with a caddie who knows every subtle break on every Tillinghast green.

See our full golf club reviews or learn how we rate each club on our review methodology page.

Last reviewed: June 27, 2026

About the Reviewer: With 20+ years reviewing America’s finest private and public golf clubs, I specialize in giving golfers the real picture — history, conditions, culture, and value. More on our About page.