Designer: Donald Ross (1928), William Gordon (1950s, Bunker work), Dick Wilson (1961, Redesign), George Fazio/Tom Fazio (1978, Redesign), Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1989, Redesign), Ron Prichard (2003, Restoration), Gil Hanse (2017, Restoration)
Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
History: Initially known as the Belmont Golf Association, the Club was founded in 1896 with a primitive 9-hole course in southwestern Philadelphia. By 1902, it was known as Aronimink Golf Club after a Lenape chief and had moved down the street. The fledgling Club moved once again in 1913 to Drexel Hill, before settling on its final location in Newtown Square in 1926. At the peak of his career, Donald Ross was enlisted to build a course which opened in 1928. Ross was clearly pleased with his course and remarked, “I intended to make this my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize that I built better than I knew.” Despite this, the course underwent many changes in the 20th century with redesigns from William Gordon, Dick Wilson, the Fazios, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. In 2003, the Club started to bring back the original design features with a restoration by Ron Prichard and Gil Hanse further restored the course more recently.
Aronimink has hosted many big events since its inception with a PGA Championship in 1962 won by Gary Player, U.S. Amateur (1977), Senior PGA (2003), PGA Tour, U.S. Junior Amateur (1997), and Women’s PGA Championship (2020). It is scheduled to host the 2026 PGA Championship as well. Jay Sigel, one of the best amateurs in golf history, grew up here and was a member for over 60 years. Aronimink has won numerous accolades:
- #100 Best Course in America – Golf Digest (2025)
- #84 Best Course in America – Golf Magazine (2024)
- #65 Best Classic Course in America – Golfweek (2025)
- #3 Best Course in Pennsylvania – Golf Digest (2025)
- #4 Best Course in Pennsylvania – Golf Magazine (2024)
- #3 Best Course in Pennsylvania – Top100golfcourses.com (2024)
- #5 Best Private Course in Pennsylvania – Golfweek (2025)
Conditions: 10/10, Aronimink features superb U.S. Open style conditioning with pristine fairways, thick, lush rough, and firm and fast greens that roll true.
Value: N/A, This is a private course.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Black 70 7267 75.5 144
Blue 70 6521 71.9 137
White 70 6005 69.3 131
Red 72 5369 72.1 131
Hole Descriptions: The Philadelphia suburbs are home to one of best and deepest collections of private golf clubs in America and Aronimink is certainly in the upper echelon of these courses. A big, brawny layout on a large, hilly property, this is a quintessential golden-age parkland course with tree-lined par fours, thick rough, and plenty of bunkers. There’s not one signature hole that stands out to me here, but instead there’s a steady barrage of very good golf holes without any clear weak offerings. It is a true championship test with many long par fours and stretches to over 7200 yards as a par 70 with few birdie opportunities. The most memorable feature of Aronimink for me are the greens, which are an extremely varied and difficult group and are in immaculate firm and fast condition. This is great members’ course, a round I highly recommend, and one I look forward to watching the Pros tackle in the 2026 PGA.
Aronimink opens with one of the best and most memorable starting holes you’ll find anywhere with a 419 yard par 4. This straightaway hole features an elevated teebox and teeshot that plunges into a valley to a generous fairway lined by thick rough and trees. The fairway then rises out of the valley and plays uphill on the approach towards an elevated green defended by deep bunkers long and on either side short. I learned very quickly that being above the hole at Aronimink is a quick way to make a big number, and this green slopes steadily back-to-front with two tiers.
The 2nd hole is one of the shortest par fours on the course and plays as a dogleg left at 372 yards. This is an interesting hole that gives the golfer options, with its fairway turning sharply to the left at around 230 yards with three large bunkers on the inside corner of dogleg. Aggressive teeshots attempting to cut the corner here will need to beware of an additional set of left bunkers further up around 250 yards. This approach plays slightly uphill to a shallow green with mounding along its edges. Two bunkers defend short on either side but the worst miss is long, where a steep slope of tight lies awaits.
The 3rd hole turns around in the opposite direction as a 402 yard par 4 over level terrain. This hole is most notable for its bunkering, with a visible right bunker at 160 yards and a hidden pair of left crossbunkers that narrow the fairway significantly at 230 yards. Golfers who carry these successfully will find a wider fairway with additional crossbunkers further up. This green is tricky, with bunkers short on either side and a back plateau that kicks balls to the right.
At 419 yards, the 4th hole is Aronimink’s number 1 handicap and runs straightaway along the edge of the property. With OB left the entire way, this hole plays semi-blind on the teeshot to a generous fairway containing a plateau. There are several crossbunkers down the left that require a 220 yard carry, but anything over these should be in good shape. The remainder of the hole runs downhill towards a large green that slopes overall back-to-front with several mounds and a deep right bunker.
The 5th hole is Aronimink’s first par 3 and shortest hole at 143 yards. A beautiful one-shotter with striking bunkering, this hole features a giant, punchbowl-like green defended short by a ring of four deep bunkers.
