Philadelphia Golf

[Sean_A]

Flipping through a copy of Lay of the Land by PWT I came across one of my little note chits.  Its dated May 1995.  I was planning a little trip out to Philly for golf, but I had a kid instead.  Like many stories that begin this way, I never made it to Philly.  

I don't remember doing it, but I must have done a bit of research because the writing is very neat and on a decent piece of paper.  The 5 courses listed are:

Merion
Rolling Green
Manufacturers
Pine Valley
Philadelphia Cricket

After being on this site for nearly three years my interest in Philly golf has grown, but do I have the right 5 courses?  I am told that Lancaster and Plainfield aren't that far away from the City of Brotherly Love.  How bout Philly CC, Huntington Valley or even Merion West?  Are there any others that could or should replace some on on my beginner's list?

Ciao

[Kyle Harris]

How many kids do you have now?

Ever have to pick a favorite? That's what you're asking the Philly guys!

I'd say Huntingdon Valley over Mannies.

Most people put Aronimink in the Top 5 for the area, but not me. Then again I admit I'm Flynn-biased.

By the way, Tom Waits has made his way into my CD player.

[wsmorrison]

Sean, you need to make this trip happen sometime.  Here is my list of must plays if you were spending two weeks in Philadelphia.  If you do, prepare to gain a lot of weight eating cheesesteaks and snapper soup.

Pine Valley
Merion
Rolling Green
Huntingdon Valley
Lancaster (1.25 hrs away)
Philadelphia Country Club
Manufacturers
Gulph Mills (it is great)
Tavistock
Lehigh
Aronimink
Philadelphia Cricket
Stonewall
White Manor

That's a lot of Flynn, but there is a lot worth seeing.  If I had to narrow the list down to 5 courses:

Pine Valley
Merion
Lancaster
Huntingdon Valley
Rolling Green

However, you'd be remiss in not seeing any of the above at some point.

[Brad Swanson]

By the way, Tom Waits has made his way into my CD player.

Kyle,
   Did you hear that Scarlett Johansson is releasing an album where she covers Tom Waites tunes?  Oh the humanity!

Cheers,
Brad

[Kyle Harris]

Sean,

Manufacturer's is worth a look, for sure... just so much to see. Great use of Quarries and a really quirky golf course for the most part. You would definitely not regret playing there... but if it comes down to playing there for Huntingdon Valley - play Huntingdon Valley.

Across the street from Manufacturers' is Lulu, worthy of a look too.

*edit* I sent you some photos of Mannies in a PM.

[Sean Remington (SBR)]

  How about:

Lehigh CC
Applebrook
Stonewall
Hidden Creek
Atlantic City

the beat goes on.....

[Mike Sweeney]

If I had to narrow the list down to 5 courses:

Pine Valley
Merion
Lancaster
Huntingdon Valley
Rolling Green

I have not played Lancaster, but it is high on my list.

If you want to mix it up a little with some modern, drive to The Shore (1 hour from PV) near Atlantic City and play:

ACCC - Flynn and Doak
Galloway National - Fazio
Hidden Creek - C&C

They are bunched pretty close together.

[Mike_Cirba]

Wayne's top 5 is pretty good.  

However, it's more like this...

Pine Valley & Merion



Lancaster
Huntingdon Valley
Rolling Green
and then there are about 15 courses in the next five spots.
and then about 25 courses vying for the next five.

[mark chalfant]

Philadelphia CC  (Flynn)
Glen Mills ( Bobby Weed)
Tavistock  (Findlay)
Philmont   (c.1925)

Applebrook  (Hanse)
Merion
Lulu  (Ross)
Weyhill  (Gordon)

[wsmorrison]

Now to more important matters.  Cheesesteaks rankings:

Jim's Steaks (62nd and Haverford) forget the other Jim's, they're just tourist traps

Mama's (Belmont Ave)

Merion Clubhouse

Chink's (Northeast Phila)

Grog (Rosemont)

Abner's (West Phila)

Tony Luke's (South Phila)

Forget Geno's and Pat's--anyone with working tastebuds won't go there

[Kyle Harris]

Sean,

In that case... seek out Lulu. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Pick one between Huntingdon Valley/Rolling Green/Lancaster.
I know Manufacturers' has piqued your interest based on the pictures I sent you.
Merion East
Pine Valley

With just 5, you're missing a lot... but you also really can't go wrong either. One way or the other you'll be missing something of note.

