From Farm to Fanfare
Built on the remnants of a failed early golf project and John DeLorean’s estate, Bedminster's Old Course became the centerpiece of a transformation led by Trump, reshaping New Jersey golf with major ambitions from day one.
The verdict
Championship Muscle, Regional Star
Trump Bedminster Old is a modern championship parkland course built with tournament ambitions in mind. Expect a demanding test that rewards power, precision, and tactical play—more than just a vanity course, it's a fixture in New Jersey's elite golf ranks.
Course DNA
Difficulty
92
Scenery72
Conditioning90
Shot Variety82
Walkability68
Green Complexity84
Wow Factor75
Design Quality83
Don't miss
Catch the panoramic sunset views from the upper holes near the clubhouse—locals swear it’s the best light on the property.
At a glance
Quick facts
Major hosted
2017 U.S. Women's Open
Host of LIV events
2022, 2023
Land history
Built on former Lamington Farm
Longest par 4
No. 15, 596 yards
Signature designer
Tom Fazio
Original project
Transformed from unfinished course to high-end club
Course rating
76.8 (Black tees)
The design
The architecture
The Old Course at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is a modern parkland behemoth, crafted by Tom Fazio to both challenge elite players and evoke a sense of major-championship drama. Routed across sprawling former farmland, the layout packs elongated par 4s, heroic carries, expansive greens with bold contours, and a relentless test from start to finish. Its grand scale, pristine shaping, and Fazio’s trademark runoffs assure a strategic experience for those who can match its muscle.
Fazio leverages the wide-open former farmland for both drama and championship demands, making the Old Course a defining example of 21st-century tournament parkland design.
Defining features
- Expansive, tournament-caliber parkland routing
- Multiple par 4s over 500 yards
- Massive, undulating green complexes
- Strong risk-reward par 5s
- Distinctive opening and closing stretches
- Immaculately maintained fairways
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Bedminster Welcome
PAR
4
YARDAGE
514
A daunting opener, this 514-yard par 4 sets the championship tone from the first swing. The fairway demands a powerful, accurate drive to avoid early trouble. The approach, though long, rewards the bold yet punishes the uncommitted.
Play it smart
Favor a high, strong drive to carry the main hazards and set up a reasonable long-iron or hybrid approach.
Where it bites
A wayward tee ball here risks tangled rough or bunkers, making par a tough ask right out of the gate.
Course management
Shots to think about
Long par-4 approach with wind in your face
Club up and favor the safe side rather than attacking tucked pins.
Second shot on a par 5 with a narrow landing zone
Lay up to your best yardage, even if it means leaving a longer third.
Tee shot on a par 3 with layered bunkering
Trust your number and aim for the largest safe quadrant of the green.
Aggressive line off the tee to cut distance
Weigh risk versus reward—trouble lurks if you stray just a few yards.
Short-sided in thick rough near a big green
Take your medicine—chip to the safest zone and avoid compounding mistakes.
Fast, sloping green with back pin location
Leave your approach below the hole for a realistic birdie chance.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Tournament-level conditioning, firm fairways, and pure greens.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring Your Power Game
The Black tees stretch to nearly 7,800 yards—arrive warmed up and ready to hit driver accurately.
02
Dial in Your Long Irons
Several par 4s demand hybrid or fairway-wood approaches, so practice hitting into big greens from distance.
03
Scout Strategic Layup Zones
Many holes reward smart positioning over sheer muscle, especially on risk-reward par 5s.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2004
Old Course opens on site of former Lamington Farm.
- 2005
Ranked 73rd in the United States by Golf Magazine.
- 2009
Hosts both U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur.
- 2013
Debuts at #141 on Golf Digest America's Second 100 Greatest.
- 2017
Hosts U.S. Women's Open, won by Park Sung-hyun.
- 2022
Originally selected for PGA Championship, but event moved.
- 2023
Hosts second LIV Golf event.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
The PGA That Never Was
Though initially slated to host the 2022 PGA Championship, political controversies led to the event being reassigned—still, just being awarded a men's major confirmed the Old Course’s heavyweight ambitions.
Women’s Major Spotlight
The global golf world watched as Park Sung-hyun conquered the Old Course’s relentless demands to win the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, cementing the course as a legitimate championship arena.
Monster on the Card
With multiple par 4s stretching over 500 yards and one infamous hole measuring 596 yards, the Old Course sends a message from the moment you step on the tee: this is serious, big-league golf.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Built on former John DeLorean estate property.
2
Host of LIV Golf events two years running.
3
Awarded, then lost, the 2022 PGA Championship.
4
Holes 15 and 1 are both par 4s over 500 yards.
5
Features two separate major-championship-caliber tracks on one property.
Build the trip
If you’re building a Somerset County golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
New Jersey National Golf Club
Private
Prestigious neighbor with a strong parkland test.
Basking Ridge or Somerville for best access to Bedminster and surrounding clubs.
Course DNA
If You Like Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – Old Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Olympia Fields Country Club - North
Olympia Fields, IllinoisDifficulty
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Olympia Fields Country Club - North asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – Old Course.
Strong DNA Match7.9
Wolf Creek Golf Club
Olathe, KansasDifficulty
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Wolf Creek Golf Club asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – Old Course.
Strong DNA Match8.1
Wilmington Country Club
Wilmington, DelawareDifficultyConditioning
Why it matches: Wilmington Country Club is a natural next stop after Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – Old Course: it asks for the same disciplined decision-making and offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Community Sentiment
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