Hi all,

I may be relocating to the Philadelphia area (Malvern, PA specifically) for a new job by the end of the year. As such, I will be looking for a new club to call home. I'm a member of a private club here in southeast MI, so I'm aware of how private clubs operate. I'm looking for some insight into which clubs I should consider looking into (Applebrook, Overbrook, Philadelphia CC?).

I am 34 years old, a 2 hcp and play in the state am, U.S. Am, U.S. Mid-Am, club championship, etc., so being at a club with quite a few competitive, strong players and a superb practice facility (i.e., grass tees) are most important. Right behind that is making sure my wife will be comfortable and enjoy the club. She plays in the womens league here and with some of her girlfriends on weekends on a regular basis. No kids yet, but plan to have one or two soon. Also I'm sure I will live somewhere between Philly and Malvern, and I would like to keep driving distance to a club under 1/2 an hour.

Clearly, since the season is winding down in the north I'm in no rush to make a move, but any thoughts you guys have is appreciated. Thanks much!

Ace Club. Come on, do it. you'll make Gary Player happy. and, they'll have a tour event there sooner or later.

http://www.theaceclubonline.com

What exactly are you looking for? Soooooo many nice clubs in the area here -- but some are very different than others.

Is $$$ a factor? Looking for swimming and tennis, or just golf? Care whether it's stuffy or laid back? Care about difficulty, quality, reputation? Parkland or links style?

There will certainly be a club (or a few) that fit your criteria -- just depends what your criteria is.

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Wow, that looks like an amazing club. That'd be the type of dream club I'd be looking at.

The ACE Club IS amazing -- but I don't know if it's open to non-corporate members. I thought you had to be in the ACE insurance company, but I could be off on that. It seems that it at least WAS that way, but maybe they've changed things (or maybe I never had it right to begin with).

Great course. It covers so much land. It feels like each hole is on steroids. It's not overly long -- just everything feels like it's on a grand scale.

So many great courses around Philly...

Since you're going to be in Malvern you should check out White Manor.

Check out the website for the Golf Association Of Philadelphia.

http://www.gapgolf.org/

Too many good clubs to list here. Considering the economic times, except for a few (i.e Merion, Phila CC, Gulph Mills) they are all looking for members.

BTW, it's expensive, but the Ace Club does have non-corporate members.

I'm not from the area, but my wife is from Havertown, PA (maybe twenty minutes away), our wedding reception was held in Malvern. Anyways, from the time I've spent up there visiting family and friends, my advice would be to do your homework and really look around. There are so many great clubs, well-known and not-so well known, that it would be in your best interest to try to get a feel for as many as possible. I've been fortunate to play quite a few places, and there's a lot of great courses. The clubs can be very different, though, so be careful and find what would suit you best. Good luck, I'm sure you'll end up at a very good club.

JChris,

I echo whoever said White Manor. I played there a couple of years ago with a friend who is a member. Bobby Weed basically redid the golf course. It is a very strong golf course. At one point, the club was almost 100 percent Jewish. It is still primarily a Jewish club, but the membership is much more mixed now.

I think there is a pool as well.

I hear Merion is pretty good.

If you want some good insight PM me. I'm a club professional in the Philly Section.

+1 for White Manor - great, underrated course, as long as you like modern architecture. Their demographic makeup is very homogeneous & that can be a turnoff to some, but it's a great course.

Although it remains to be seen what the course is like, Chester Valley is located right in Malvern. They shut it down last July to do a MAJOR overhaul on the course (to be fair, it needed it). The expected re-opening is in May. CV hosted the Bell Atlantic Senior PGA event for several years back in the late 80s/early 90s. Their membership has been on the decline for years & they are making some aggressive deals for new, young members.

You can also shoot me a PM - I've lived on the Main Line my entire life & have plenty of thoughts on most clubs in the area, including my own (not White Manor or Chester Valley)

I play out of Rolling Green in Springfield which is a great Flynn layout which might be a little longer than a 30 min drive but it would be worth it. If your moving to Malvern though you should look into Applebrook... I just love that course. Overbrook, Philadelphia CC are pretty expensive and they are also tennis and swimming

Research research and more research! The state of the golf industry in the Greater Philly area is not very healthy. Many clubs are facing membership issues which also create money issues. I do not know if the Golf Association of Philadelphia would offer much assistance or guidance but it may be worth a call.

They may be able to point you in the direction of a financially sound club, and away from the not so sound clubs.

In todays market there are many clubs offering look and see deals for the first couple of years where you do not have to tie up a load of money right away in order to get a true feel for the course and membership, you may want to be asking about such programs.

Also; you may want to look into corp. owned clubs like The Ace Club who will not be assessing you if they do a poor job managing the facility.

I would point you towards Rolling Green and White Manor as well, playied both of them in local GAP and Penn. Golf Association events and was very impressed by the mix of holes, layout and conditions.

Good luck in your seach!

NOte: Some clubs offer lesser expensive options to potential members under a certain age which could vary from 34 to 40, that would be worth asking as well.

Thanks for the insight fellas! It looks like I will be moving there in December. I've heard good things about Rolling Green, Edgmont, Coatsville, and Brookside. Since I'm 34, I'll definitely look into Junior membership options. I'll likely settle in somewhere along the Main Line as well. Also, interesting to know that some clubs are suffering financially. We have the same problem here in the Detroit area, although my club is in good shape.

Anyone happen to know where the indoor driving ranges/domes are located around town?

PM if you want some more info on Rolling Green

PLayed at ACE. Nothing special really....

