The Architects

Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Get a taste of some of the world's most significant golf holes right here in New Jersey.

The Architects comprises 18 Template Holes - each honoring a different legendary architect by employing unique concepts from the designers' playbook. Playing the course feels like a walk through the history of golf course architecture.

Make sure to grab a Yardage Book. Beyond tactical guidance, the booklet provides history and background related to the specific holes' conceptual design.

The very first hole pays homage to Old Tom Morris, who is credited for spearheading the modern strategic golf course design movement. Old Tom helped design and build many of the British Isle's most renowned courses. He was responsible for several of the games' most groundbreaking initiatives (including many still practiced by modern greenskeepers). His strategic use of managing and arranging hazards (like the rock wall here on hole 1) and spreading sand on greens to create smooth, firm putting surfaces made him a revolutionary figure who led the charge in modernizing the game of golf.

Post-round meal: Rath's Butcher and Delicatessen. Right down the road from the course, they offer a solid selection of fresh meat, pre-cooked meals, and sandwiches.

Public: Course Website | Opened: 2001 | Designer: Stephen Kay and Ron Whitten