Latest news with #Tillinghast
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
A Look Inside Baltusrol Golf Club's $23 Million Course Restoration
The Baltusrol clubhouse and the 18th hole of the restored Upper Course at the club. After a year and a half, Baltusrol Golf Club's Upper Course has been reborn through a meticulous $23 million restoration project overseen by golf architect Gil Hanse, one of the hottest names in the design game. The overhaul follows a similar treatment from Hanse and his team on the Lower Course, with both efforts honoring the championship legacy and historic standing of the club while staying true to the vision of Baltusrol founder, Louis Keller, as well as original architect A.W. Tillinghast. Founded over a century ago in Northern New Jersey – just over 20 miles from New York City -- Baltusrol is home to the first dual championship courses in America, stands as the only facility in the U.S. to have hosted both the men's and women's U.S. Open on both its courses, and in 2014 was granted National Historical Landmark status. When brought on by Baltusrol's executive committee in 2017, Hanse, partner Jim Wagner and team were tasked with a difficult balancing act: to restore Tillinghast's century-old vision while considering advancements in modern agronomic equipment and technology, to provide a fun and challenging test for members and guests of all skill levels, and to ensure that both courses could host championship golf at the highest level. 'Together, the restoration of the Dual Courses marks the most significant investment in Baltusrol's golf infrastructure since Tillinghast arrived on property over a century ago,' said Hanse, who also worked closely with Superintendent Greg Boring on course conditioning throughout restoration. 'And with it, the club is poised to continue its legacy as a preeminent dual course facility in America.' Among the most significant changes: Several of the opening holes of the Upper Course at Baltusrol play along the side of Baltusrol ... More Mountain, offering views of the New York City skyline. Baltusrol Upper While the two courses were originally built at the same time, Hanse said the design of the Lower Course is bolder and more aggressive because Tillinghast 'didn't have as much to work with' in terms of the contour. 'The Upper was a little bit more restrained because he had a better piece of land to work with,' Hanse said at the recent unveiling of the restoration. 'And I think that shows the brilliance of a golf architect and that he understands the limitations of certain sites and what it needs architecturally, and he understands the advantages of certain sites and how you might ultimately soften that. 'From the perspective of the Upper, there had been significantly less done to it, meaning that the Lower had had gotten a lot of the architectural changes in the name of hosting championships. The Upper was this kind of sleepy little golf course that sat up there,' Hanse added, noting there was more excitement working with the latter because it felt you were 'a lot closer to Tillinghast.' Gil Hanse on site of the Upper Course restoration Hanse said he felt a bit of 'extra pressure' working on the Upper Course, even armed with original aerial maps, plans and irrigation plans, including photographs from the 1936 U.S. Open. 'We didn't want to disappoint,' he said. Expanded Sightlines From a visual standpoint, the Upper Course has significantly opened sightlines. This is thanks to substantial tree removal – particularly pine trees that were non-native but planted at one time because they were fast growing -- and canopies on other mature native trees that have been lifted. Those areas have been replaced by native fescue grasses that should improve the habitat for wildlife as well as creating dramatic vistas across the property. 'It presents the golf course in a much better way from the Upper down to the Lower,' said Hanse. 'The views of the Manhattan skyline are spectacular, so you (not only) have longer vistas across the property, but also of the adjoining area. Not that Tillinghast would've seen that skyline, but it's a nice bonus.' Sightlines have been opened with the substantial removal of non-native trees across the property. As Hanse and his team started the restoration, they intended to abandon one of the two greens at the par-4 14th hole, as the upper green that sat six to seven feet above the lower green led to occasional flooding. But when they began their work in earnest, they discovered the original grade and dug out the upper one significantly, allowing the side-by-side greens to again coexist. 'We're going to take a year to look at it and see how it plays,' Hanse said. 'And then we can determine whether it's every other day or whether one green is more fitting for a championship than the other.' The restored double green at Baltusrol's Upper Course Major Championships Hanse said it was the club membership that drove improvements and there wasn't any consultation with major championship organizers such as the USGA or PGA of America. When Baltusrol's Lower Course hosts the 2029 PGA Championship it will be the club's 20th major championship. 