I work at philly country club. Great course, nice members. I think it is pretty expensive though. I've played all the above, overbrook, apple brook, rolling green, (you didn't mention aronimink if you got the money). There are no GOOD indoor ranges near philly, but there is a range in conshocken called TEES. Take a look at aronimink (Again if you have the money.) The greens at rolling green and philly country club are unbelieveable. I would not recommend overbrook as it is primarily an old age membership and they are struggling financially. PM if you want more info.

I am from metro Detroit originally as well, where do you play now? If you tell me what sort of course in the metro Detroit area you like maybe I could offer some suggestions on that basis as well.

As for The Ace Club being nothing special, all I can tell you is that the Golf Assoc. of Phila. will probably never have another event there because it killed the field and the rounds were 5.5 hours plus.

Big course, Long, Mature Rough and Tough Greens. Combine that with pretty much being in front of you it is a very very good test.

Just an opinion of another 2 handicapper.

I am a Junior member at Detroit Golf Club, a Donald Ross design. I've enjoyed most private courses in the area (Oakland Hills, Dearborn, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Country Club of Detroit, etc.). I love the fact that my club has two courses and I hardly ever have to wait longer than 30 minutes for a tee time. I enjoy the grass range and short game area as well since I tend to hang out there for hours working on my game. As you may know, the club's membership is diverse with many young members and a large percentage of players with 5 hcp or better. My wife plays a lot as well. So all told, I would like to find these same attributes in a club in the Philly area.

Agreed. The Ace Club IS special. The opening hole is bad (completely blind tee shot over and down a large hill), but the course overall is fantastic.

The problem with the ACE Club was not the ACE Club, but the Golf Association of Phila. For them to put 120+ people in the field was ludicrous when they had multiple qualifying sites for the event. I should know- I was in the second to last group and spent 6 hours out there.

Edit- event was a Patterson Cup qualifier a few years ago

That said, I have played the course many times in competitive and recreational rounds. There is a fantastic flow of holes, nice mix of shot making, and very good true and fast greens. Agree with KMeloney- the first hole is a bit of a red herring. Great practice facility as well. Membership will set you back though..

Have you considered Whitemarsh Valley? Main Line, a bit old money but they used to have the old IVB Classic there in the 70's, which was a top Tour event. I've played it a few times, definitely in great shape and reminiscent of the turn of the century Donald Ross feel.

The problem with the ACE Club was not the ACE Club, but the Golf Association of Phila. For them to put 120+ people in the field was ludicrous when they had multiple qualifying sites for the event. I should know- I was in the second to last group and spent 6 hours out there.

That said, I have played the course many times in competitive and recreational rounds. There is a fantastic flow of holes, nice mix of shot making, and very good true and fast greens. Agree with KMeloney- the first hole is a bit of a red herring. Great practice facility as well. Membership will set you back though..

Which event are you referring to? The Tournament of Champions was there 3 weeks ago and the field was 75 players.

As far as indoor practice goes, your options will be limited. There are no domes (that I know of). There is a place in Frazer where you can rent time in a simulator - it's not perfect, but it beats sitting on the couch for 4 months.

http://www.playaroundgolf.net/

I'm not sure about what areas you guys are talking about but I've played a course near Reading PA, not sure if that's near you, but it's fairly new, looking for memebers, and just amazing to look at and difficult to play - It's called Ledgerock Golf Club - simply a great course, par 72, could be made into 71 -but it'd be too difficult - two par 5's that are completely unreachable by anyone - don't care if you hit it 400 yards off the tee. The pro's could play there but probably won't due to the fact it's almost unwalkable - I'm 27, it great shape, the thought of trying to walk never entered my mind due to a atleast half a dozen holes that a person would trip and fall to their death. Anyone else in that area - it's worth a look - head pro and greens keeper from Pine Valley - YES, thee Pine Valley - amazing layout, best practice facility I've seen, nothing but ProV1's on the range, free of charge, putting, chipping, indoor heated hitting bays for winter practice, and an indoor putting and chipping area. It's impecable.

Hope that helps.

To the best of my knowledge there only a couple of courses that have more than 18 holes.

One is Philly Country Club: www.philadelphiacc.net

Second would be Stonewall: www.stonewalllinks.com

Third would be Philly Cricket: www.philacricket.com

The last would be Merion: www.meriongolfclub.com

They are in and around the area you intend to live and I think all but Merion are actively looking for members.

Good luck in your search!!!

If you are a competitive amateur you choice should be Rolling Green Golf Club. Hands down the finest set of greens in all of Pennsylvania next to Oakmont. You WILL become a better player at Rolling Green!

Can't argue with that! And, they're in the midst of some bunker, fairway, and cart path changes that are going to make the course even better. It's going to be amazing. Just amazing.

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Rolling Green is fantastic, if 18 holes rather than the 36 you prefer is ok. And they are looking for members from what I hear.

If I were to join a club in Philly I would join Philly Cricket. They have 36 holes there and 2 awsome courses. The courses compliment each other and are both very challenging. They also offer a good jr program and that is why they have great players there. Next to Cricket I would join Huntingdon Valley

I work in the baltimore area @ a private club and recently played Ledgerock. I was very dissapointed with the design. I am often underwhelmed by courses that are unwalkable. The first and 17th holes are 2 of the weakest holes I have played. I will agree that the practice range and facilities are second to none. Also, our forecaddy was worthless. He was actually in the way, He took us to the wrong hole 2 times. I had to take his yardage book from him because he couldnt read it.

LEDGEROCK IS FANTASTIC!

Hunington Valley would seem to fit your needs exactly, but about 30-40 min away. Check it out.

he obviously didnt move there because his info still says Auburn Hills MI but Philly Cricket Club for the win!!