The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center, 801 Old McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove, Call (847)-459-2321 or visit online bgparks.org., Instructor Todd Sones free clinics returning this week on Jan. 7th. Putting as easy as 1-2-3.
BY: Rory Spears Editor and Director of Content. Follow us on Twitter@GogBlogGuy.
In 2009 I visited Merion for the first time, and instantly found the club to be incredible. It’s a special place in golf history, and one you should visit if you ever have the chance to be invited to this private club. I returned last year just over 1 year after the 2013 U.S. Open was held, and found Merion to be a little different but still a great place to spend a day.
With the Wicker basket, no flag sticks here.
The Merion Golf Club is located in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia in Ardmore PA., the club has the distinction of hosting more USGA championships than any other club in the country. It’s an honor the club cherish’s and they should. Merion has hosted 18 USGA events, with the last championship being the open in 2013.
Merion was the host of the 1930 U.S. Amateur where Bobby Jones completed his Grand Slam. Word is the club has already informed the USGA, that they would be interested in hosting the U.S. Amateur again 2030 on the 100th anniversary Jones record setting accomplishment. The first U.S. Amateur played at Merion was in 1916, and was won by Charles “Chick” Evans, who the Evans Scholars Foundation operated by the Western Golf Association is named after.
The 115 yard short par 3, 13th hole. A bogey here by Phil Mickelson in round 4 of the open, might have cost him the title.
Merion’s roots go back to 1896. The famed East Course was designed by Hugh Wilson, the courses first superintendent later moved on to design a few courses himself, William S. Flynn.
Merion does have a second course, the West Course that is located not far from the main clubhouse, practice facility and the East Course.
One of the great characteristics of Merion is it’s famed Wicker Basket on top of the “basket sticks” on the greens. They were designed so golfers could use a flag stick to determine the wind direction. The red baskets are used on the front nine, and with the orange colored baskets used on the back nine. When the club needs new baskets they have several made up at once by someone who lives in the area, cost is rumored to be about $1,000 per wicker basket to have made.
The 18th hole at Merion
Merion is a great challenge right from the first tee box on. On the first tee, since it backs right up to the outdoor dining area alongside the clubhouse. Diners are asked to be quiet and respect those teeing off.
The first hole is a slight bender to the right around some tall pine trees. Then golfers walk across the street to the second hole, one of the two par 5’s on the golf course. Golfers need to be careful not to push their tee shot out right, and onto the road which is OB. That shot did in both tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open.
After the long 220 yard par 3 third hole, the 600 yard par 5 fourth hole is your last par 5 for the day. From holes 5-18 you just battle the par 3’s and par 4’s. The par 4 18th hole now has a tee box back near 500 yards, with it’s downhill landing area and then uphill approach shot, it plays like a par 5. Merion’s closing holes run through part of an old quarry, combine that tricky bunkers, fescue grass, fast greens, elevation changes through rolling fairways, and one quickly finds out why this course does not have to play over 7,000 yards to be difficult.
The history of Merion Golf Club, can be found on and off the golf course. The rock on the 11th the box (L) shows it’s the hole where Jones completed his Grand Slam, and the plaque in the 18th fairway, marks the spot of Ben Hogan’s famed 1-Iron that helped him win the 1950 U.S. Open.
Off the course, the club’s archives room is one of the golf museums in the country. Club historian John G. Capers III has done an outstanding job of keeping the clubs long history in check. In fact all visitors to the George Scudder archives room get to sign the guest book that is kept there for historical purposes. No day at Merion is complete without a visit to the archives room.
Top Row L-R. Club historian John Capers with the license plate from 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose’s car, view of the archives. Bottom Row, L-R. Rose’s shoes worn during the open (with his kids names on the back) and Rose’s players badge.
Merion remains one of the great treasures in american golf, should you ever have a chance to play or visit take advantage in a heart beat.
For more information on our Great Golf on a Cold Day, club of the day Merion Golf Club. Visit the clubs website at Meriongolfclub.com. Some great pictures on the site as well.