Best Golf Courses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia sits at the epicenter of American golf architecture. Pine Valley — perennially ranked the #1 course in the world — Merion, Aronimink, and Philadelphia Cricket Club create a density of world-class golf found nowhere else on Earth. The Philly golf corridor is hallowed ground for serious golfers.
Pine Valley, New Jersey · George Crump & H.S. Colt (1918) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 7,057 yards
Widely considered the number-one golf course in the world, Pine Valley is a masterwork of penal design set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens just outside Philadelphia. Every hole is an isolated island of manicured turf surrounded by sand, scrub, and forest, creating golf's ultimate strategic and visual challenge.
Ardmore, Pennsylvania · Hugh Wilson (1912) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,846 yards
Host of five U.S. Opens including 2013, Merion East is where Bobby Jones completed the original Grand Slam in 1930 and Ben Hogan hit his famous 1-iron on the 18th in 1950. Hugh Wilson's compact masterpiece packs extraordinary challenge into just 110 acres on Philadelphia's storied Main Line.
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania · Donald Ross (1928) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,237 yards
A Donald Ross masterpiece that hosted the 2018 BMW Championship, Aronimink is considered one of Ross's finest designs. The rolling layout through mature Philadelphia Main Line woodlands features bold strategic bunkering and superb green complexes that reward precision shotmaking.
Flourtown, Pennsylvania · A.W. Tillinghast (1922) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,748 yards
An A.W. Tillinghast design in the Wissahickon Valley, Philadelphia Cricket Club hosted the 2005 and 2010 U.S. Senior Opens. The intimate Tillinghast layout features strategic bunkering, creative green sites, and a classic Philadelphia parkland setting through mature hardwoods.
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania · Gil Hanse (2023) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,206 yards
Gil Hanse's newest Philadelphia-area design, Union League Liberty Hill opened in 2023 on a property overlooking the Schuylkill Valley. The modern layout blends minimalist shaping with classic Philadelphia golf traditions, featuring wide fairways, creative green complexes, and firm-and-fast conditioning.
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania · William Flynn (1897) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,664 yards
A William Flynn redesign on one of the oldest club properties in the Philadelphia area, Huntingdon Valley features a tight, tree-lined parkland layout demanding accuracy. Flynn's green complexes are among his most intricate, with subtle contours that test even the best short games.
Avondale, Pennsylvania · Jim Blaukovitch (2001) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,021 yards
Named for a village in western Ireland, Inniscrone is a links-inspired public course in Chester County with rolling terrain, fescue rough, and panoramic countryside views. The layout offers championship length and challenge uncommon for public golf in the Philadelphia area.
West Chester, Pennsylvania · Rees Jones (2001) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,850 yards
A Rees Jones design in the rolling Chester County countryside, Broad Run offers semi-private access to a layout routed through farmland, mature hardwoods, and natural stream corridors. The well-conditioned course provides a quality experience at accessible pricing.
Public Courses in Philadelphia
Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Philadelphia .
Overview
The Philadelphia region is arguably the most important golf destination in the world for architecture enthusiasts. Within a 30-mile radius of downtown, you'll find multiple courses regularly ranked in the world top 50. While most elite courses are private, the region also offers strong public options and the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey add additional variety. A.W. Tillinghast, Hugh Wilson, and George Thomas all left masterworks here.
Best Time to Play
April through November, with May through June and September through October being ideal. Philadelphia enjoys four distinct seasons with colorful fall foliage. Summers can be hot and humid, while winters are cold but occasionally mild enough for play.
Travel Tips & Getting There
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is conveniently located south of the city. The Main Line suburbs west of Philadelphia (Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Gladwyne) concentrate the densest collection of elite clubs. Pine Valley is 30 minutes southeast in Clementon, New Jersey.
Nearest Airport: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play Pine Valley Golf Club?
What public courses are available near Philadelphia?
What makes the Philadelphia golf corridor so special?
Explore Nearby Golf Destinations
State Golf Guides
Stay in the Loop
Get weekly rankings updates, destination guides, and insider tips delivered to your inbox.