LLANERCH COUNTRY CLUB
Course Architects: Alexander H. Findlay (1928), James B. McGovern (1949),
Stephen Kay (Renovation, 2004-05)
Year Opened: 1919
Location: Havertown, Pennsylvania
Slope: 143. Rating: 73.5
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,855
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 405 Yds 10 - Par 4 446 Yds
2 - Par 4 442 Yds 11 - Par 4 459 Yds
3 - Par 4 476 Yds 12 - Par 3 180 Yds
4 - Par 3 213 Yds 13 - Par 4 352 Yds
5 - Par 5 558 Yds 14 - Par 4 468 Yds
6 - Par 4 456 Yds 15 - Par 4 321 Yds
7 - Par 4 387 Yds 16 - Par 5 537 Yds
8 - Par 3 210 Yds 17 - Par 3 155 Yds
9 - Par 5 501 Yds 18 - Par 4 298 Yds
Par 36 3,639 Yds Par 35 3,216 Yds
Key Events Held: Philadelphia Amateur Championship (1931, 34, 98, 2015),
Pennsylvania Open (1939),
Philadelphia Section PGA (1940-43, 65, 2008),
Philadelphia Open Championship (1942, 1951, 2006),
Philadelphia Inquirer Invitation Tournament (1945-46),
PGA Championship (1958).
Website: www.llanerchcc.org.
HISTORY: Llanerch Country Club certainly has a storied history in the Philadelphia area, as the club actually dates back to 1901. Still at its current location, Llanerch was originally known as Delaware County Country Club, a member of the United States Golf Association and the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Just a couple of seasons later, the club changed its name to
Delaware County Field Club, as they joined forces with the Athletic Club of Philadelphia. This merger of sorts was for the purpose of maintaining a "club for the encouragement of athletic sports."
In 1914 however, this merger ended and the course name changed yet again to Bon Air Country Club. More importantly, the course changed from sand greens to grass just two years later. Bon Air featured a par-six of 655 yards that began at the site of the present-day 10th green. In 1918, fire destroyed the club house and just eight months later, a new charter was gained for Llanerch
Country Club.
Alexander Findlay, the father of American golf, was enlisted to redesign the entire site and expand it to 27 holes. Findlay, who crafted the first golf course in the state of Florida (Breakers) and the Mountain Course at Lake Placid Club (NY), was a Scottish-born golfer, who came to America in the mid 1880s. Findlay also designed Pittsburgh Field Club and several other courses in the Delaware Valley region.
1933 British Open champion Denny Shute was one of the first golf professionals at Llanerch. Shute, who also appeared on two Ryder Cup teams for the United States, was replaced in 1935 by longtime caddie and then assistant professional, Marty Lyons. Beginning as a caddie at the age of 10, Lyons was the head pro for 33 years and his tenure ended only when he died suddenly in 1968.
Thomas M. Fitzgerald, a wealthy, local furniture retailer and part owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, owned the golf course in the early 1910s through 1929, when he passed and his wife maintained ownership. When Mrs. Fitzgerald passed in the 1938, Llanerch Country Club was eventually bought by James A. Devine a former President of the club from 1935-36. Devine purchased 119 acres, enough to reconstruct an 18-hole layout, as James B. McGovern, from the
firm of Donald Ross, came in to make the changes.
With Lyons at the helm, Llanerch was able to influence the powers that be to host professional events from 1935 through 1946. The Philadelphia Inquirer Invitation Tournament of 1945 was the one event that first put Llanerch on the map. During his amazing eleven consecutive win streak, Byron Nelson posted win number seven at Llanerch, as he shot a record-setting 63 en route to victory.
It was the 1958 PGA Championship that brought Llanerch Country Club world-wide attention, as host of the 40th annual event. The Llanerch tournament was the first Championship televised and the first four-day, 72-hole stroke-play contest in PGA Championship history. Dow Finsterwald opened with a three-under 67, to take a one-shot lead over Jay Hebert. Finsterwald could only muster a two-over 72 on the second day and was tied with Hebert at one-under par.
Following his second straight 67, Sam Snead moved into first place after round three, one ahead of Billy Casper and two clear of Finsterwald, who shot 70. On the final day, Finsterwald opened with a front-nine 31 to take the lead, and finished with a three-under 67 for a two-shot win over Billy Casper. Snead struggled on the final day with a 73 and finished third, as he bogeyed 12 and
double-bogeyed 13 to fall out of contention.
The '58 championship marked the first appearance by Arnold Palmer in the PGA. Palmer, who was the reigning Masters champion, failed to break 71 all four days and tied for 40th. The stellar field also included future hall-of-famers and/or major championship winners: Tommy Bolt, Julius Boros, Jimmy Demaret, Jack Fleck, Claude Harmon, Cary Middlecoff, Bob Rosburg, Gene Sarazen, Denny Shute, Bob Toski and Ken Venturi.
