U.S. Open to Return to Baltusrol Golf Club in 20 Years

The United States Golf Association announced that Baltusrol Golf Club will host the 2046 U.S. Open, marking the championship's return to the Springfield club for the first time since Lee Janzen won the title in 1993. The announcement comes after 53 years without the U.S. Open at the venue and represents a major achievement for one of America's most storied golf clubs.

Union County Life covers major civic institutions and community accomplishments as part of our ongoing coverage of Springfield and the 20 other Union County municipalities.

The USGA awarded Baltusrol four additional future championships: the 2033 U.S. Mid-Amateur, the 2039 U.S. Amateur, and a future U.S. Women's Open. The club is also scheduled to host the PGA Championship in 2029. These five major tournaments will bring Baltusrol's total number of USGA championships to 20 over its history—a distinction that places the Springfield club fourth all-time behind only Merion Golf Club and Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania and The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Doug Rotatori, president of Baltusrol Golf Club, stated that the announcement represents the continuation of a championship tradition that has helped define the club for more than a century.

Baltusrol's championship history reflects a legacy that extends to golf's most legendary players. Willie Anderson won the 1903 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, claiming the second of his record-tying four U.S. Open championships. Jack Nicklaus captured two U.S. Open titles on the Lower Course, winning in 1967 and 1980 and setting the championship's 72-hole scoring record in both victories. Lee Janzen's 1993 victory made him only the second player at the time to break 70 in all four rounds of the championship.

Baltusrol continued to host major championships after 1993. Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at the club in 2005, and Jimmy Walker won it in 2016. The club hosted the 2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, demonstrating its role in hosting women's professional golf at the highest level.

The club's courses have undergone significant architectural evolution. Legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. made significant changes to the Lower Course in the 1950s. More recently, architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner completed a comprehensive restoration of Baltusrol's Lower and Upper Courses.

The future championships represent both a recognition of Baltusrol's place in American golf history and a signal of the club's continued prominence as a major championship venue.

Stay informed about Springfield's civic institutions, sporting legacy, and community news on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: When will the U.S. Open return to Baltusrol Golf Club?
A: The U.S. Open will return to Baltusrol Golf Club in 2046. This marks the championship's return to the Springfield club for the first time since Lee Janzen won the title in 1993—a gap of 53 years.

Q: What other championships will Baltusrol host?
A: In addition to the 2046 U.S. Open, Baltusrol will host the 2029 PGA Championship, the 2033 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and the 2039 U.S. Amateur. The club has also been awarded a future U.S. Women's Open.

Q: How many USGA championships will Baltusrol have hosted after these awards?
A: After these new championships, Baltusrol will have hosted 20 total USGA championships throughout its history.

Q: What is Baltusrol's ranking among U.S. golf clubs by championships hosted?
A: Baltusrol ranks fourth all-time in the United States for number of USGA championships hosted, behind Merion Golf Club and Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania and The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Q: Which famous golfers have won championships at Baltusrol?
A: Baltusrol has hosted victories by legendary players including Willie Anderson (1903 U.S. Open), Jack Nicklaus (1967 and 1980 U.S. Opens), Lee Janzen (1993 U.S. Open), Phil Mickelson (2005 PGA Championship), and Jimmy Walker (2016 PGA Championship).

Q: When was Baltusrol last restored?
A: Architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner completed a comprehensive restoration of Baltusrol's Lower and Upper Courses. The Lower Course was previously modified by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the 1950s.