My favorite local short course is the Evergreen Golf Course, all of 4,877 yards. Designed by Babe Lind and built in 1926 (originally with sand greens), it's a little mountain course with a lot of personality. The greens don't have a lot of contour, and tend to be very small. it's fun to have a go at the green on a downhill 275-yard par 4, but as with many mountain courses, the penalty for a wayward shot can be severe. My two favorite holes are the 17th (downhill par 3) and 18 (par 4) that both hug the side of the mountain. Even a slight push off the tee and the golfer will be faced with a nasty uphill pitch. The most notorious hole is a goofy par 3 (the third, I believe) where you hit over a rock formation (with a helpful white arrow painted on it) to a round, flat green (one of the larger ones on the course). You know it's safe to hit when the previous group rings the bell next to the green. Loads of quirk, some challenge, and some easy shots, it's a course where you can easily set your career low score, or have your ego slightly bruised, depending on whether or not you can keep the ball in play.
Wayne, thanks very much for those pictures of Merion West. Looks like a treat to play !