Since I set out to try to play the top-ranked golf courses in North America nearly two years ago, I've said all along that it was going to take good luck and the help of a lot of gracious people to gain access to the private clubs I hope to visit. I've also said from the beginning that I believed the friendships I'd form along the way would be the real treasure I'd find throughout this adventure. And the round I enjoyed at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA late last summer is a perfect example of how true that is.
I've wanted to play at Aronimink forever. Host site to multiple major championships, including the 1962 PGA, the 1977 U.S. Amateur, the 2003 Senior PGA, the 2020 Women's PGA Championship, and the upcoming 2026 PGA Championship, Aronimink is steeped in golf history. The club also hosted the PGA Tour's AT&T National for a time, as well as the 2018 BMW Championship. Aronimink currently ranks 94th and 89th, respectively, on the Golf Digest and Golf Magazine lists of the top 100 courses in the U.S. What's more, Aronimink has for years felt to me like a club that was so close but yet so far, located just a few miles down PA Route 252 from where my sister-in-law and her family live. I'd passed the club many times through the years but didn't have a connection.
Then, early last summer, I got a message on Facebook from a friend I'd met online who lives in Switzerland of all places. We share a love of the game and a passion for playing great golf courses, and he was well aware of my quest. He told me he had connected with a member of Aronimink and that he'd told this member about the golf journey I've been on. Next thing I knew, he put me in touch with this member through Instagram, and I had an invitation to bring a friend (my buddy, Gregg, who I've mentioned in a number of other posts) and visit the club as summer wound toward a close. Incredible how wonderfully generous the golf community can be ... and how social media has made it so much easier for people with shared interests to connect.
Aronimink is a club that has built itself on reinvention for more than 125 years. Originally founded as the Belmont Golf Association in 1896, the club existed on nine holes in an area that today is West Philadelphia. In 1900, the Belmont Golfers incorporated as Aronimink Golf Club, adopting a name that honored the memory of a late chief of the Lenape Indians, for whom the Delaware Valley had been a home for thousands of years. (Click here to learn more about the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania. It's not golf related, but their history and work to preserve their culture and traditions is fascinating.)
Early Aronimink Golf Club was as progressive as golf in America might be. In 1900, with a membership of about 150, women outnumbered men six to four on the club's first board of governors. And the club's first professional, John Shippen, was an African American who had grown up among the Shinnecock Indians on Long Island. He tied for fifth place in the second U.S. Open and is believed to have been the first American-born golf professional.
Over the years between 1900 and 1928, the club made three more moves. For those of you who are members of private clubs, let me ask you ... how many times has your club just picked up and moved? Aronimink was a club in search of a permanent home, and its members finally found it when they acquired 300 acres of land in Newtown Square. They commissioned the great golf architect, Donald Ross, to design their new golf course. (Special thanks to Aronimink Golf Club for permission to use the photo of the clubhouse above, and credit to photographer Don Pearse, who captured such a wonderful image of the clubhouse that I much preferred to use it here over any of the photos that I took during my visit.)
By his own words, Ross set out to make Aronimink his masterpiece, and he believed after its completion that the finished product exceeded even his grand vision. Still, in that spirit of reinvention that had defined the club's first 30 years, members hired William Gordon to renovate the club in the 1950s. And over the decades that followed, they brought in Dick Wilson, George Fazio and Robert Trent Jones to make additional changes. Then, nearing the turn of the century, restoration expert Ron Prichard was hired to begin returning Aronimink to Donald Ross's original design, based on his drawings. And most recently, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner completed the restoration work using aerial photography of the course in its early days to return the course as exactly as possible to that with which Donald Ross had been so enamored when it opened in 1928.
Today, Aronimink plays as a par-70 stretching to 7,267 yards from the tips. The day we played it, our host mercifully agreed that we should play "up" from the blue tees at just 6,521 yards. So, all yardages mentioned from this point on in the blog will be from the blue tees.
