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Tommy Williamsen

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Baltusrol Lower before and after
« on: June 19, 2021, 07:45:31 PM »
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Cliff Hamm

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2021, 11:25:50 AM »
Here is an article from Golfing Magazine, New Jersey issue. You will need to scroll to the Baltusrol article. The course looks fantastic with a restoration not a renovation. Gil Hanse’s comments were of interest, especially lowering the bunkers to fit the ground better. Any comments/pictures from those who have played it?


https://issuu.com/golfingmagazine/docs/2021_early_summer_golfing_magazine_new_jersey


tried the link. It requires an account with Issuu…You then will need to search for Golfing Magazine,New Jersey  summer issue 2021.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2021, 11:29:10 AM by Cliff Hamm »

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2021, 12:46:25 PM »
Thanks Cliff. I had no trouble with the link and don't think have an account.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Cliff Hamm

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2021, 02:54:48 PM »
Glad it worked. I did try it a second time and it worked then.


 I have a soft spot for Baltusrol as I caddied there for a number of years in the 60s.  It is where my interest in golf architecture began. In 1967 even had a chance to caddy with Nicklaus and Beman playing a couple of holes with us during a practice round.


The course is almost unrecognizable. For example, I did not recognize the par 3 12th.  Only figured it out by the fairway behind, which is the 10th, the tee box behind for 13 and you can see the road, which borders the course in the distance.





Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2021, 03:41:05 PM »
I have payed the course a dozen times over the last 35 years so I have seen it in a few iterations. I will be back in September and am eager to play it with a member friend who has belonged for fifty years. I want to know what he thinks.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Dan Herrmann

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2021, 08:22:53 PM »
Tommy - I spoke with a "high ranking" member of Ross's Country Club of Rochester about a year after Gil's work.   He told me the membership was thrilled with the restoration there.   I'm sure our friends at Baltusrol will have a similar reaction.


(and yes, there were a few that too many trees were removed, but the member told me they were coming around)

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=53129.0
« Last Edit: July 03, 2021, 08:30:55 PM by Dan Herrmann »

Steve Lapper

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Re: Baltusrol Lower before and after
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2021, 05:23:07 PM »
Having played it a few weeks ago, it is a vastly improved course. Gil's efforts enhanced both the strategy (resetting/adding bunker locations, sizes and shapes as well as expanding several greens and short-grass surrounds) and aesthetics (adding thin fescue to back-edges of bunkers). The latter serves to fool and deceive the player's near zero horizon sight-lines and depth perception.


Equally important, their new Superintendent, Greg Boring (ex CC of Scranton) dumped thousands and thousands of tons of sand across the course firming up turf that had been effectively playing like a swamp for the past decade-plus. Excessive trees and growth were eliminated and the course now plays immensely better.


Kudos to all involved. As someone who wasn't always a fan, there's no doubt the "new" Lower is infinitely more fun and charming without losing any of its vaunted difficulty. I certainly look forward to 2023-24 and what this team delivers to their Upper Course.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2021, 05:48:15 PM by Steve Lapper »
The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking."--John Kenneth Galbraith

Cliff Hamm

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