When did Hugh Wilson design the Merion Golf Club?
So Merion assigned member Hugh Wilson to lead the effort at creating a new, longer golf course. Wilson studied British links and consulted prominent early architects such as C.B. Macdonald. A 126-acre piece of land in Ardmore, Pa., was selected as the site.
What is the Merion Golf Club?
Jun 07, 2013 · Bitten by the design bug, Wilson, who would partner in the field with Flynn, went on to design Cobbs Creek, Seaview, Phoenixville Country Club's nine-hole course, and Merion West. And when fellow course architect George Crump died in 1918, Wilson finished his design of Pine Valley, widely considered to be America's finest course. Wilson is credited with holes 12 …
How many holes of golf does Merion have?
Sep 22, 2021 · It is routed beautifully on a small piece of land, requiring one to cross Ardmore Avenue twice after the first hole and then to make one’s way to the thirteenth tee. The golf course designed by Hugh Wilson has been recently renovated by Gil Hanse and has definitely restored the “white faces” of Merion which are the famous raised bunkers.
What is the history of the Merion West Course?
After all, it’s also designed by Hugh Wilson, best known for his work on Merion’s championship side, and his approach at the East course can be seen on the West as well. One example is No. 7 at the West, where players will need to hit over a creek to reach the putting surface, much like the more famous No. 11 on the East side.
Who designed Merion golf?
Hugh WilsonIt was founded in a marvelously right location, where sports-minded men and women have always abounded. And it had the right golf course architect, Hugh Wilson, a gifted amateur whose maiden effort, according to USGA president Richard S.
Why does Merion use wicker baskets?
Legend has it that course designer Hugh Wilson was in the U.K. scouting out ideas in 1912 when he noticed that local shepherds carried their lunch in wicker baskets at the end of their staffs and that Wilson thought it would add a special degree of difficulty to Merion to conceal wind strength and direction.Jun 8, 2013
When was Merion golf course built?
1912Merion Golf ClubClub informationLocationArdmore, PennsylvaniaCoordinates40.001°N 75.312°WCoordinates:40.001°N 75.312°WBuilt1912ArchitectHugh Irvine Wilson34 more rows
How much does it cost to play Merion golf?
Merion Golf Club (Pennsylvania) Initiation fees start at $70,000 with $6,000 yearly dues and up, and you can only apply by member referral.Nov 29, 2018
What golf course has baskets instead of flags?
But for about a century, there have been no flags at the Merion Golf Club's East Course, where the holes are instead festooned with hard, egg-shaped wicker baskets attached to steel sticks.Jun 10, 2013
How difficult is Merion golf course?
Merion East is deserving of being listed as being in the top seven golf courses in the USA and top twelve in the world. It is that special. I think of it as the most difficult “short” course in the world given that it plays less than 6200 yards from the members' tees as a par 70.
How many majors has Merion hosted?
Merion Golf Club has been host to 19 USGA Championships 1924 U.S. Amateur – Robert T. Jones, Jr.
How many U.S. Opens at Merion?
two U.S. OpensMerion Golf Club, one of the crown jewels of golf courses in the United States, has been awarded two U.S. Opens, each one coming on the 100th anniversary of two of the most iconic events in the sport's history, as well as multiple national championships over the next three decades.Aug 11, 2021
How many members should a golf club have?
"Ordinarily speaking, the average club can accommodate somewhere between 300 and 400 members, depending on the percentage of active golfers in the club. "The question of finance attaches to this subject, and in many cases is an inseparable one.
What is the most expensive golf course membership?
Shanqin Bay Golf Club is the most expensive and most exclusive country club in the world, with an estimated initiation fee of up to $1 million. This prestigious country club is so exclusive that it only has 20 members and pretty much everything about the club is kept private.Sep 27, 2021
How much does it cost to join the Union League of Philadelphia?
Chubb members who want to continue using the course have until later this year to join the Union League, which requires an initial member bond of $7,500 and dues of about $460 a month.Mar 23, 2021
How many golf courses does Merion have?
Merion has two golf courses: the West Course, a shorter, easier "sporty" (to use the club's own word) layout; and the very difficult, very storied East Course. Merion's East Course has been the site of more USGA championships than any other golf course, and is considered among the handful of best courses in the United States.
Where is Merion Golf Club?
Merion Golf Club is located northwest of Downtown Philadelphia, just outside the Philadelphia city limits. Merion has two golf courses: the West Course, a shorter, easier "sporty" (to use the club's own word) ...
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated May 24, 2019. Merion Golf Club is located northwest of Downtown Philadelphia, just outside the Philadelphia city limits. Merion has two golf courses: ...
How many acres are there in Merion East?
The East Course at Merion is a tight track built over just 126 acres - very small by modern standards. Merion East is famous for many things, one being its bunkers - often referred to as "the white faces of Merion" because they "stare back" at the golfers.
Who designed the East Course?
Wilson was assisted in building the new course by William Flynn (who later designed Cherry Hills and redesigned The Country Club at Brookline and Shinnecock Hills, among many other important jobs). The East Course opened on Sept. 14, 1912 (the original course in Haverford, Pa., was closed a couple days before the new course opened.)
Who won the US Amateur Championship in 1930?
