Number 4: Merion Golf Club

Ceiling: 96.5

Rating: 95

Trend over Time: 7

Merion does more with less than any great course I know of. The course sits on just 126 acres (Augusta National is on 345 for context), but what is captured in that small piece of land is pretty miraculous. What Merion’s property lacks in size, it makes up for with topography, using every ounce of the features on it, and creating interest through its routing. With 7 holes on one side of Ardmore Avenue and 11 on the other, a round at Merion feels like a bit of an adventure as it is in a constant state of change. People have referred to the 3 successive sets of 6 holes that make up the 18 as the drama of the difficult first 6, the comedy of the short but beguiling second, and the tragedy of the punishing finish. When you “cross the road” for the second time after the 12th back to the clubhouse side of the course and the closing stretch (the tragedy), if golf gets much better, I have yet to see it.

Culture:

Merion’s history runs deep, and you can feel the tradition of the club while on property. The locker room, clubhouse, and first tee setting (lunch goers dining no more than 20 feet away while you tee off seemingly inside the clubhouse) all make you quickly realize you are at a place that has been doing it for a long time. Bobby Jones of course completed the grand slam on the 11th at Merion with his 1930 US Amateur triumph. The famous Ben Hogan 1-iron plaque resides in the 18th fairway. The list of history at Merion is long. What makes it all cool is I have never felt as if I am being force fed any of it. The club’s tradition and history all speaks for itself and is simply there for your consumption as you go throughout the day, which makes any day at Merion a really great one.

Competition:

Merion has hosted 19 USGA Championships to date, including 6 US Amateurs and 5 US Opens and already is scheduled for 5 more through 2050. Two of which being US Opens. While the conversation has long been had that Merion isn’t long enough for the world’s best, the last time they played it in 2013, not a single player was able to finish the week under par. Merion is an old school US Open venue with enough charm to make it one of the best courses in the world for both competition and the architecture junkie. Tight fairways, long rough, fast and difficult greens, Merion has all the elements in place on a daily basis to be a world class challenge for anyone; however, the degree to which the conditions are dialed up is what determines its full difficulty. What makes Merion such a wonderful tournament test is the variance in holes and the way they test you. There are a number of short par 4’s that can be scored on but also present the possibility of a double at any moment and furthermore there are a number of longer holes where bogey is likely and par is a bonus. Having the short holes spread the scores and the longer ones keep the scoring average in place is exactly what you want from a tournament venue and Merion does this as well as any place I am familiar with.

Architecture:

Building upon Merion’s variance in holes, the number of different types of holes in terms of topography, terrain, and natural features is amazing. In just 126 acres the course features the use of a central creek on 8 holes, a quarry on 2, essential but not excessive trees, 9 different types of grasses and heathers, and holes of every slope, length, and level of challenge. Merion’s range is incredible. The course is aesthetic to the eye but also presents challenge at varying degrees on each hole. I don’t think of Merion having the most difficult greens in the country, but considering the tee to green difficulty, too much difficulty on the greens would be a bit much. The end of the golf course (holes 13-18) is truly one of the best closing stretches in the game. 13-16 present opportunities to score before you reach the 250 yard par 3 16th and 500 yard par 4 18th where 7 cumulative blows surely nets back a shot if not more on the field.