Best known as the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia boasts a rich golf history. Its roster of top private clubs such as Pine Valley, Merion and Philadelphia Cricket Club pushes Philly into the conversation among America’s best cities for golf.
Located about 15 miles south of the city, Applebrook opened in 1912 with a routing that takes advantage of natural features. It’s a fun course to play and remains fiercely private. Here are some popular clubs besides Philmont Country Club that offers best recreational activities.
- Pine Valley Golf Club
Founded in 1913, Pine Valley is a private enclave where members and guests are permitted to play the course. Non-members are allowed to play on Sunday afternoons when accompanied by a member of the club. The South Jersey golf course has been ranked number one in America by Golf Digest for several years, and it is widely considered to be among the best courses in the world.
The golf course is located on 184 acres of sandy pine barrens in southern New Jersey. It was designed by George Crump and opened in 1913. In his memoirs, he wrote that he was dissatisfied with the quality of golf in Philadelphia and wanted to create a masterpiece.
Crump had the foresight to understand that he needed expert help in building a great golf course, so he hired well-known architects such as H.S. Colt, A.W. Tillinghast, and George C. Thomas Jr. He was committed to his project, and he lived in a spartan bungalow on the site of the 5th green until it was completed.
While the golf course is known for its difficult play, it also features spectacular scenery and stunning holes. The fifth hole, for example, is one of the most challenging par threes in the world. It requires a tee shot that must carry over water and a bunker. The approach is uphill to a small, tricky green.
- Jeffersonville Golf Club
Philadelphia is lucky to have not one but two Donald Ross designs available to the public. Municipally owned Jeffersonville Golf Club, in Norristown, is a solid 18-hole layout built on land that was once used for horse racing. The course is always in good shape and the greens are some of the truest on the metro area. Weekday twilight times dip down to $33 and morning rounds are often under $50, making this course an ideal option for the budget-minded.
The strength of this course is in the holes themselves, which offer a variety of shots and challenge all types of players. Holes like the 3rd (a drivable par 4 from right to left) and 13 (a long down-then-up two-shotter with a large, sloped green) are among the most unique in the area. The rest of the layout is fairly straightforward and the course is easy to walk.
If you are looking for a place to play that will make you feel like you played a private club, this is it. A great value with excellent service and a challenging course, Pittman is a terrific choice for your next round.
- Huntingdon Valley Golf Club
The Philadelphia metro area is not only one of the most historically significant cities in the United States but also features an impressive array of world class golf courses. There is a strong argument to be made that Philadelphia’s best course is Huntingdon Valley and it should certainly make any golfer’s short list of must play courses.
A superb William Flynn design, the club opened for play in 1928 and features a routing that makes great use of the unique property which wraps around a bowl-like valley. Playing counter-clockwise on the front nine and clockwise on the back, the layout provides a stern test that is both fun and rewarding to play.
Huntingdon Valley is a tough course with incredibly rolling topography that often times sees the only level lie being on the tee box. The fairways are narrow and the rough can be punishing, making this a demanding course for all levels of players. The greens are challenging as well as they feature lots of undulation and require proper club selection to be successful.
A true gem, this is a wonderful golf experience and it will likely be one of the most enjoyable rounds you play during your time in Philly. It would rank ahead of Pine Valley, Merion East, Aronimink, Manufacturer's, and Gulph Mills in the Philadelphia area but it is behind Philadelphia Cricket Club Wissahickon, Rolling Green, and Philadelphia Country Club.
- Aronimink Golf Club
The roster of elite private clubs that ply their trade in Philadelphia is among the strongest in the country. Pine Valley, Merion, and Philadelphia Cricket Club are all revered by golfers around the world, but they do cast a bit of a shadow over Philly’s strong public courses, including a pair that have hosted PGA tournaments.
Founded in 1896 and named after an Indian tribal chief, the Aronimink club moved to its current location in Newtown Square in 1926 where Donald Ross laid out a very interesting golf course across a geologically diverse piece of land. The layout features lots of elevation changes, a plethora of tricky bunkers and plenty of swales and slope on the greens.
One of the toughest holes on the entire course is the opening par four that dips down off the tee then begins a stout climb to a well-protected green. The hole is the first of several requiring a two-shot approach, and it’s indicative of the sort of stern test that players will face at this highly underrated course.
For those that do not live in the area, Aronimink offers National and Corporate Memberships. These options allow individuals or businesses to use the course and facilities for a limited number of rounds each year. Aronimink also hosts a variety of other activities, like trap shooting, tennis, and paddle courts.
