The Bay course, covering nearly 6,300 wind swept yards, is the
best known of the two courses. The Bay course played host to
the 1942 PGA Championship. It was during the 1942 PGA Championship
that Sam Snead won his first major championship.
The Bay, opened in 1914, is a textbook Donald Ross seaside course,
running along Reed’s Bay, which means it has a Scottish
feel. The course features classic mounding, deep pot bunkers
and high faced-bunkers, plus small greens with subtle undulations.
Tall fescue grasses guard many of the bunkers. The Bay course
is dramatically affected by the severity of the winds rolling
off of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hole #2 represents the Bay’s signature hole. This 432-yard
par 4 plays directly toward the Atlantic Ocean. Dramatically
influenced by the winds blowing off of the Atlantic, the hole
can play much longer, or shorter than the actual yardage. Out
of bounds guards wayward tee shots to the right and two large
fairway bunkers guard the left side of the fairway. Second shot
must be precisely struck, as there is trouble to the left, right
and behind the green. The left side is protected by a natural
lateral water hazard, while native marsh grasses guard the right
side. Behind the green is the most spectacular view of the Atlantic
City skyline from any shore point. The putting surface is pure
Donald Ross. Ross‘s crowned green challenges even those
with the best putting strokes, Par is a great score!
The Pines Course
The Pines is more a traditional American layout carved out of
the Jersey pines. Each hole is tree-lined and requires precisely
struck irons and long tee shots.
Designed by Toomey & Flynn and opened in 1929, the Pines
course stretches nearly 6,800 yards. The course features not
only tree-lined fairways, but also a plethora of well-placed
sand bunkers. The signature hole, number 9, is a 510-yard par
5 that presents the only water hazard on the entire course. Tee
shots must avoid the trees that line both sides of the fairway.
Second shots, usually a mid to long iron, must safely navigate
over the hole’s only water hazard. Shots carrying too far
could end up in one of several fairway bunkers. A short iron
third shot must negotiate two large greenside bunkers. The putting
surface offers some tricky slopes, so par on this hole is a solid
score.
FALDO GOLF INSTITUTE
Seaview also features a state of the art practice facility complete
with two 30,000 square foot hitting areas and four separate chipping
and putting greens. Seaview also serves as the host of the Faldo
Golf Institute by Marriott.
