Adam! Welcome from another Philly person. I'm right across the South Street bridge from Drexel and I travel out in all directions for my golf. I'm not a member at Merchantville though I've been fortunate to play it more than a couple times. I think you made a good choice, especially from an architectural standpoint. It's a study in economic use of land. I think I counted all the tees and all the greens one time but I forget now exactly how that worked out. I know it isn't 18 and 18 though I always depart feeling as though I've had a full "round" of golf and using some different tees that introduce different angles and different distances. If you belong to one of the oldest clubs in the country, know your history. Look though the clubhouse and the trophy case and you'll hear stories about John McDermott and Al Besselink.
With an 1892 charter for the club and an 1897 start for golf at Merchantville, I think it makes the oldest 100 clubs in America as does another club just down the street, Moorestown Field Club.
If you're that new to Philly, maybe you don't know about Crump Cup coming up at the end of this month. It's the one day every year when Pine Valley opens its gates to the public to see some of the country's top amateurs compete. You'll see one of, if not the finest inland layout in the world and what makes this competition unique is how spectators are able to get up sufficiently close to the players in the fairways to listen in on the conversations between player and caddie.
Best regards-
MMx