Hole No. 1 - Par 4 - 419 Yards - "Apache"
The tee shot on No. 1 plays across a bit of a valley uphill to a landing area that is generous but doesn't offer much roll. Fairway bunkers on the right are farther away than they might appear -- some 300 yards or so from the tee -- and are likely out of reach for most of us. Rather, they help to shape the way the golfer sees the hole. The ideal drive is played to the right side of the fairway in the direction of those bunkers, likely feeding back toward the middle off the bank on the right and setting up a more open approach to the first green.
It only took me one swing to discover that the rough at Aronimink is no joke. It wasn't particularly deep, but the course is so well conditioned that the rough is thick, and balls that fail to find the fairway are likely to cost a stroke. Fortunately, missing to the right I was still able to hack out a low runner that had a chance of running up the middle of the fairway and onto the green. The putting surface on No. 1 slopes predominantly from back to front and left to right, creating a natural backstop. And greenside bunkers short left and right await any offline approach that doesn't carry to at least the middle of the green.
Hole No. 2 - Par 4 - 372 Yards - "Pueblo"
No. 2 is a mid-length par-4 that plays longer than its yardage on the card, doglegging from right to left with six bunkers waiting to capture balls struck by players who believe they can bomb it through the bend. It's a big drive of 250 yards or so to carry the bunkers and shorten the hole. Playing to fly the bunkers also brings into play a field of knee-high fescue off to the left. Wise players of more moderate length will play out to the right of the bunkers.
Finding the fairway is more important than a shorter approach on this hole. Playing out to the right off the tee will likely leave players with a short-iron approach instead of a wedge, but a 9- or an 8-iron from the short grass is preferable to a wedge from the sand, the rough or the fescue any day. This green is guarded by bunkers short but does allow for a bump-and-run approach up the heart of the fairway. And players are likely to find it's better to be short and pitch uphill onto the green than to run through to the collection area behind the putting surface, from which it is a very delicate chip to a green that runs away from the player.
Hole No. 3 - Par 4 - 402 Yards - "Navajo"
The third hole is a straightaway par-4 where success is likely to be determined by your drive. This photo doesn't do it justice, but there are two cross bunkers encroaching from the left at right about 230 yards off the tee. It'll take a carry of about 240 yards to clear them, but the ideal drive is to play to the right of them and avoid even flirting with the sand. There is tree trouble to the right, however, making this a much tighter driving hole than it appears.
The approach on No. 3 has to negotiate an expanse that includes 10 bunkers inside 100 yards of the green. There are only two greenside bunkers, but playing a low ball that runs into this green really requires a precise angle of attack after your tee shot. If you are unable or not confident in your ability to pull off that shot, the only other option is to fly the ball to the green, but be careful not to leave yourself above the pin on this putting surface.
Hole No. 4 - Par 4 - 419 Yards - "Seminole"
No. 4 is another long (for me!) par-4. The smart play off the tee is up the right side of the fairway, staying far away from the three fairway bunkers and the tree line on the left. This is a wide fairway that plays uphill from the tee, so there is plenty of room to let it rip, but it's going to take two very good swings to reach this green in regulation.
Players who find the fairway here will be greeted with a long approach to a wide green with a bunker short-right. The fairway offers a wide runway by which to play your approach along the ground in hopes of avoiding trouble posed by both the sand and the thick rough should you miss the green.
Hole No. 5 - Par 3 - 143 Yards - "Mohawk"
The fifth hole is the first par-3, and I personally think this is where Aronimink really begins to get interesting and fun. I love everything about this short hole -- the bunkering that rings the green complex, the way the elevated green presents a plateau that almost feels like an island, and the fact that it afforded me my first par of the day! Truly, there isn't much room to miss this green. None of the hole's five bunkers offer an easy up-and-down, and players who miss long and find the rough may have it even worse as they're forced to pitch from thick rough to a green that runs away from them toward more thick rough and those same deep bunkers. If you can play a short- or mid-iron to the center of this green and two putt for par, you've done pretty darn well. At least, that's what I told myself!