It also should be noted that the 1958 PGA marked the network debut of CBS golf pioneer, Frank Chirkinian. An Emmy and Peabody Awards winner, Chirkinian, was Philadelphia-born and attended the University of Pennsylvania, but it was his direction of the 40th PGA Championship that led to an amazing career.
Over the years, many changes to the grounds have taken place, from a clubhouse expansion, a new pro shop and tennis courts, to an automated irrigation system, however it wasn't until the late '90s that the members initiated a master plan. In 2000, with the hiring of superintendent Brendan Byrne, major course projects began to unfold, including a new irrigation system. With overwhelming support from the club in the fall of 2004, the course was closed for renovation work by local architect, Stephen Kay.
"This was a very exciting project for me," said Kay, a native New Yorker, who lives just outside Atlantic City. "To take a classic golf course, modernize it, but keep the same historic feel is a dream job for any architect. I think Llanerch can stand up there with any course in the Philadelphia area."
Kay completely regrassed the entire course, including the greens and renovated all the tees and bunkers. Let's not forget the removal of some 400 trees for Agronomy purposes. After a recent visit to the course, local golf historian Jim Finegan commented, "I hope they do not change anything here, the course is perfection."
REVIEW: Llanerch Country Club opens with a solid, straightaway par four, stretching 405 yards from the blue tees. The right to left sloping fairway is flanked by tall pine trees down the right and a bunker on the left. Your approach shot is played uphill to a fairly long green guarded on the right by
a U-shaped bunker and thick rough around the putting surface. The green slopes hard from right to left and back to front, so stay below the hole for your best chance at par.
The second hole is the first of six par four's over 400 yards in length. Number two is a tough-driving, dogleg right that the course has deemed as the number one handicap hole. Trees down the right and sand left leave no room for error off the tee. The green is open in the front, but once again sloping from back to front. Sand on both sides of the putting surface will garner plenty of attention.
At 476 yards, the third is the longest par four on the course. Bending to the left, the tee shot is of utmost importance, as sand and trees right certainly come into play. A mid- to long-iron will remain to a small, sloping putting surface. Any shot long will prove to be quite taxing in an effort to get up
and down.
The first par three on the course, the fourth plays downhill at 213 yards. Sand guards the wide, but shallow green and must be avoided at all costs. A back-left pin could be the most difficult on the course, as the slope of the green is hard to handle. Back in 1958, three-iron to three-wood was the norm, now four-, five- or six-iron is the play. Better golf through technology.
After completion of the fourth, players walk across Steel Road to the longest hole on the course, the fifth, a robust par-five stretching 558 yards. Sand guards the right side of the landing area off the tee and must be avoided if you have any thoughts of getting home in two. The second shot must be shaped around the right to left dogleg, avoiding the trees on both sides of the landing area. The two-tiered green is very accessible with a wedge in hand, but long with a front flag will make for a difficult two putt.
The sixth is a straightforward par-four, not long but very tight off the tee, as trees stand guard down the right and sand on the left. A short-iron will remain to one of the smallest greens on the course, surrounded by menacing sand traps. One word of caution, going long on this hole could result in OB, as the course boundary is behind the green.
Running along side the northern boundary of the course, the seventh is a beautiful, dogleg right, downhill par-four. Just 387 from the tips, so three-metal off the tee down the left side is the play. This will leave just a short-iron to a green fronted by a winding creek and sand left, right and deep. So it goes without saying that accuracy and club selection is key. Any drives down the right side of the fairway could result in a blocked approach shot, as trees flank the landing area. The putting surface features a ridge through center, which can play havoc with your approach.
Crossing back over the road, the par-three eighth is the longest of the set, reaching 210 yards. You'll need a rescue club or five-metal to reach this fairly long green that slopes from back to front. The putting surface is well protected by sand around the back, left and right. Miss short and you'll leave
yourself a respectable chance of getting up and down.
The closing hole on the front nine plays as a par-five on the scorecard, but for tournament play, it's a 501-yard four par. Uphill off the tee, the key is splicing the tree-lined fairway as the hole bends to the left. Even with a successful tee ball, you're faced with a long-iron or fairway-metal to another
slick, back to front green with the wind in your face. Sand left and right guard the putting surface and must be avoided at all costs.
Playing alongside the ninth, the opening hole on the inward nine is a downhill par-four with trees running down both sides of the fairway. Playing shorter than its yardage, the 10th can be reached with just a short-iron for your second, but you'll be playing it off a downhill lie. The creek 20 yards short of the green should not come into play, but you never know. The two-tiered putting surface slopes hard to the front. Two deep traps guard the entrance to the promised land with one trap in the rear to capture any long approaches. A back pin placement is next to impossible to get close, but if you're ball lands on the top shelf, then you'll have a reasonable shot at birdie.
