Merion Golf Club Review
9/8/2009 | by Golfweek
see also: Merion Golf Club - East Course, All Course Reviews, The Walker Cup, Lahinch Golf Club
Merion Golf Club’s East Course isn’t the only layout in America with a theatrical quality. But it’s among the most carefully staged of all golf-course productions, and certainly one of the longest-running.
by Bradley S. Klein, Golfweek
ARDMORE, Pa. – Merion Golf Club’s East Course isn’t the only layout in America with a theatrical quality. But it’s among the most carefully staged of all golf-course productions, and certainly one of the longest-running. In fact, this Hugh Wilson-designed layout from 1912 conveys all the narrative structure of a three- act play, with Act I (holes 1-6) comprising Drama; Act II (holes 7-13) Comedy; and Act III (holes 14-18) Tragedy.
With the Walker Cup in 2009, Merion achieved a milestone - The club holds a U.S. Golf Association-record 17 championships at Merion.
For the Walker Cup the par-70 course was stretched to 6,887 yards, still short by modern championship standards.
Merion sets an early challenge at the 362-yard, par-4 No. 1. A massive cross bunker demands a layup left or a bold drive approximately 300 yards over trees right.
Were the Walker Cup format – foursomes (alternate shot) and singles – to include better- ball play, each pairing likely would consider an aggressive play at some of the shortest par 4s. Alas, the risk/reward genius of Merion will yield to a frumpy elegance.
Merion’s Act I includes the only two par 5s – Nos. 2 and 4 – on the card, both reachable in two with big drives.
The seven-hole stretch from Nos. 7 through 13 might be the most maddening run in U.S. golf.
Temptation lurks amid the short yardages, with steep fall-offs, creeks fronting greens and false fronts that funnel well-struck irons into penalizing chipping swales.
From there, all hell breaks loose. The tragedy of Act III unfurls in a series of long, tough holes that reward angles and position.
The par-3 17th, stretched to 246 yards, offers a green with an unpin-able thumbprint up front that fall offs into sand and hollows everywhere behind.
Then there’s the famed par-4 18th, the scene of Ben Hogan’s legendary 1-iron approach that helped him clinch a playoff berth at the 1950 U.S. Open, which he won the next day.
From the 505-yard tee, it’s a 240-yard carry to the fairway, though the real challenge is a plateau green where a little short falls back and a little long rolls over.
For a relatively short course, Merion always has been a wonderful test. No U.S. course better showcases the virtues of pronounced ground features. That will be even more apparent in 2013, when Merion hosts its fifth U.S. Open.
Rater’s notebook: Merion Golf Club – East
ARDMORE, Pa. – Merion Golf Club’s East Course isn’t the only layout in America with a theatrical quality. But it’s among the most carefully staged of all golf-course productions, and certainly one of the longest-running. In fact, this Hugh Wilson-designed layout from 1912 conveys all the narrative structure of a three- act play, with Act I (holes 1-6) comprising Drama; Act II (holes 7-13) Comedy; and Act III (holes 14-18) Tragedy.
With the Walker Cup in 2009, Merion achieved a milestone - The club holds a U.S. Golf Association-record 17 championships at Merion.
For the Walker Cup the par-70 course was stretched to 6,887 yards, still short by modern championship standards.
Merion sets an early challenge at the 362-yard, par-4 No. 1. A massive cross bunker demands a layup left or a bold drive approximately 300 yards over trees right.
Were the Walker Cup format – foursomes (alternate shot) and singles – to include better- ball play, each pairing likely would consider an aggressive play at some of the shortest par 4s. Alas, the risk/reward genius of Merion will yield to a frumpy elegance.
Merion’s Act I includes the only two par 5s – Nos. 2 and 4 – on the card, both reachable in two with big drives.
The seven-hole stretch from Nos. 7 through 13 might be the most maddening run in U.S. golf.
Temptation lurks amid the short yardages, with steep fall-offs, creeks fronting greens and false fronts that funnel well-struck irons into penalizing chipping swales.
From there, all hell breaks loose. The tragedy of Act III unfurls in a series of long, tough holes that reward angles and position.
The par-3 17th, stretched to 246 yards, offers a green with an unpin-able thumbprint up front that fall offs into sand and hollows everywhere behind.
Then there’s the famed par-4 18th, the scene of Ben Hogan’s legendary 1-iron approach that helped him clinch a playoff berth at the 1950 U.S. Open, which he won the next day.
From the 505-yard tee, it’s a 240-yard carry to the fairway, though the real challenge is a plateau green where a little short falls back and a little long rolls over.
For a relatively short course, Merion always has been a wonderful test. No U.S. course better showcases the virtues of pronounced ground features. That will be even more apparent in 2013, when Merion hosts its fifth U.S. Open.
Rater’s notebook: Merion Golf Club – East
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.Loading latest news...