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Top Golf Courses In Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to some of the best golf courses in the country, and many of them have a long and rich history that dates back to the early 1900s and the golden age of golf course architecture. In honor of National Golf Month in August, read on for a rundown of five of the top golf courses in the Philadelphia area — links included.
Merion Golf Club
50 Ardmore Ave.
Ardmore, PA  19003
(610) 642-5600
www.meriongolfclub.com

Everyone from Sam Snead to Justin Rose has played this championship golf course, which has hosted more USGA Championships than any course in America and was also host of five U.S. Opens, including the 2013 championship. Designed more than 100 years ago by golf course architect Hugh Wilson, this private golf course made its debut in the fall of 1911. The Haverford Township Club has two layouts: the West course and the top-rated East course. There's also a driving range and a loaded pro shop. At just under 7,000 yards in length, Merion comes up a little "short" compared to other courses, but as Jack Nicklaus once proclaimed:"Acre for acre, it may be the best test of golf in the world."

Philadelphia Country Club
601 Spring Mill Road
Gladwyne, PA 19035
(610) 525-6000
www.philadelphiacc.net

This private Main Line club boasts 27 holes of regulation golf, including the 18-hole championship Spring Mill course and the  9-hole Centennial course, which was dedicated in 1990.  In addition to the golf course, PCC has two practice areas with a driving range, putting green and a short game chipping area. This storied club hosted the 1939 U.S. Open.

Related: Best Golf Courses In The U.S.

Gulph Mills Golf Club
200 Swedeland Road
Conshohocken, PA 19428
(610) 828-0717
www.gulphmillsgc.com

Established in 1916, this 18-hole golf course in the King of Prussia area features 6,289 yards of golf from the longest tees. Designed by Golden Age architect Donald Ross and redesigned by William Flynn, the course has an understated elegance and quiet atmosphere, and members abide by a small set of traditional rules. (Hint: Games are expected to wrap up within four hours.) There's also a driving range, a pro shop and 22 tee stations.

Aronimink Country Club
3600 St. Davids Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 356-8000
www.aronimink.org

This suburban Philadelphia golf course, which made its grand debut on Memorial Day in 1928, is one of Donald Ross' most prized designs, and the greens, fairways and hazards of the course design are the same today as they were when it first opened. The course features a famous par-4 10th hole, and also has an impressive history, with former Aronimink caddie John McDermott becoming the first American-born winner of the U.S. Open. Aronimink has amenities that include a pro shop and a driving range.

Pine Valley Golf Club
E. Atlantic Ave.
Pine Valley, NJ 08021
(856) 783-3000
www.gapgolf.org

No local — or national  — list of golf courses would be complete without Pine Valley Golf Club. Located just 20 miles outside of Philadelphia, the ultra-exclusive Pine Valley course was dreamed up by George Crump and designed by a potpourri of some of the top golden age designers, including Harry Colt, Hugh Wilson, William Flynn, Walter Travis, Donald Ross and Perry Maxwell. The extremely private club is for men only and only allows visitors one day a year for the highly anticipated Crump Cup. Even today, details on the course are top secret – there's no official website or information on membership or operations (members are rumored to include entertainment superstars and industry bigwigs), but those in the know claim Pine Valley has more great golf holes than any other course on the planet.

RelatedPhiladelphia's Top Tennis Courts And Clubs

Victoria Miller is a freelance entertainment writer who also covers recreation and leisure activities in the Philadelphia area. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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