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!
