Baltusrol Golf Club Hole by Hole Guide: Hole 1

A guide to the first hole on Baltusrol Golf Club's Lower Course which hosts the 98th USPGA Championship

Hole 1 - Par 4 - 478 yards

The first at Baltusrol is a long par-4 that plays as a par-5 for members.

Out of bounds left spells disaster whilst five fairway bunkers off the tee - three left and two right - mean that a poor tee shot will likely be punished with a bogey or worse.

The fairway rises so the shorter hitters, or anyone not hitting a driver, may be unable to see the green, which is small.

The green is heavily bunkered short right with three large traps lying 20-40 yards short, and the putting surface itself is guarded by a bunker on either side.

Since the 2005 USPGA, there has been a severe run-off area built at the back-left of the green so anything pulled will leave a very difficult up-and-down.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.