That 18th hole is a pretty unique one in Philadelphia golf and can definitely make for some high drama when you have guys like Mike McDermott (member or former member and Philly and Pa champion) who are capable of going right at it from the tee. In tournaments there are always a bunch of member spectators populating that porch (and perhaps pretty liberally lubricated) over-looking the 18th green obviously just waiting and hoping for something like that to happen.
Hey, Mike McD, have you ever stood on that 18th tee with your driver in hand and then sheathed it for something more conservative only to hear the hoots and boos coming all the way from that porch behind the green?!
You know guys, Mike McDermott is so long one time at a tournament at Pine Valley after he teed off on #17 I asked him if he ever considered trying to drive that green. He looked at me and said; "Why would I want to try that?" Then about thirty seconds later he looked at me again and said; "You know, maybe I could do that; maybe I'll try it some time."
Another time I saw Gordon Brewer at the Crump just after Mike McDermott had totally massacred a tee shot from the tips on #16 and had I think a 9 iron in there. I mentioned that to Gordon and he had one of those "Jeeeesus Christ, Really?" looks on his face.
I don't know whether that's part of the reason there is now a new tip tee on #16 but next time maybe I should just keep my damn mouth shut!!