We could write a small book about the East course at Merion. For example, this was where Bobby Jones won the US Amateur Championship to complete his 1930 Grand Slam. Jack Nicklaus scored 66, 67, 68 and 68 in his four rounds of the 1960 Eisenhower Trophy, causing an international stir.
Is Merion East a short course?
It is that special. I think of it as the most difficult “short” course in the world given that it plays less than 6200 yards from the members’ tees as a par 70.
When was Merion Golf Club founded?
When Merion Golf Club was founded in 1896, Philadelphians were more likely to play cricket than golf. They even sent touring cricket teams to England!
Who is John Sabino?
John Sabino is the author of How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs. November 09, 2016. 10 / 10.
Is Merion a long course?
Merion is known to occupy a very small parcel of land, and is not a long course- but it is a championship course in every respect. This was evident at the last U.S. Open held there in 2013 when Justin Rose won with a score of plus 1.
When is the next golf course in 2020?
August 27, 2020. This course is the greatest combination of history, design and lay-out. The greatest asset of this golf course is the greens. They provide the best true and consistent roll. The 1st tee box is noteworthy, as you tee off directly in front of the clubhouse patio. August 27, 2020.
Is the walk in golf fun?
Beautiful, challenging, fun and it’s all right there in front of you to enjoy. One of the best walks in golf that requires accuracy and forces one to “pick your battles”… if you’re not in the right spot on the fairway you need to play smart or you’ll regret it. Fantastic variety of holes and green complexes.#N#July 25, 2020
Where was Wilson born?
Career. Wilson was born in Trenton, New Jersey to Lt. Col. William Potter Wilson & Ellen Stover Dickson Wilson and was very talented at golf. A Princeton University freshman at 18, he won the first course championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Who is Hugh Wilson?
Hugh Irvine Wilson (November 13, 1879 - February 3, 1925) was a golf course designer. He is most famous for designing Merion Golf Club, consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the USA. Wilson also finished the last four holes at the famous Pine Valley Golf Club .
How many acres were there in the Merion Cricket Club?
1910.) The developers already owned over 140 acres on College Avenue next to Haverford College (the “Johnson Farm” property) and put together a consortium of wealthy men to secure neighboring properties through the newly formed Haverford Development Company. Among the investors in the development company was a group of men from the Merion Cricket Club, lead by H. G. Lloyd, who was also a member of Merion’s Site Selection Committee and would later be a member of Hugh Wilson’s Construction Committee. By summer 1910, Haverford Development Company had secured approximately 300 contiguous acres including the Johnson Farm property.
Who was the architect of Merion East?
The unlikely hero of Merion’s creation story is bright young insurance man named Hugh I. Wilson. In January 1911, Merion appointed Wilson, the former captain of Princeton’s golf team, to chair the committee in charge of constructing Merion East. Through careful study, hard work, and a willingness to seek out the most knowledgeable experts available, Wilson became an important figure in the early history of American golf. He not only oversaw the construction of and changes to Merion East, he was also involved in the design and construction of Merion’s West course, among others. In the process he became a leading agronomy expert, helped found and served on the board of USGA’s Green Section, contributed to the section’s magazine, and was an active proponent for the implementation of proper agronomic principles and techniques. He was also instrumental in bringing quality public access golf to Philadelphia, campaigning for and helping design Cobb’s Creek, a quality public course located along the same creek as Merion.
Is Merion East the oldest golf course in the world?
Merion East is not America’s oldest, but it may well be America’s most legendary golf course. No club has been chosen to host more United States National Championships than the Merion Golf Club, and Merion’s East course has served as the backdrop for dozens of American golf’s most important national and regional events, including “Chick” Evans’ American double at the 1916 Amateur, young Bobby Jones’ phenomenal debut in the same tournament, Jones’ first Amateur victory in 1924, the final leg of Jones’ “grand slam” in 1930, Ben Hogan’s storybook post-accident win at the 1950 US Open, and Nicklaus’ and Trevino’s historic duel for the US Open Championship in 1971, where not a single golfer broke par for the four days of regulation play. Despite unsubstantiated concerns that today’s long hitters have outgrown the course, Merion successfully hosted the 2005 Amateur Championship on its East course, and will host the Walker Cup Match in 1909 there as well. In 2013, ninety-nine years after Merion East served as the site of its first major championship, Merion East will serve as the site of the United States Open Championship for the fifth time. While far from complete, this list reminds us the East course has achieved a level of fame matched by few if any other American golf courses. Even the bunkers, known throughout the golfing world as “the white faces of Merion,” are famous on the East course.
Did Merion buy land for golf?
It has been widely assumed that Merion bought the land before Merion East was planned. To the contrary, Merion bought the land upon which their golf course had already been envisioned. Macdonald and Whigham had chosen the land for NGLA in a similar fashion. They first inspected the land and found the golf holes they wanted to build, and then they purchased that land. In Chapter 10 of Scotland’s Gift, Macdonald explained that he had chosen the best land for golf from a much larger 405-acre parcel.
Quick Facts
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Merion Golf Club (East)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 17th Hole – 220 Yard Par 3 – If it is difficult to identify a signature hole at a course it generally means one of two things; either the course is so plain that nothing stands out, or that the course is so good that it is nearly impossible to isolate just one hole. In Merion's case, the latter holds true.
