Historic Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club Unveils New-Look Pines Golf Course

As golf season gets underway, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, located in Galloway Township, one of the premier resort destinations in the Northeast that celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2014, has opened its newly renovated Pines Golf Course. Seaview officials commemorated the re-opening of the Pines course on Wednesday, April 1st by re-enacting the famous chip shot by the legendary Sam Snead to capture the 1942 PGA Championship.

From a historic standpoint, Seaview’s famed Bay Course, which was designed by legendary architect Donald Ross, actually hosted the 1942 PGA Championship, one of golf’s four Major Championships, where Snead holed a spectacular 60-foot chip shot on the 35th hole to secure a 2-1 victory over Jim Turnesa and capture the first of his seven major championships. What most local golfers, and even golf historian’s don’t know, is that a composite course was used for the event, as Seaview utilized the front nine of the Bay Course coupled with the 9-hole Pines Course for the Championship. In 1957, Seaview added a second 9 holes to the Pines Course, thus completing its 36-hole facility which today stands among the finest golf resorts in Southern New Jersey and throughout the region.

“There is so much history to Seaview during the past 100 years it’s hard to know where to start sometimes,” said Brian Rashley, Director of Golf, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club. “One thing is for certain and that is the greatest legacy of this storied golf resort is Sam Snead’s victory at the 1942 PGA Championship.”

Rashley adds, “When people golf here, they know they are playing where legends played, and where the world’s best women players compete each year when we host the ShopRite LPGA Classic. There’s no place like Seaview in this area.”

The enhancements to the Pines Course come on the heels of a series of refinements made in 2014 to the famed Bay Course, prior to the LPGA ShopRite Classic. Highlighting the Pines Course renovation project are redesigned tee boxes on every hole, including re-sodding with bent grass, as well as the re-sizing, re-shaping and re-angling of every box. Complementing the tee box enhancement, Seaview added fine fescue to the 9th and 18th holes near the approach areas. Fine fescue is a hardy strain of grass that requires far less sunlight and water, which will greatly enhance the tree-lined landscape on these holes. Additionally, Seaview replaced a bunker on the Par-3 sixth hole, adding to the hole’s appeal and playability with fine fescue mounds.

Adding to the new-look Pines course, Seaview’s renovation project includes the addition of historical signage throughout the course, which will take golfers back to the 1942 PGA Championship as they play their round. This will include a small replica of the Wanamaker Trophy engraved on the tee sign of each hole used in the 1942 PGA Championship. Seaview also added a sign dedicated to Sam Snead’s major victory, including his famous chip shot on the 16th hole to defeat Jim Turnesa to claim his first of seven major championships.

As a result of the renovation and enhancements, golfers of all levels can further enjoy the competitive layout of the critically acclaimed Pines Course, which was carved from the woodlands surrounding the resort and features tight fairways with well-protected landing areas, offering a unique challenge and a compliment to the links-style Bay Course. Moreover, the scenic parkland setting of the Pines Course has for decades showcased the inherent beauty of Southern New Jersey’s pine forest landscape, making it an aesthetically pleasing experience for all players.

“For local golfers and golfing travelers visiting the area, Seaview’s championship courses, combined with its storied history of hosting the game’s best players, and hundreds of famed celebrities, athletes and dignitaries, makes it a truly memorable golf experience,” said Rashley. “The commitment of Seaview’s owner, Stockton University, is unmatched as they continually redefine the customer experience, while always promoting the tremendous heritage that has endured for 100 years.”

Located just minutes from Atlantic City, Seaview’s award-winning golf courses and golf facilities are managed by Troon, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. Troon is the world’s largest golf management company, with more than 250 golf courses in its portfolio. In 2008 and 2009, Seaview was honored with 4½ stars from Golf Digest magazine for “Best Places to Play,” while in 2012 and 2013 the facility was honored by Golfweek magazine as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play” in New Jersey. In 2013, the Golf Shop at Seaview was recognized among America’s 100 Best Golf Shops by Golf World for the third consecutive year, while also receiving a Platinum Award from the Association of Golf Merchandisers, which recognizes premier golf shops from the private, public, resort and off-course sectors.

For more information on Seaview Hotel & Golf Club and its historic and award-winning Bay and Pines Courses, call the golf shop at 609-748-7680 or visit www.seaviewgolf.com.