Hail, St. MartinsThe charming 9-holer in Philadelphia—the author’s home course—was lauded as one of golf’s best short courses
by Michael Bamberger
St. Martins, designed by Willie Tucker and opened as an 18-hole course in 1898, was the site of two U.S. Opens, in 1907 and 1910. Tillinghast, an amateur golfer and Cricket Club member, played in both of those Opens.
The course is gentle, not harsh. It has eight par-4s that are roughly between 250 and 350 yards and one short par-3. The par-35 course measures 2,600 yards. “Whether you’re new to the game, a junior, an older golfer, the course is just fun to play,” said Sheridan, who has fond memories of his own son and daughter taking up golf at St. Martins.
Brad Faxon, the former Ryder Cup golfer who is now a golf broadcaster, course designer and putting coach, played the course in 2016 while competing in a senior event at the Cricket Club’s Flourtown course. “The St. Martins nine is really the essence of golf,” Faxon said in a recent text. “The 1st and the 9th parallel each other and leave and return to a magical clubhouse. Between them you will find almost every feature you need for fun and interesting golf: elevation changes, blind and semi-blind shots, bunkers and cross bunkers, small greens and large greens, with a decision to be made on every shot. Can’t wait to go back!”
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