'We've built up enough of a relationship with them and enough of a trust that they feel pretty good that we're going to keep them in mind when we're doing the work here,' Hanse said. The work on the 14th hole's double green during the restoration process. The biggest challenge when it comes to restorations is research, noted Hanse, adding that the main demand of new design is figuring out the best way to utilize a piece of property and build the most interesting golf course. With a focus on the vision of the original architect, in this case Tillinghast, Hanse and his team 'kind of take our ego and plug it over here and our design thoughts and keep them out the door.' While new golf course development is on a slight uptick in the post-Covid years – with Hanse and team taking an active role there as well – it's the investment being made in the nation's thousands of existing golf courses that are perhaps the most noteworthy sign of the game's health and vitality. The National Golf Foundation estimated late last year that U.S. courses spent over $3 billion in significant discretionary capital investments, with enhancements ranging from the golf course itself to the clubhouse and other infrastructure. In some ways, the restoration efforts can be like a full rebuilding. Greens have been expanded significantly to their edges, offering up to 25% more "pinnable" hole ... More positions. 'When we're restoring them and trying to bring back what he did, we've got to treat it like a new golf course,' said Hanse. 'We've got to get the scale right; we've got to move things out. We've got to put bunkers in the ground the way they originally were. So, the disruption is bigger in that regard than what might otherwise be some other people's approaches to restoration.' Baltusrol's Upper Course is not only back and better than before, it's fully embraced Tillinghast's architectural genius and the club's championship legacy.
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
PGA Tour Returns to Philly, First Time Since 2018: Community Connections at Cobbs Creek
Commentary FLOURTOWN, Pa.—Two major golf storylines are happening this week in the City of Brotherly Love. First, the PGA Tour returns for the first time since 2018 when the BMW Championship was played at Aronimink. The Truist Championship is being played at one of the area's most historic clubs—Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown—located 15 miles from Center City. The club's founding dates back to 1854. This week, the 72 best players will be competing in the sixth of eight signature events conducted by the PGA Tour. The 72-hole event is being played on the Wissahickon Course, which was designed by the gifted architect A.W. Tillinghast in 1922. Interesting side note: Tillinghast was a member of the club in his early years as a golfer, and his ashes were said to have been spread at the course when he died. In 2013, architect Keith Foster updated the layout of the course, which is named for a meandering stream that winds through the area. The staging of elite-level pro golf in the Philadelphia metro area used to be an annual occurrence. Between 1963 and 1980, the IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic was hosted by nearby Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. The event got off to a rousing start as Arnold Palmer was the initial winner and was followed the next two years with victories by Jack Nicklaus. Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/1/2025 Philadelphia's pedigree in the golf world is led by Merion Golf Club in Ardmore. The club has hosted 19 USGA championships—the most by any club in America. Most notably, the club's East Course has been the venue for five U.S. Opens—with a sixth planned for 2030—celebrating the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Grand Slam by Bob Jones. Arguably, with the exception of the New York-New Jersey metro area, no American city has a deeper roster of superior private clubs than the metro Philadelphia area. During the golden age of golf architecture in the 1920s, Tillinghast, William Flynn, George Crump, George Thomas, and William Fownes placed their fingerprints on an array of stellar courses. But the interesting commonality was that all the key clubs are private and off limits to all but members and their guests. The public side of the ledger, in comparison, pales in terms of quality, but one specific course engendered a deep love for the pathway provided to the broadest number of aspiring golfers. The logo for the Cobbs Creek Foundation. Courtesy of Cobbs Creek Foundation Cobbs Creek opened for play on Memorial Day in 1916 and was a landmark gift to the City of Philadelphia. Located in West Philadelphia, the 18-hole Olde Course was designed by Hugh Wilson—a Princeton graduate and the man responsible for the creation of Merion's East Course. Cobbs Creek was hosting important exhibitions almost as soon as it opened. The club served as the site for the USGA Public Links Championship in 1928. The PGA Tour would visit in 1955 and 1956. Cobbs Creek served as a meaningful destination for inclusion—welcoming women and people of color at a time when private clubs remained segregated. At Cobbs Creek, if you loved golf, you were always welcome. During its heyday, the municipally-owned Cobbs Creek was the key venue for those with modest incomes to begin their introduction to the game of golf. The most acclaimed black golfer to call Cobbs Creek home was Charlie Sifford—the first African-American to play on the PGA Tour. Sifford won twice on the PGA Tour but was denied an invitation to be the