Aronimink Golf Club was designed by Donald Ross and is considered by many to be one of the finest tests of golf on the East coast. A true challenge and arguably the best course in the Philadelphia area. While Merion has had the most national exposure, many who have played both consider Aronimink G.C. to be the more difficult. The course is a classic eastern design. The fairways are long and straight with few blind shots. The greens are small and have no wild undulations. The course plays long and requires some solid shot making to score well. Last time I checked the course was listed as 51st on 'the best 100 courses' in the United States as ranked by the USGA.
The course is designed from memory. My grandparents and parents were members and I have many fond recollections of days spent learning golf on this course. On a recent visit back to Philadelphia, I was able to walk the course with the head greenskeeper. He pointed out the changes made for the P.G.A. and refreshed my thoughts about elevations and pin placements. If you ever get the chance to play this track, I'd be interested in your comments and perspective on this rendition.
I must thank several people for their assistence in contributing aspects and objects to this creation. Lee Ritz for your background from the 'other' famous Philadelphia mainline course, Merion. In addition I think there a several objects from Merion that were imported to Aronimink. If anyone out there sees something that you believe is your, please let me know so that credit may be given to those with far more artistic ability than I.
The club was founded in 1928 in Drexel Hill, Pa. and the first course played as nine holes. The original property was landlocked and the members were unable to secure the land necessary to expand to eighteen holes. The members purchased a significant parcel of property in Newtown Square, Pa. and began construction on the present layout. The course today lays true to the design of Mr. Ross with several exceptions; the original nines were reversed, then the ninth and eighteenth holes were reversed, water hazards have been added/enlarged as have been the refinement of trap locations. Aronimink was on of the first clubs to install in ground sprinklers to avoid the problems associated with eastern draughts.
The first 'major' to be played on this course was the 1962 PGA. The tournament was captured on the final hole by Gary Player who out lasted Bob Goalby. The purse for the title that year was $13,000. In 1977, Aronimnk hosted their second 'major' the U.S. Amatuer. That year the foremat was match play with John Fought defeating Doug Fischesser in the 36 hole final 9 and 8. As I'm sure most know, the P.G.A. selects courses for play years in advance of the actual tournament dates. In the mid-eighties, Aronimink G.C. was awarded the honor of hosting their second P.G.A. championship. The year was to be 1993. Major changes were required for the course to be brought up to regulation. The water hazard on the 17th was enlarged and brought into play. The tee boxes were moved back to provide greater length. Many of the fairway traps were relocated to provide a challenge off the tee. All of these changes were well under way when, in 1990, the Shoal Creek controversy regarding the membership practises of private clubs was brought into the open. As a result, The P.G.A. reviewed their new policies regarding minority representation with the clubs where tournaments were to played. Several of the clubs Crooked Stick '91 and Belrieve '92 complied with the P.G.A. regulations and hosted the championships. Aronimink's membership elected to resign the tournament rather than compromise their membership standards. As a result, the 1993 P.G.A. championship will be determined at Inverness.
Aronimink G.C. most famous alumni, other than Irv Miller (irv.) is Jay Seigel holder of four U.S. Amatuer and many other National, State and local championships. In addition, Jay is a fixture on the U.S.Walker Cup team and has played in numerous U.S.Opens.