The 6th and 7th holes are back-to-back medium length dogleg right par fours and two of the more interesting holes on the course. At 375 yards, the 6th hole is the shorter of the two but plays slightly uphill the entire way. This fairway is generous initially but tightens and turns to the right at around 240 yards with no fewer than seven bunkers along the inside corner of the dogleg. There are additional bunkers ahead on either side as well and a wonderful wedge-shaped green that slopes back-to-front with large mounds along the left corners.
The 7th might be my favorite hole at Aronimink as another dogleg right at 377 yards. Featuring a nearly blind teeshot, this hole plays over bunkers and mounds down the right to a fairway that bends right around 190 yards. Trees and thick rough run down the left the entire way and the fairway overall slopes hard right-to-left and downhill, forcing longer hitters into a choice off the tee. This approach is a blast and plays downhill to a smaller green with significant right-to-left tilt and bunkers left and short.
The 8th is probably the best and most memorable par 3 on the course and plays downhill at 204 yards. This is a beautiful hole playing over a pond and several bunkers short to a giant double green connected with 10. There are numerous ridges and slopes on this green, but it predominantly slopes left-to-right.
The front 9 returns to the clubhouse with the first of Aronimink’s two par fives. At over 600 yards from the Black Tees and 515 yards from the members’ tees, this hole runs steadily uphill the entire way and will likely require three shots to reach. While the fairway is rather wide and straight here, there is sequential bunkering throughout beginning down the left at 205 yards. These crossbunkers also come into play on a lay-up and the green is large and slopes back-to-front.
The 10th hole is another excellent and memorable par 4 playing downhill from a neat diagonal teebox to a generous fairway lined by three bunkers down the right. This hole is most notable for a small pond just short left of the green that mandates an aerial approach for most unless you bail out down the right. This green is connected to the 8th and is one of the toughest on the course, with an overall back-to-front slope and several plateaus leading to some difficult pins.
At 393 yards, the 11th hole is a devilish par 4 that runs uphill and straightaway for its entire length. The fairway is generous here, but numerous bunkers line either side for much of the landing area beginning around 220 yards or so. This approach runs steadily uphill and is quite intimidating to a green sitting on a pedestal defended by numerous bunkers short and long and a steep false front. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this is one of the most severe back-to-front sloped greens I’ve ever played, and a front pin here is borderline unfair at these speeds. I look forward to watching the pros navigate this green during the PGA.
If I had any criticism of Aronimink, it would be that some of the holes blend together, and the stretch in the middle of the back 9 is most guilty of this beginning with the 12th hole. At 429 yards, this is a long straightaway par 4 playing from an elevated teebox. There are sporadic trees down the left and numerous bunkers on the right for most of the landing area. This green features some internal plateaus and is defended by a deep bunker right.
The 13th hole is Aronimink’s shortest par 4 and plays straightaway along the edge of the property at 354 yards. You must carry a set of barrier bunkers early on and avoid another string of four crossbunkers down the left around 240 yards to find this narrow fairway. This green is also well-protected by bunkers short on either side and contains plenty of internal movement.
The 14th hole continues in the same direction as a solid 190 yard par 3. With bunkers defending either side and long, this one-shotter features a large putting surface that mostly slopes back-to-front with several mounds.
At 433 yards, the 15th hole is a stronger offering and the longest par 4 on the course. Running straightaway and uphill the entire way, this beastly hole features a string of crossbunkers down the right at 200 yards followed by a narrower fairway that slopes hard right-to-left. Likely facing an awkward lie, this approach continues uphill over bunkers to the largest putting surface on the course. This green mostly slopes back-to-front but does have some punchbowl features.
The 16th hole is the second par 5 at Aronimink and one of the best birdie chances on the course at a reachable 516 yards. It begins with a fun teeshot that plays slightly downhill to a fairway angled to the left. An ideal drive is over a trio of left crossbunkers at 240 yards. Once in the fairway, the hole plays level and straight with sequential crossbunkers down either side and a large back-to-front slope green at the end. Deep bunkers defend either side of the green and a swale of tight lies is found long and left.
The penultimate hole is Aronimink’s final par 3 and plays over water the entire way at 172 yards. This is an attractive hole with a wide, back-to-front sloped green guarded by a false front and bunkers short right.
Aronimink closes with a 393 yard par 4 that runs back up the hill alongside the 9th and terminates at the clubhouse. This hole plays longer than the scorecard and features a generous fairway tightened by three bunkers down the right at 230 yards. While there is OB to the far left, it’s probably a better miss than right, as a tall solo tree blocks out any approaches from this side. This large and tricky green contains numerous plateaus and is defended by bunkers on either side short.
General Comments: Aronimink is more than just a golf club, with state-of-the-art amenities including a pool, fitness center, numerous tennis courts, and an impressive Tudor-style clubhouse. Practice facilities include a full grass driving range and short game area as well as a putting green near the 1st tee. Walking is encouraged and the caddie program is robust.
Verdict: One of the best clubs in the golf-rich Philadelphia area, Aronimink features a classic and historic Donald Ross parkland design with a particularly strong set of greens and impeccable conditioning. This is an ideal members’ course, a championship layout, and a course well-worth playing if given the opportunity.
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