Melrose CC (1927 Maxwell and MacKenzie) to close for good on Dec 1, 2024

[Joe Bausch]

That’s what their webpage says. Some of my buddies that have never played it may try and do so in the next week. I may join them.

My last visit was in May of 2021:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/Melrose_2021/index.html

[Ed Brzezowski]

financial woes?

[Steven Wade]

Thanks for the heads up. I think I last visited there in summer of 2022 and the conditioning was amongst the very worst I’ve ever encountered. I can’t imagine it’ll have improved, but I still want to see it one last time.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Played there many times in the 70s and 80s. Nearby was Ashbourne ( NLE) and now housing is there. I guess this is another case for land development.


Melrose Country Club

[Tim_Weiman]

Joe,


Thanks for the tour. Looks like a decent property. Can you share anything about the failure of the club? Does the land just have a higher alternate value?


Tim

[Joe Bausch]

Tim, my guess is the land is valuable.

[mike_malone]

Back in the late 80’s our corporate outing was there. I had a sense of golf architecture but didn’t really study it. I always thought “ this is cool”.

[Joe Bausch]

Back in the late 80’s our corporate outing was there. I had a sense of golf architecture but didn’t really study it. I always thought “ this is cool”.

There are many stories to be told about Melrose. A long-time Philly golfer relayed to me his experience playing/caddying there and at the Willie Park course just up the road. Lots and lots of stories....

[Bob Harris]

Back in the late 80’s our corporate outing was there. I had a sense of golf architecture but didn’t really study it. I always thought “ this is cool”.

There are many stories to be told about Melrose. A long-time Philly golfer relayed to me his experience playing/caddying there and at the Willie Park course just up the road. Lots and lots of stories....

My home club from 1985 to 1992.


As happened to Ashbourne which was across the street, the ground has become very valuable.  If zoning approves, there will be 300 townhouses, assisted living, a medical facility and 40 acres of open space.


When I was there, it was a very eclectic membership: Italian, Jewish, Irish, fireman, police officers, doctors, lawyers, barbers and some very wealthy business owners.


A number of good golfers, but some of the best gin rummy players the Philadelphia area were there.

[Rob Nydick]

I visited Melrose last year and felt there was an impending sense of closure.  Reduced maintenance on and off the course, under-utilized clubhouse and minimally stocked pro shop.  It seemed to be hanging on by a thread.


The course never seemed to catch a break, even in it's early years when six original holes were lost to road construction and neighborhood expansion soon after opening.  Several other holes were significantly altered at the same time.


Seven original holes and four additional green locations remain from the original course, so there are still some interesting things to see if you can get there within the next week or so.

[Mike Worth]

Thank you for posting!


Melrose is 35 minutes from my New Jersey home. I’ll have to check it out next week.

[Joe Bausch]

Momentum may by building for a Thanksgiving morning round at Melrose.

[Brett Hochstein]

Joe (and anyone/everyone):


How much original MacKenzie/Maxwell still remains? Also, would it be more Maxwell than MacKenzie?  I went through your whole photo tour, but it's hard to tell much on the greens, especially when they've shrunk a lot and absorbed nearly 100 years of topdressing.  The back nine set seemed to have some movement though, particularly 10 and 16, and 17 looks like a little version of Augusta 6. 


Disappointing news. I wonder how long it will sit until the new plans begin.

[Steven Wade]

From what I understand Melrose would be all Maxwell, as construction was nearly complete by the time the two went into partnership.


I’m kind of surprised that land was mentioned as having plans for so much development. The area is pretty economically distressed and I assumed that the course might just be left to grow over.

[MCirba]

Momentum may by building for a Thanksgiving morning round at Melrose.

Damn...will be in upstate NY.   Say sayonara to the old girl for me although she never let me get beyond first base, despite multiple awkward attempts on my part.

[Bob Harris]

Joe (and anyone/everyone):


How much original MacKenzie/Maxwell still remains? Also, would it be more Maxwell than MacKenzie?  I went through your whole photo tour, but it's hard to tell much on the greens, especially when they've shrunk a lot and absorbed nearly 100 years of topdressing.  The back nine set seemed to have some movement though, particularly 10 and 16, and 17 looks like a little version of Augusta 6. 

Original #1 is still #1
#2 is now #13
#3 is now #16
#4 green site is now #15 green
#5 NLE  lost when Tookany Creek Parkway was built
#6 NLE
#7 NLE
#8 NLE
#9 with the tee extended back 70 yards is now #2
#10 NLE
#11 is now #17
#12 is now #18
#13 green site is now #5 green
#14 is now #6
#15 green site is now #7
#16 is now #8
#17 NLE
#18 NLE green site is now #3 green

[MCirba]

Joe (and anyone/everyone):


How much original MacKenzie/Maxwell still remains? Also, would it be more Maxwell than MacKenzie?  I went through your whole photo tour, but it's hard to tell much on the greens, especially when they've shrunk a lot and absorbed nearly 100 years of topdressing.  The back nine set seemed to have some movement though, particularly 10 and 16, and 17 looks like a little version of Augusta 6. 

Original #1 is still #1
#2 is now #13
#3 is now #16
#4 green site is now #15 green
#5 NLE  lost when Tookany Creek Parkway was built
#6 NLE
#7 NLE
#8 NLE
#9 with the tee extended back 70 yards is now #2
#10 NLE
#11 is now #17
#12 is now #18
#13 green site is now #5 green
#14 is now #6
#15 green site is now #7
#16 is now #8
#17 NLE
#18 NLE green site is now #3 green

Nice encapsulation, Bob.   Thanks for sharing that.

[Joe Bausch]

The par 3 17th at Melrose was always one of my faves. Here it is in May of 2021:

(all photos clickable to a larger size!)