Back across the road, the 11th is the second longest par-four on the course, 459 yards from the blue tees. The hole plays slightly uphill and requires a big and accurate tee ball to negotiate the tight landing area. The putting surface is one of the largest on the course. Sloping from right to left, this
green is deceptively quick and hard to judge. Stay below the hole and you'll be fine.
One of the shorter par-three's on the course, the 12th is a beauty, surrounded left, right and deep by sand. The putting surface is lightning in a bottle, as it slopes hard towards the front of the green. Let's not forget the 45 paces in length and narrowness of the surface and you've got yourself one tough hole. By the way, miss this green and you'll be happy with bogey!
The 13th is a breather of sorts at just 352 yards in length. The key is choosing the right club off the tee. A long-iron or fairway-metal should suffice, thus leaving just a short-iron to an undulating and minuscule putting surface. Although its the rated as the easiest hole on the course, it's not one to be taken lightly.
In contrast, the 14th is one of the most difficult on the course. Playing uphill at 468 yards, you'll need to crack a drive to leave yourself a mid- to long-iron. The difficulty is choosing the right approach club, as the hole bends to the left and uphill. The putting surface is guarded by sand on both sides and runs from back to front at a rapid pace. If your approach lands below the hole, you'll leave yourself a chance at par, but birdie is not out of the question.
The final four holes at Llanerch Country Club are a great collection of risk-reward gems. The 15th is just 321 yards and doglegs to the left. Big bombers can cut the corner and give it a go in an effort to reach the green. The problem with that logic is that the fairway towards the putting surface is very narrow and trapped accordingly, but if you can reach a greenside trap, well, anything is possible. The sensible play, is a rescue club or long-iron to the fat part of the fairway and a wedge for your approach. The green has a couple of levels, sloping back to front, so a birdie is in the offing. Stay
away from a back-right flag.
A reachable par-five, the 16th is just 537 yards and can easily be had if you hit the down-sloping fairway. A fairway-metal or long-iron remains to a very receptive green, with sand on either side of the wide open putting surface. A false-front might repel some run-up shots, but your chance of making birdie are extremely high.
The shortest par-three on the course, the 17th is a great, uphill one-shotter playing just 155 yards. Several finger-like bunkers guard the front and side of the green, another slick, back-to-front putting surface. This tiny, tiered green plays half a club longer, so choose the right stick, or you'll leave
yourself a tough two-putt, or worse, a impossible up and down. It's not often that such a short hole is rated as the tenth most difficult on the course.
At 298 yards, the 18th is not to be taken lightly. Yes, it's short, but accuracy, not brawn is the play. The landing area is quite wide, however, two tall trees guard the right side of the fairway, forcing your tee shot down the left. On the other hand, the port side features a bunker, thick rough and a
creek running the entire length of the hole, so take your mid- to long-iron and carve one down the center. Your approach with a wedge from 100 yards, plays uphill to the smallest green on the course fronting the majestic clubhouse. Another handful of bunkers surround this slick, back-to-front
green, so place your approach accordingly. Despite its length, a great finishing hole.
FINAL WORD: When one talks about the great golf in the Philadelphia region, Merion East comes to mind, as does Huntingdon Valley and Aronimink. Well, it's time to add Llanerch Country Club to the list.
Over the years, many changes have been made to the course, especially over the past several seasons, as the members decided to close the course and invest in the renovation of their club. In a word, success.
Stephen Kay did a masterful job in restoring Llanerch's history and tradition and bringing the course into the 21st century. Always thought of as a top-notch design, Llanerch now has to be considered one of the finest courses in the region.
Most will contend that Llanerch is to short by today's standards, but you must take into account that it plays to a slope of 73.5 and a rating of 143 from the back markers and with a par of 70 for tournament play, Llanerch is as tough as any track in the Delaware Valley, sans Merion.
Interestingly enough, the total yardage of Llanerch is roughly the same as it was back in 1958. During that PGA Championship, the players competed on a course of 6,710 yards, just six yards shy of its present total.
Nestled in the heart of suburban Philadelphia, right off the "Main Line," Llanerch Country Club is a classic golf course that has gotten better with age. Five sets of tees, ranging from 4,917 to 6,855 yards, so all levels of play can enjoy the course. If there is a drawback, the practice facility is a little small and tight, but most of us mere mortals can't reach the end of the range.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention course conditioning. Llanerch is one of the finest maintained layouts in the region. Beautifully manicured, LCC's Bent Grass greens are impeccable and lightning fast. A word of caution, as I was told many times, "Stay below the hole." The square-cut tee boxes are a refreshing site and the grand clubhouse, vintage elegance.
Welcome back Llanerch Country Club, we've missed you!