Hole No. 6 - Par 4 - 375 Yards - "Comanche"
Part of the brilliance of Donald Ross is that he always knew just where to put those pesky fairway bunkers for maximum effect. On hole No. 6 at Aronimink, another mid-length par-4 that doglegs this time to the right, there is a collection of four bunkers inside the corner that ought to make a player think twice about trying to do anything other than play out to the fairway on the left. From the tee, it's about 240 yards uphill to carry those bunkers. Of course, for those who can do so, there is a potential reward in setting up your approach with just a wedge.
Three fairway bunkers on the left really shouldn't pose much of a problem on this hole, but the five bunkers short-right of the green definitely will for anyone who fails to reach the putting surface on that angle. The bunkers are relatively small and deep and could result in some very awkward lies for players unfortunate enough to find themselves playing from one of them. Still, this green is nearly 40 yards wide and nearly 40 yards deep, and it may be the first good chance at birdie for players who find the fairway off this tee.
Hole No. 7 - Par 4 - 377 Yards - "Shawnee"
No. 7 begins with a semi-blind tee shot on a hole that bends from left to right. The fairway bunkers to the right on this hole shouldn't be in play for most folks off the tee. Rather, they exist as a warning of where not to go. The ideal tee shot is played just left of those bunkers, long and out to the left side of the fairway as it turns back toward the right. Players who attempt to blast their tee shot out over top of those bunkers in hopes of cutting the distance to this hole run the very real risk of being knocked down or even just blocked out by the trees to the right of the fairway or finding the thick rough down the right side, making it harder to approach the green on this hole.
From the fairway, the 7th hole offers one of my favorite approach shots on the front nine. With the green perched up above bunkers short and left, this is the first par-4 on the front that doesn't allow players the option to play their approach along the ground. Rather, players need to fly their balls into the green and hope to leave themselves with an uphill putt for birdie.
Hole No. 8 - Par 3 - 204 Yards - "Sitting Bull"
No. 8 is a challenging, long par-3 that demands your full focus and one of the best swings of your day. Playing slightly downhill, the green is protected in front by three deep bunkers. And while the putting surface itself is about 50 yards wide, it is only 25 yards deep, meaning you need to be very accurate and know your distances when you choose your club on the tee. The water short of the hole makes the 8th either pretty or more daunting, depending on how you think.
Hole No. 9 - Par 5 - 515 Yards - "Kickapoo"
No. 9 is the first par-5 on the course, and it's a beast, playing uphill and therefore longer than it appears on the card. I would not want to play from the tips on this hole, which stretches it out to more than 600 yards! From the tee, the safe play is a drive up the left side of the fairway. It's only about 220 yards to clear the fairway bunkers on the left, and that side of the fairway offers players the best angle for the second shot on this three-shot hole.
The choice for players on their second shot is likely not whether or not to go for the green as most of us don't have a chance of reaching. Rather, it's a question of whether to lay up short of the three fairway bunkers that cross in from the left or to try to carry or skirt those bunkers up the right side and set up a wedge shot into the green. Playing uphill, conservative golfers may prefer to lay up short of the bunkers and run a low ball into this green to ensure a likely par. But more daring players may opt to try to get in closer in order to play a wedge into this green. Three good shots from tee to green could very well set up a birdie as you finish the front nine.
Hole No. 10 - Par 4 - 415 Yards - "Cherokee"
Were you there to witness how I played the 10th hole, you might think it's crazy when I tell you that I really, really like this one. I did just about everything wrong from tee to green, but I can set that aside and appreciate the hole for what it is. This long, downhill par-4 to open up the back-9 just stares you in the face and dares you to come after it. Dense trees make left pretty much out of play. The ideal drive is down the right side of the fairway, just inside the fairway bunkers, allowing the right-to-left slope to bring your ball back toward the center of the fairway.
With water short-left of the green, it's better to play from the right side of the fairway. And even from the rough on the right, I had the chance to just chunk my approach down the right side of the fairway and let it run up to the green. It's very important, however to find the right position on this green with your approach as knobs and swales in and around this green make holding the putting surface and rolling your putts a very tricky proposition. I'd take a par on this hole any day of the week and be happy. Truth be told, I'd take bogey and still be pretty content with myself.