[Dan Herrmann]

For fun, how about 5 that are open to the public.  Let take a shot:
Atlantic City
Glen Mills
Lederach
Sand Barrens
Cobbs Creek - for the architecture

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Seems like Lancaster is popular as well.  

Mike C, Wayne, Kyle Sweeney, Marc & Sean

You have seen the sort of crap I post.  Based on that rather than what may be best, which handful of courses do you think I would most enjoy?

Ciao  

Sean-

  I played with you down in '05, so going off that, I'll go with Huntingdon Valley, Merion East and West, Pine Valley, Hidden Creek (if you want to go to the Jersey Shore).  All of these courses are good walking courses, they play firm, and have a variety of terrain.

I would even go as far as to say Reading as a sixth, for variety's sake, this is a good course for a late-afternoon round and it contrasts well with the other viewpoints presented.  Different architect, in Findlay.  It's an easy walk, and it is fun to play, and for $24, you can go home with money in your pocket It does have a ways to go in terms of tree removal, but it is a good course at 6100-odd yards.  I also like the choice of LuLu, specifically for its routing and angular features.  

My vote for cheesesteak is Pudge's, in Blue Bell.  

[Kyle Harris]

Seems like Lancaster is popular as well.  

Mike C, Wayne, Kyle Sweeney, Marc & Sean

You have seen the sort of crap I post.  Based on that rather than what may be best, which handful of courses do you think I would most enjoy?

Ciao  

Sean-

  I played with you down in '05, so going off that, I'll go with Huntingdon Valley, Merion East and West, Pine Valley, Hidden Creek (if you want to go to the Jersey Shore).  All of these courses are good walking courses, they play firm, and have a variety of terrain.  
I would even go as far as to say Reading as a sixth, for variety's sake, this is a good course for a late-afternoon round and it contrasts with the other viewpoints presented.  It does have a way to go in terms of tree removal, but it isn't a bad, shorter course.  

My vote for cheesesteak is Pudge's, in Blue Bell.  

Jeez Doug, I figured you'd take the Doylestown Steak and Hoagie at 2AM with pepperoni...  

[wsmorrison]

Pudge's...home of the Pudge.  Excellent choice from the transplant!

Delessandro's near Walnut Lane is also quite good.  You must eat it there.  As with all cheesesteaks, they simply don't travel well, especially in the plastic containers but even in styrofoam.  The steam ruins the crispy rolls and creates a soggy mess.  Sean, put yourself in my care...I'll make sure the golf and cheesesteaks are the finest available.

Back to golf.  The givens are:

Merion East
Pine Valley

Knowing Sean's distaste for overly bunkered courses, let me think where they are restrained or brilliantly used:

Philadelphia Country Club
Huntingdon Valley
Lancaster
Merion West
Rolling Green
LuLu
Tavistock

[Dan Boerger]

Merion and Pine Valley would be worth the trip alone --- and just about no matter where you live or are coming from. I would also consider:

Rolling Green - for the par 3's alone

Aronimink - Ross restored classic, great green complexes, brute length, terrific course conditions (but I'm a homer)

Huntingdon Valley - Over Manufacturers, but that's just my opinion

Gulph Mills - I'm Ross-centric, to be sure, and this is a really incredible course.


Chinks for cheesteaks!

[wsmorrison]

Dan,

I like how you think...about golf and cheesesteaks.  We ought to get out there together and submit to these life's necessities.

[Mike_Cirba]

Knowing Sean's posts, HVGC has to be in there.  

What else is mostly minimalistic around here?   Hmmmm....I'm thinking that Sean must get thee to a Findlay.  

How about the obvious...PV & Merion, and then one each of Flynn, Ross, Tillie (there's only one ), and Findlay.  

