The LPGA’s Jersey finale — Facts about Baltusrol — Must-click women’s golf links
By Addie Parker
The IX: Golf Thursday with Addie Parker, June 22, 2023
Happy Golf Thursday and KPMG week everybody! There’s nothing like a major championship to get you hyped for the weekend, and with rain in the forecast over the next few days, I can’t think of anything better than curling up on my couch and watching world-class golf — though most of my weekends end up looking like this.
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This is the last leg of the LPGA’s Garden State tour and the ladies are in Springfield, N.J. for the 69th playing of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club. The second major of the year will be contested on the Lower Course at Baltusrol, proven to be a tough test for the 156-player field, who will compete for a $9 million purse.
The field includes 10 past KPMG champions including players like the defending champ In Gee Chun, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson, and Laura Davies. 19 of 32 rookies will be in the field this week, as well as eight LPGA and PGA members/pros. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a culmination of the PGA of America, KPMG, and the LPGA with the intent to elevate women’s golf with an increased purse and develop a resume of premier venues like Congressional Country Club, Atlanta Athletic Club, Aronimink Golf Club — and now Baltusrol.
Take a look at the featured groups of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
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The course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1918, is a dual course layout. There’s the Upper Course — a member-friendly walking course traversing the side of a hill overlooking the second and Lower Course. The championship Lower Course was renovated by Gil Hanse in 2021 to become a daunting par-71 test stretching over 6,621 yards.
The Lower Course consists of three par 5s, four par 3s, and 11 par 4s. The average yardage of par 4s sits at approximately 400 yards — driving distance and accuracy are key. 122 bunkers sprinkled across the layout will force the best in the world to meticulously plan every shot, testing their course management skills.
There’s a rich history of championship golf at Baltusrol — which I dive into in this week’s Five at The IX. I found out a lot of interesting tidbits that will surprise you.
For the first time in Women’s PGA Championship history, live, commercial-free coverage will occur for the final hour of the final round on NBC (thanks Callaway!!!)
Round one coverage begins at 11 am ET on Golf Channel and Peacock. The full coverage schedule is below…happy watching!!!
Thursday, June 22
Golf Central Pregame:
10:00am – 11:00am (GC)
Round 1
11:00am – 3:00pm (GC / Peacock)
5:00pm – 7:00pm (Peacock)
Golf Central
6:00pm – 7:00pm (GC)
Friday, June 23
Golf Central Pregame
10:00am – 11:00am (GC)
Round 2
11:00am – 3:00pm (GC / Peacock)
5:00pm – 7:00pm (Peacock)
Golf Central
6:00pm – 7:00pm (GC)
Saturday, June 24
Golf Central Pregame
12:00pm – 1:00pm (GC)
Round 3
11:00am – 6:00pm (Peacock)
3:00pm – 6:00pm (NBC)
Golf Central
6:00pm – 7:00pm (GC)
Sunday, June 25
Golf Central Pregame
12:00pm – 1:00pm (GC)
Final Round
11:00am – 6:00pm (Peacock)
2:00pm – 6:00pm (NBC)
Golf Central
6:00pm – 7:00pm (GC)
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This week in women’s golf
If you have links you wish to share for Golf Thursday, sources for golf news, or want to talk about anything at all, you can email me at addieparker25@gmail.com ! Discussion of any kind is always welcome…I mean it…MESSAGE ME!
LPGA News
The internal battle and unexpected talent of major winner In Gee Chun
After a short break, Nelly Korda happy to be back at Baltusrol
Lydia Ko looks to leap out of slump at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
WATCH: Rose Zhang reflects on blossoming of career since Mizuho win
A Jersey homecoming for Joanna Coe
Ranking the top 25 players competing at the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Players to watch this week at KPMG!!
Meet the LPGA and PGA Pros competing at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Beyond the Green introduces careers in golf and beyond
Baltusrol’s storied history ready for a new chapter
WATCH: Leona Maguire earns second LPGA Tour win at Meijer LPGA Classic
LET News
The LET is back in Czechia this week for the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
The top stories from the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
Epson Tour News
Island Resort Championship field breakdown
NCAA News
Other News
A capsule of major championship history at Baltusrol Golf Club
This unsung ambassador for junior golf is retiring 50 years after starting prominent national event
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Five at The IX: Five fun facts about Baltusrol Golf Club
There’s a rich history at Baltusrol GC. I mean, seriously, it’s a huge part of golf history. A slew of championships have been played on the historic greens, and for the first time since 1985, the LPGA tour is back in Springfield. Here are five facts about this week’s KPMG Championship venue that will probably surprise you!
Foundation
Before becoming an iconic golf venue, the grounds that the golf course now sits on once were fertile soil for a simple farmer, who grew tomatoes and corn. But the farmer, Baltus Roll, was murdered in 1831 by two thieves — who thought the farmer had a hidden fortune somewhere on the property, becoming the “crime of the century”. Decades later in 1895, Baltusrol Golf Club was founded by Louis Teller, the publisher of the New York Social Register. The name is a nod to the man that once inhabited and tended to the grounds. His headstone rests in a small cemetery, not far from the actual course.
Dual Courses
After Teller purchased the land at Baltusrol, he called on George Hunter to design the first nine holes in 1895, which was then expanded to 18 holes in 1898 — earning the label “The Old Course”. A decade later, Teller then hired A.W. Tillinghast to design another course to complement the Old Course.
Reconstruction began, and the Old Course was plowed over and replaced with the Upper and Lower Courses, the first contiguous 36-hole design built in America. Both courses officially opened for play in June 1922.
The Clubhouse
In 1909, the original clubhouse burned down — thus needing a total facelift, which gives us the iconic English Tudor-style that we see today!
However, in 2019, a fire struck the clubhouse yet again causing pretty significant damage. They were able to preserve most of the memorabilia, while also including some higher-tech features like the nine-foot-long touch screen that sits outside the locker room bar — which serves as an interactive guide detailing all the history of the club and course layout.
The Club’s Privacy Rules
It’s a private club, and though it’s not as strict as Augusta, cellphone usage is extremely limited on the grounds. The club has designated areas where electronic devices can be used — but if you’re ever a guest there, go ahead and leave your headphones in your car because you can’t use them on the range!
The Golden Bear
Jack Nicklaus is one of golf’s greatest champions and he has a rich history of winning on the Lower course at Baltusrol. He won both the 1967 and 1980 U.S. Opens. In 1980, he shot a 63 making it the lowest round ever in U.S. Open history (until last week at LACC).
Seven men’s U.S. Opens have been played at Baltusrol.
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