Hole No. 11 - Par 4 - 393 Yards - "Kiowea"
I don't know if No. 11 is officially the signature hole at Aronimink, but there may not be a cooler hole on the course. And I say that despite having taken a one-putt double-bogey here! The drive on this hole has to find the fairway. It has to. Miss the short grass, and you're lucky if you only find yourself in the thick rough, rather than one of the 10 fairway bunkers that threaten the landing area from both sides.
The approach on the 11th hole plays uphill to a green that is protected by 10 more bunkers, each one more treacherous than the next. The green here slopes from back to front and features a false front that can easily result in a ball landing on the front of the green and finishing 30 or 40 yards down the fairway or, worse, in one of the four bunkers short-right of the putting surface. My host played this hole marvelously, carding a birdie. The rest of us played this hole like the unfolding of a Greek tragedy. But regardless of how we might have scored, there's no denying this was one of the most fun and interesting holes we played all day. It's probably the one I most often reflect on and think, "Boy, I'd like to go back and have another shot at that hole." In that way, come to think of it, it reminds me a lot of the 17th at my home course, Pete Dye Golf Club, where I swear I either wind up having a short putt for birdie or I'm scrambling for double every time I play it.
Hole No. 12 - Par 4 - 429 Yards - "Saginaw"
A long, uphill par-4, the 12th hole demands simply that you play two high-quality shots to reach the green. A good drive is anything left of center that manages to find the short grass. There are three fairway bunkers left that shouldn't come into play for most folks except in the event of a severe mishit. So, it's just important to avoid the three fairway bunkers on the right that are in the more likely landing zone for most players.
The second shot on No. 12 needs to fly the fairway bunkers creeping in from the left and avoid a deep greenside bunker short-right as it approaches the putting surface. This green slopes from back to front and is receptive to balls that run low as well as those that are played through the air. Length, more than anything, makes this a difficult scoring hole, and players aren't likely to look at this as one they ought to birdie. But there are a lot of pars to be had here for players who can avoid the sand and rough to reach this green in regulation.
Hole No. 13 - Par 4 - 354 Yards - "Blackfoot"
Conversely, the 13th hole may offer up the best opportunity for birdie of any par-4 on the course. At just 354 yards, No. 13 is the shortest par-4 at Aronimink. Six fairway bunkers -- three left and three right -- offer a bit of visual intimidation off the tee, but they're easily cleared even with only an iron. Four more fairway bunkers sweeping in from the left are in the more likely landing area for most players. A long drive to the right of those bunkers may set up just a sand wedge or even a lob wedge approach. And more conservative players who opt for a fairway wood off the tee to lay back of the bunkers will still have only a wedge or short-iron into the green from the fairway. The green is protected by three bunkers short-left and short-right, but with only a wedge or short-iron in hand, most players should be able to fly their ball to the flag and avoid that trouble with a good swing.
Hole No. 14 - Par 3 - 190 Yards - "Iroquois"
No. 14 is a mid-length par-4 with plenty of challenge. Two bunkers just 100 or so yards off the tee aren't really in play, but the four bunkers that guard the green right, left and long certainly are. At 190 yards, players may be tempted to try to run the ball into this green, but doing so could prove difficult as the greenside bunkers squeeze the fairway cut approaching the putting surface. And those who fly the ball to the green may find themselves unable to hold the surface, resulting in a very difficult chip from the thick rough behind the green or even a difficult play out of the small back bunker. Whatever it takes to find the middle of the green at No. 14, that's the goal from the tee. Par is a great score here.
Hole No. 15 - Par 4 - 433 Yards - "Lenape"
The 15th is a long, straight par-4 that some might want to play as at least a par-4.5 if not a par-5. There's nothing tricky about it, but it definitely takes both length and accuracy to have a shot at scoring well on this hole. From the tee, the hole calls for a big drive down the left-hand side of the fairway to avoid the bunkers and tree trouble creeping in from the right.
