Somerset Hills Country Club

Detailed description of Somerset Hills Country Club

Somerset Hills Country Club is a Private 18 hole golf course located in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

The Somerset Hills Country Club golf course first opened for play in 1918. The golf course was designed by A. W. Tillinghast.

Somerset Hills Country Club has been ranked as one of the top courses in the U.S. and the World. One of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in New Jersey, the two nines at this A. W. Tillinghast design sharply contrast in style.

The first nine holes at Somerset Hills were built on a site that used to be a race track. The holes are fairly flat, but subtle mounds and numerous small bunkers are scattered about like landmines.

The back nine is heavily wooded but lacks the severe bunkers that the front nine has, but water comes into play on four holes.

#2. Somerset Hills is known to have especially challenging par 3s, a Tillinghast signature. The second hole is a classic "Redan" hole, sloping hard from front-right to back left. It's protected by three bunkers that are well short of the putting surface, one short and right of the green and a cavernous bunker short and left. As if that weren't enough, a large hump protrudes from the right edge of the green. A par on this hole is always an outstanding score.

#12. The par-3 12th hole rests on a peninsula that extends into a pond on the left. It's very similar in shape to Auguata National's 16th.

#15. The 15th, a downhill dogleg right, has a creek that becomes a waterfalls protecting its left side along the entire length of the hole.

Par for the course is 71. From the back tees the course plays to 6539 yards. From the forward tees the course measures 5643 yards. The longest hole on the course is # 9, a par-5 that plays to 514 yards. The shortest hole on the course is # 12, a par-3 that plays to 144 yards from the back tees.

Watch out for # 7, a 445 yard par-4 challenge and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The easiest hole is # 12, a 144 yard par-3.