Ok, that's 6 but he's young and can get in 36 on foot.\


Oh...btw, the best cheesesteak in the city is at Gus's Luncheonette truck outside of Einstein Medical Center in North Philly, just outside the war zone.   It's unbelievable.

And, if you're in an ethnic mood, forget all the chic new downtown restaurants and get a bowl of Vietnamese beef noodle soup (aka "Pho") at Pho 75 off Adams Ave. in the Northeast to wash it down.   It's the only food on the planet that is more addicting than heroin.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Seems like Lancaster is popular as well.  

Mike C, Wayne, Kyle Sweeney, Marc & Sean

You have seen the sort of crap I post.  Based on that rather than what may be best, which handful of courses do you think I would most enjoy?

Ciao  

Sean-

  I played with you down in '05, so going off that, I'll go with Huntingdon Valley, Merion East and West, Pine Valley, Hidden Creek (if you want to go to the Jersey Shore).  All of these courses are good walking courses, they play firm, and have a variety of terrain.  
I would even go as far as to say Reading as a sixth, for variety's sake, this is a good course for a late-afternoon round and it contrasts with the other viewpoints presented.  It does have a way to go in terms of tree removal, but it isn't a bad, shorter course.  

My vote for cheesesteak is Pudge's, in Blue Bell.  

Jeez Doug, I figured you'd take the Doylestown Steak and Hoagie at 2AM with pepperoni...  

I asked for mushroom, pepper and onions...

[Mike Sweeney]

Seems like Lancaster is popular as well.  

Mike C, Wayne, Kyle Sweeney, Marc & Sean

You have seen the sort of crap I post.  Based on that rather than what may be best, which handful of courses do you think I would most enjoy?

Ciao  

Hidden Creek

The old ACCC, I just have not seen the Doakified ACCC to say for sure.

My wild card for you would be the Stiles and Van Kleek Wildwood CC, very low key bunkering (years ago it was).
http://www.wildwoodgolf.com/golfcourse.html
Also at The Shore but a little farther. Plays along the salt marsh looking towards the beach town Wildwood, similar to ACCC.




Brigantine Golf Links next to AC, as close to the ocean as you will get in New Jersey. http://www.brigantinegolf.com
I have not actually played it but have been by it many times on a bike. Also Stiles and Van Kleek.


Lancaster - which is logistically a bad choice, but ......

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike

I've been wanting to play Wildwood for a long time now.

As a kid, we used to play 27-36 each day at Brigantine every July 4th week.   We were too geeky to try and pick up girls on the beach.  

I absolutely LOVE Brigantine...every single square inch of it and every single hole.

However, I also know that there is about 70% sentimentality and 30% logic in that statement so it's not something anyone but me should base their itinerary on.

But, Mike...the smell of the sea air...the views of the bay...the towers of Atlantic City in the distance...the sandy soil...the marshes....man...I thought I'd died and went to heaven.  

To me, illogical admitedly as it is...there's Fisher's Island...and then there's Brigantine...or probably visa versa.

[Tom Roewer]

Hey Philly guys:  What ever happened @/to Moselem Springs?  I think it used to be ranked, and I remember the(back?) one nine was very good.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Sean,

LuLu was founded as LuLu Temple CC, an outgrowth of of the LuLu Temple Shriners in Philadelphia. Medinah in Chicago and Irem Temple  in Wilkes-Barre were also founded by Shriners. It was the first Ross course in PA as the first 9 holes were built in 1909. It is a fun course to play as a recent restoration was undertaken by the club that was very successful in eliminating tree overgrowth and reintroducing bunkers that had been eliminated over the years.

www.lulucc.com

Here is the old LuLu Temple that was located on Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, it no longer exists:

[Mike_Cirba]

Steve,

Unfortunately, the history that's provided on the Lulu site is incorrect.

The first nine at Lulu was designed by local architect J. Franklyn Meehan (i.e. North Hills, Sandy Run, Ashbourne, Berwick, Brookside (Allentown), Paxon Hollow) and opened in 1912.   Donald Ross was brought in around 1918 to revise the existing nine and add nine new holes which opened for play in 1919.

That's nitpicking however....it's a wonderfully fun golf course.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Mike,

So....what is the first Ross course in PA?