Players who find the left side of the fairway are still likely to have an approach of 200 yards or so (maybe more) to the green. It is possible to run a low approach into this green, and that may be the safest play, but greenside bunkers left and right are waiting to gobble up any ball that veers off course. The green itself is about 45 yards deep, sloping from right to left with a collection area right of the green from which it is a very quick and difficult chip back to the putting surface. This hole can easily leave a player feeling a bit like you've been beaten up. Par is a great score here, and bogey isn't so bad either.
Hole No. 16 - Par 5 - 516 Yards - "Sioux"
The second and final par-5 on the course, No. 16 just feels like fun after battling the 15th hole. Bending gently from right to left, long players may opt to play over the right edge of the fairway bunkers on the left in hopes of cutting a little bit of length off of this hole. The fairway does slope from left to right, too, so any drive played down the left side is likely to get a little extra roll as the terrain takes it down and to the right.
For those who find the fairway, the 16th is a reachable par-5. Eight fairway bunkers threaten to come into play for those who choose to lay up, while the green is guarded by just two bunkers short-left and short-right. For players who have the length, this hole is likely a green light situation, figuring that playing out of a greenside bunker in two on a par-5 is better than having to hit a full wedge into this green after laying up.
Hole No. 17 - Par 3 - 172 Yards - "Seneca"
The 17th is a mid-length par-3 played across water to a green that's shaped almost like a baseball diamond. Three bunkers guard the green short-right, and playing out of any of those might be preferable to playing back to the green from the rough behind should you go long. But even finding the green on No. 17 won't guarantee you an easy par. This large green features dramatic undulation as it slopes predominantly from back to front, and it may take every ounce of your lag putting skill to get down in two from anything outside about 15 feet on this hole.
Hole No. 18 - Par 4 - 393 Yards - "Aronimink"
A very stout test from the tips, from the blue tees No. 18 is a mid-length par-4 that maybe plays slightly longer than the card suggests due to the uphill approach. The hole bends just a little bit from left to right, and the left side of the fairway offers the best angle of approach to the green. Three fairway bunkers on the right force you to aim more to the left. But, in fact, those bunkers are helping to steer you in the right direction as the left side of the fairway offers a better approach angle to the final green.
From the left side of the fairway, the 18th offers both a wide-open and welcoming approach to the green and a wonderful view of Aronimink's beautiful clubhouse. From about 70 yards in, the green is guarded by as many as seven bunkers (depending on whether you want to count a couple of those on the right or concede that they're really more a part of the 9th hole). Still, there is a lot of room to run a ball up the fairway and into the green on 18. Or, players may opt fly a mid- or long-iron into this green, trusting that the slope of the green will keep the ball from bounding through the putting surface. This green slopes from back to front more than you might think at first glance, and two putting for a par to close out your round may demand the last bit of focus you can muster after a challenging day on this faithfully restored Donald Ross masterpiece.
Gregg and I had such a wonderful time playing at Aronimink, and I can't thank our host, Michael, enough for giving us the opportunity. We also were joined that day by another member and friend of Michael's, Adam, who was every bit as gracious and fun to spend the time with. I wish we (I) would have played better, but what a wonderful club and incredible course. It's one of those rare courses that you play, and when you finish you immediately think that you'd like to play it again. But more than the greatness of the course, I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff and membership at Aronimink. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by everyone that we met. And spending time on the veranda after with Michael and Adam after the round, we were treated by their fellow members as if we were members ourselves. It was just a fantastic experience, all around, and I'm delighted to be able to share it here, albeit a few months later than I hoped to have written this piece!
One last note about Aronimink before I sign off ... as you read through this post you may have noticed the club's naming conventions for the holes, which I included throughout. I don't know how it came to be that the holes were named in honor of not only the Lenape Indians of the region but to honor so many Native American nations and leaders. But I was very impressed by the reverence the club seems to have for those who came before and who occupied the land long before most of our ancestors had ever come to this continent. It's one more feature that makes Aronimink both unique and special.
Have you played Aronimink? Let me know what you think of the club or this blog post. Simply drop a comment below, or feel free to email me at shawn@iputtaround.com.