first black to play in the Masters. Lee Trevino noted Sifford's journey and hailed him as golf's Jackie Robinson—the first black player to integrate major league baseball. When Sifford was no longer able to compete, his journey served as inspiration for a young aspiring talent named Tiger Woods. It was Woods who cited Sifford as the grandfather he never had. The schematic of the 9-hole short course. Courtesy of Cobbs Creek Foundation Cobbs Creek went through a number of years where the City of Philadelphia invested little into the property, and the layout suffered the consequences. Years of environmental damage and chronic flooding, in concert with haphazard maintenance efforts, prompted a serious demise of the property. In 2022, the Cobbs Creek Foundation was established. A 70-year lease agreement was signed with the City of Philadelphia. The Foundation is leading a historic revitalization effort, preserving the site's legacy while building a premier golf and education campus for the next generation. Among the key features of the updated Cobbs Creek campus are a full restoration of the Olde Course to its original 1916 design. Architectural services will be provided by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. Both men live in the immediate area, and the design duo has been active in updating a number of established clubs—some of which have served as hosts to the U.S. Open. The design duo will also be responsible for the creation of the Karakung 9-hole course. In addition, there will be a two-story driving range and par-3 short course designed by TGR Design, led by Woods. A Fall 2025 opening is likely for both. Just opened is the TGR Leaning Lab, which will have a comprehensive education center providing a STEAM-based afterschool enrichment program for more than 4,500 students annually. Tiger Woods speaks with Charlie Sifford, the first African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, during a practice round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, on Aug. 5, totality of the property will also include a history museum, community event space, and restaurant. A planned fall opening in 2027 seems likely for the 18-hole Olde Course. 'I know Charlie Sifford had talent and a tremendous work ethic, and what he needed was an opportunity. Cobbs Creek provided that opportunity. I also know that the restored course and Learning Lab will do the same for this generation on and off the course,' Enrique Hervada, chief operations officer for the Cobbs Creek Foundation, told The Epoch Times in an email. The Cobbs Creek Foundation has made tremendous strides, but more remains to be done. The Truist Championship provided a $750,000 donation, and Jordan Spieth made a sizeable $250,000 contribution through his foundation and was on hand this past Monday to see firsthand. 'A commitment to giving back,' Truist Tournament Executive Director Joie Chitwood told The Epoch Times in an email. The Cobbs Creek connection is one that showcases how golf can be an invaluable connector on multiple fronts. The genesis of Philadelphia golf centered initially on the very few and their privileged playgrounds. The storyline is now far broader—more impactful—with seeds planted for even more growth and opportunity. The City of Brotherly Love is reinforcing its motto in the golf lane with a clear eagle effort.
Axios
26-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Owner of Hello, Marjorie is opening a new sports bar
Nick Tillinghast is well known for his creative cocktail lounges, but the owner of Good News, Darling; Secret Admirer; and Hello, Marjorie is stepping into new territory: sports bars. Driving the news: Des Moines Athletic Club is set to open late this year inside the Equitable Building downtown. There will be TVs, beers and seltzers, but expect the vibe to be more similar to his cocktail bars than wall-to-wall neon beer signs and sticky floors, Tillinghast tells Axios. How it started: Tillinghast, a downtown resident since 2016 and major Cyclones fan, wanted a sports bar where locals could easily walk over and hang out. He lives in the Equitable Building and has spent the last six months talking with the landlord about plans for the vacant ground-floor space. State of play: The 1,400-square-foot space will feature a shotgun bar and be reminiscent of a "cozy" establishment you'd walk into in the middle of Chicago or New York. The cocktail program will feature classic drinks and event-themed specials for tournaments like Wimbledon and The Masters. But when Iowa State plays, "sound TVs will be all Cyclones," Tillinghast jokes. The big picture: Tillinghast says the project is also about making his own neighborhood a better place. The downtown business district has struggled with foot traffic in recent years and his nearby properties are more destination spots than places people stumble upon. Once the new spot opens, he envisions bar crawls between all his properties. "I miss a lot of business sometimes because people don't want to just come to Marjorie," Tillinghast says. "They want to have the ability to walk to other places really quickly." The intrigue: The Des Moines Athletic Club's name is a nod to the early 1900s, when major cities had grand athletic clubs housed in striking buildings — a style Tillinghast hopes to channel within the Equitable's architecture. What's next: Renovations are already underway.
