CaddieTrail Guide
New Jersey is home to Pine Valley, the greatest golf course in America, and backs it up with one of the deepest top-20 lists in the country. Baltusrol, Somerset Hills, and Plainfield anchor a trail where every course is private.
New Jersey is home to Pine Valley, the greatest golf course in America, and backs it up with one of the deepest Top 20 lists in the country. Tillinghast's masterworks at Baltusrol (Lower and Upper) and Somerset Hills anchor the top five alongside Plainfield's restored Donald Ross. Ridgewood, Hollywood, and Bayonne round out a top ten that spans Golden Age parkland to modern links-inspired design. Every course on this trail is private.
#1 on trail
Pine Valley Golf ClubPine Valley, New Jersey
Consistently ranked the world's #1 course, this George Crump & H.S. Colt design punishes errant shots with vast sandy wastelands and unforgiving native scrub. Invitation-only access.
#2 on trail
Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower)Springfield, New Jersey
Tillinghast's 1922 masterpiece in Springfield, NJ has hosted seven U.S. Opens. The par-3 4th over water and brutal 17th define its championship pedigree.
#3 on trail
Somerset Hills Country ClubBernardsville, New Jersey
A.W. Tillinghast design from 1918 set across rolling New Jersey hills. Tight fairways, precise bunkering, and elevation changes reward strategic play over power.
#4 on trail
Baltusrol Golf Club: UpperSpringfield, New Jersey
Tillinghast's 1922 Upper course at Baltusrol plays through rolling New Jersey terrain with demanding par-4s and precise iron demands. Private access.
#5 on trail
Plainfield Country ClubEdison, New Jersey
Donald Ross design from 1921 with classic contoured greens and strategic bunkering. Has hosted multiple USGA championships. Private.
#6 on trail
Ridgewood Country Club (Championship)Paramus, New Jersey
A.W. Tillinghast designed this 27-hole property in 1929, with the Championship composite routing drawing from three nines across rolling northern New Jersey terrain. Host to the 1935 Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Tour events.
CaddieTrail is the pursuit platform for serious golfers.