Baltusrol stretches out for 2005 PGA Championship

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. - When is a 630-yard hole not long enough? When it's the 17th at Baltusrol Country Club, site of the 2005 PGA Championship.

At a press conference last week announcing the sale of tickets to the last of next year's majors, officials also discussed changes that have been made to the Lower Course, which last hosted a major in 1993, when Lee Janzen edged out Payne Stewart for his first U.S. Open victory.

That event saw John Daly become the first and only player to ever reach the famed 17th in two shots. There may be more pros doing that during next year's competition scheduled for Aug. 8-14, but they'll be playing from a new tee that adds 25 more yards to the monstrous par 5.

That's not the only change being made to Baltusrol's Lower Course, which has hosted seven U.S. Open championships over the past century. In fact the 17th won't even be the most stretched out hole - that honor goes to the par-4 third, which added 60 yards and will now play as a 503-yard, dogleg left. New tees were also added on the 13th and 14th; the former also received five new bunkers; while the fairway was moved on the latter, resulting in a more pronounced dogleg right.

For the 2005 PGA, the layout will be a par 70 and measure 7,400 yards, an overall increase of 250 yards involving seven different holes since the Open 11 years ago. "The basic design of the course has not changed," said John Huneke, the club's tournament chairman. "Generally speaking we've recontoured most of the fairways, narrowed landing areas in the 265-300 yard range off tees, and renovated the rough. It's absolutely a response to the new technology and how far players can hit the ball today."

Show me the money

Where the PGA goes, so goes the money. Especially when it comes to its biggest event. "From past experiences we've seen that an economic impact on the community hosting is anywhere from $40 to $60 million dollars for this event," said Roger Warren, vice president of the PGA.

"I might add that the state has done some economic analysis and we think it's at the higher end of that number actually," said George Zoffinger, president of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

The driver behind all those rosy numbers? The 35,000 tickets now on sale for each day of the championship, a number that excludes volunteers and junior tickets. Prices range from $30 for a practice round to $90 plus tax for each day of play. Multiple-day ticket packages range from $325 to $400 plus tax.

In fact, officials expect such a great response to the event that 12,000 parking spots have been set aside at Giants Stadium for spectators. Shuttle buses will then deliver them to the course. How long that trip will take in rush hour traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway is anyone's guess. A safer bet may be taking New Jersey Transit trains to a station in nearby Summit, less than four miles from the club's entrance. Shuttle buses to the course will be provided from there as well.

Welcome to Jersey

The event should mark the first competitive round ever played by Tiger Woods in the Garden State. That's almost as infrequent an appearance as the PGA Championship itself, which was only played once before in New Jersey, back in 1942. Jim Turnesa had defeated both Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson before facing Sam Snead in the finals held that year at Seaview Country Club in Atlantic City. Snead won by draining a 60-foot chip shot for birdie, earning a 2 and 1 win and his first major championship. For more information about tickets, go to pga2005.com or call (800) PGA-TCKT.

July 20, 2004

As an Associate Editor at GOLF MAGAZINE for three years, Tom Mackin wrote about golf destinations in the United States, Mexico, Scotland, Ireland and Australia.