If you look at the list of the top courses in the world, you’ll notice the sheer beauty of the landscapes in which many of the courses reside, and how likely they are to be located on sandy soil. California’s Cypress Point weaves through sand dunes and forest. Located on the coast of Northern Ireland, Royal County Down offers huge sand dunes, sea views and a mountain backdrop. New Jersey’s Pine Valley is located in a sandy pine forest.
Unlike those golf giants, tiny Merion Golf Club’s East Course occupies just 117 acres of clay land in the Philadelphia suburb of Ardmore.
No. 9 on the East Course of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
The course opened in 1912 and was designed by Hugh Wilson. As he was a member of the club’s greening committee that designed the first course, he sought the council from noted designer Charles Blair Macdonald, and the agricultural council from early Washington turf researchers Dr. Charles Piper and Dr. Russell Oakley. Wilson continued to improve the course, including major changes made when more land became available, until his death in 1925 at the age of 45.
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The club has hosted 19 USGA championships, including six U.S. Amateurs, five U.S. Opens and four U.S. Women’s Amateurs. In 1930, Bobby Jones won the U.S. Amateur, completing the Grand Slam on the 11th hole at Merion. The club is scheduled to host the 2034 and 2046 U.S. Women’s Opens, as well as the 2030, 2040 and 2050 U.S. Opens.
Perhaps the most famous photograph in championship golf is Hy Peskin’s shot of Ben Hogan’s 1-iron approach to the 18th hole after winning the 1950 U.S. Open. And of course, Merion is known for its unique wicker baskets instead of flags. The front nine is dark red (the same color as Toro, a turf equipment manufacturer), and the back is orange-red (the same color as Jacobsen, a turf equipment manufacturer).
All in all, Merion is an attractive and demanding course that, despite its land location, is every bit as good as the best layouts in the game.
No. 8 on the East Course at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Here’s how Golfweek’s Best Courses Rankings program rates Merion in the 10 categories it uses to rate courses. Each category will be evaluated on a scale of 10 and a non-cumulative overall evaluation will be given. Overall, Merion is ranked the No. 7 classic course in the United States by Golfweek’s Best magazine.
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Merion East Course Route: 10
How well the holes adhere individually and collectively to the land and each other.
I judge wiring by how far it extends from the property, and East’s wiring maximized the potential of this small property. It has a nice and interesting rhythm: difficult at the beginning, easy in the middle, and wild at the end. It beautifully incorporates quarries, streams, rolling terrain, and more. They also creatively overcome numerous constraints, including a 117-acre site, road crossings, low-lying areas, and narrow boundaries.
Design integrity: 8
The extent to which existing holes conform to the original design intent, or the extent to which the holes on a renovated course embody a consistent rather than piecemeal character.
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Perhaps no other course has received more scrutiny from a historical perspective. The recent restoration of Gil Hanse aimed to accurately reflect its roots while taking modern infrastructure into account.
Overall land plan: 7
Easily integrate all built elements with the native land, including courses, clubhouses, real estate, roads, native terrain and topography. The extent to which the land plan provides a long view of the surrounding area and interior of the site.
The prominence of Ardmore Avenue, which bisects the site, was inevitable, but remains unfortunate. The clubhouse is thankfully at the edge of the site and the layout is great with the patio bordering the first tee. The practice range is located far from the course, which is advantageous for the course, but makes commuting difficult due to parking and maintenance.
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Green and surrounding area: 8
Interest, variety, and playability of the putting surface, color, chipping area, and greenside bunkers.
Approach shots at Merion must be accurate, as there are creeks, bunkers, and deep rough just a foot from the green. Greens range in size from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, but each green fits beautifully into its environment.
Diverse and memorable par 3: 9
Differentiate holes by length, club required, terrain, appearance, and angle of approach.
No. 3 is a beast that stretches 275 yards to a plateau green. The 9th plays downhill to a green with water in front and a bunker guarding the back left of the hole. No. 13 is a small wedge shot over the high flash bunker near the clubhouse and entrance. No. 17 is played downhill across the quarry to the amphitheater stage. It allows for a wide variety of setups and is extremely flexible.
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Variety and memorable par 4: 9
The extent of the right-to-left, left-to-right drive and required second shot, length, terrain, and appearance of the hole.
This hole is a perfect combination of a short hole and a long hole. Nos. 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 are all shorter and feature out-of-bounds, deep bunkers, creeks, and elevations as defenses. Numbers 5, 6, 14, 16, and 18 are all long plays. The 5th hole has a heavily sloped fairway from right to left with a creek to the left and the approach to the 16th hole is played over a quarry. Both are world-famous par 4s.
Variety and memorable par 5: 6
Different risk and reward opportunities off the tee. The fun of the second shot. We need a variety of third shots.
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There are only two par 5s, both of which are determined by the first four holes. No. 2 stretches to 580 yards, with Ardmore Avenue serving as the OB on the right side. The hole slopes gently uphill to a well-protected green. No. 4 can be extended to 635 yards with a tee shot from the top of the hill. There is a creek in front of the green, protected by a long bunker.
Tree and Landscape Management: 8
The extent to which ornamental plants, hardwoods, conifers, and other plants enhance course design and playability without burdening the course or compromising strategic flexibility or agronomy.
The small park grounds are lined with trees, providing shade and ambience without interfering with play. The tee shot on No. 10 is played through a tree chute, making the quality of the grass difficult.
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Conditioning and ecology: 9
Overall quality of maintenance, discounts for short term issues (weather or top dressing). Range of origin. Diversity of plants and wildlife.
Director of Grounds Operations Paul Latshaw and his team present championship conditions every day. The fairways are tight, the approaches are even tighter, and the rough is healthy. The course looks green and plays solidly.
“Walk in the Park” test: 10
I felt it was a place worth spending 4 hours.
Everything about Merion feels special. The wicker basket flagpole, U.S. Open history, stately clubhouse, patio at the end of the 1st tee, and No. 11 Jones plate all make you feel like you’re in a museum. The golf course and the shots you play are equally special.
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Overall rating: 9.2
It is non-cumulative in units of 10 points.
In my opinion, Merrions East is the best golf course in the world on a mediocre site. Not bad for a first time designer in Hugh Wilson. Filled with history and charm, exploring the Chalk of Merion will be an unforgettable day out.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golf architect shares notes on what makes Merion’s East Course special
