By Alex Smith |
Trout National, a new club in Vineland, New Jersey, will officially open its new course, designed by Tiger Woods and his team at TGR Design, on 15 April 2026.
The course is the centrepiece of the new club, developed by 11-time Major League Baseball All-Star Mike Trout and local partner John Ruga. It has been routed across more than 280 acres of terrain, which transitions from former silica sand mine land to farmland.
Read more: Baseball star Mike Trout hires Tiger's design firm for new course.
Trout National has been open for preview play since October 2025 (Photo: Trout National)
“While the scale of the property offered significant freedom for TGR Design, the primary goal for Tiger and his team was to move as little earth as possible in the sandy areas to preserve the natural, rugged character of the quarry,” said Tyler Trout, project lead for Trout National.
Ribbon-style teeing areas provide flexibility in course setup, while fairways are wide and framed by sandy waste areas. The Spectrum Creeping bentgrass greens are large and contoured, with low-cut surrounds that allow for a variety of short-game options.
Greens are large, contoured and feature Spectrum Creeping bentgrass (Photo: Trout National)
“Strategically, water comes into play on six holes, serving as both a striking contrast to the sandy landscape and a definitive hazard that forces players to commit to their lines,” said Trout. “This is most evident at the par-three eighth, with its aggressive peninsula green, and again at the eighteenth, where water guards the final approach into the risk-reward home hole, which offers players the option to reach the green in two depending on line and execution.
“The ‘must-have’ holes were largely centred around the creation of Aaron’s, Trout National’s main on-course comfort station, and the loop that spans holes six through eleven. This stretch is the heartbeat of the course. Aaron’s features wrap-around terraces, fire pits and an indoor-outdoor bar where members and guests can gather to watch golf, enjoy lunch and dinner and relax.”
The par-three eighth hole (Photo: Trout National)
Course construction was carried out by LaBar Golf Renovations. Other facilities at Trout National include The Bullpen, a short course designed for evening play and surrounded by cottages, while Under the Lights is a 24,000-square-foot putting course that can also be lit for nighttime play. Practice facilities include a short-game area with two greens and three bunkers, allowing shots of up to 80 yards from varied lies.
Sandy waste areas frame many of the holes. The site of the course was a former silica sand mine (Photo: Trout National)
“Trout National stands in stark contrast to the traditional, storied clubs of the region,” said Trout. “The goal was to create a private oasis that feels relaxed and modern while still offering a world-class, major championship level test of golf.”