| The Baltusrol Golf Club in northern New Jersey at | | | | If you're running out of steam at the end of your |
| the foot of Baltusrol Mountain has been in | | | | round, the 17th will not make you happy. |
| operation since 1895. It's a private club with two | | | | It's a 570 yard Par 5 monster with a two-part |
| top notch courses, the Lower and Upper, and | | | | fairway divided by what looks like the Sahara |
| there's been sixteen major championships played | | | | Desert, but is really 6 separate sand traps. Once |
| at Baltusrol during its long history. | | | | past that little obstacle, you've still got 150 yards |
| Let's take a look at some of the holes on the the | | | | to go and some more traps around the green. If |
| Lower course and see what's in store for us. The | | | | you're going to miss the fairway on 17, miss left, |
| first is a 478 yard Par 5 that is almost perfectly | | | | where you might have a chance to recover. The |
| straight from tee to green. The fairway narrows | | | | right side of the fairway is a solid line of trees. |
| down about halfway to the hole and there are | | | | As you may have guessed, the 18th is not any |
| traps left and right that will catch mid-length | | | | easier or shorter. You need to conquer a 520 |
| hitters that stray off the fairway. If you're lucky | | | | yard Par 5 before you get a chance to stroll |
| enough to drop one on the narrow fairway, then | | | | triumphantly into the clubhouse. This time it's a |
| you're looking at a second shot toward a fairly | | | | dogleg left with a a little creek running across the |
| small green that's fronted left and right with | | | | fairway at about 300 yards. Most of us merely |
| pretty substantial traps. All in all, a good test of | | | | human players will lay up short of the hazard and |
| your strength and nerve, and its only the first | | | | hope to layup short of the green and get on in 3. |
| hole. | | | | If you have the strength left to two putt, do it, |
| The third is a 451 yard Par 4 with a dogleg left | | | | and call it a victory. |
| and a narrow fairway once again. If you miss left | | | | Playing a course like the Lower at Baltusrol is a |
| or right here and you're in serious trouble in the | | | | great reminder that the guys who do this for a |
| trees. If you survive your tee shot it's another | | | | living and make it look so easy really are |
| 200 yards or so to a pretty small circular green | | | | extremely talented athletes. The rest us should |
| amply guarded by sand on the front left and right. | | | | just enjoy the occasional good shot and the |
| Going over the green is not recommended | | | | camaraderie of friends on a weekend afternoon |
| because those nasty trees are lurking there again. | | | | and be grateful that someone invented such a |
| As before, accuracy and nerve are called for in | | | | crazy and satisfying game. |
| big doses. | | | | |