Baltusrol Golf Club
Challenge
Accepted.
Home to 17 major and amateur championships, the story of American championship golf has run through Baltusrol Golf Club since 1901. Club management engaged ZEBRADOG to bring this rich history to life. No detail was overlooked to set the stage for an unforgettable day at this special place.
The vision and character that ZEBRADOG brings to us are extraordinary.
Once [ZEBRADOG] started working with us and showing us what we could be we couldn’t wait for the final product. And the final product was just spectacular.
Kevin Vitale
General Manager, Baltusrol Golf Club
THE DETAILS
SNAPSHOT
Client: Baltusrol Golf Club
Client: Golf Historian David Normoyle
Location: Springfield, NJ
EXPERTISE
Exhibit Design
Wayfinding / Signage
Facilities/Campus Branding
Content Strategy / Development
Interactive Media Design / Development
MARKET
Athletic Facilities
Historic / Museums / Cultural Centers
Baltusrol Golf Club is one of only four golf course properties in the country to be named a National Historic Landmark so when its lower course was restored by renowned American architect Gil Hanse, the 100-year-old clubhouse evolved its use program and storytelling by working with ZEBRADOG.
ZEBRADOG experiential designers honored the championship heritage of the club by creating a comprehensive approach to placemaking. Two standout experiences include the transformed caddy master room into the must-visit Scoring Room and a one-of-a-kind interactive media installation in the new Media Lounge featuring Baltusrol’s founders, champions, history, and in-depth course exploration. No detail was overlooked to set the stage for an unforgettable day.
Everything from the 1920s-inspired typography to newly-fabricated wayfinding elements incorporating bronze, stone, and stained glass accents was considered to deliver a more intuitive, brand experience throughout the club and grounds. No visit to Baltusrol is complete without selecting a scorecard to tally and commemorate the day’s round of golf. ZEBRADOG redesigned the presentation and club scorecard to reflect the restored course that’s sure to challenge and delight.
Club managers remark that the environments and experiences feel like they have been around since the clubhouse was built and immediately make visitors understand why this place is special.
Areas of Impact
Scoring Room
The new Scoring Room was an area the club struggled to develop. ZEBRADOG’s attention to detail and fastidious adherence to what defines the Baltusrol brand transformed an underutilized caddy master room into a must-visit hallowed place commemorating the numerous tournaments and legends hosted over the years. ZEBRADOG’s experiential design team utilized a variety of textures, typography, and photographic designs to weave engaging stories. A gold-leaf hand-painted ledger of every club championship rims the top of the room’s millwork. Illustrated player exhibits ensconced in rich wood celebrate each champion and showcase a player-signed scorecard detailing their historic achievement. The showstopper is a framed one-of-a-kind illustrated map of A.W. Tillinghast’s magnificent 36-hole dual courses flanked by gleaming P.G.A. and U.S. OPEN trophies.
Media Lounge
Golf Historian David Normoyle believes the primary design direction from club members at any classic golf club is to “make it timeless” but in order to get to timeless you have to make a pit stop at timely. ZEBRADOG’s interactive media design and development do exactly that by introducing an immersive interactive media experience to the men’s locker room that members and guests can’t resist. Baltusrol club managers embraced this easy-to-use content management system (CMS) to wrangle the club’s stories and events into one engaging digital experience. It’s yet another way Baltusrol is leading American championship golf clubs by innovating to educate and entertain members young and old.
HUZZAH!
