Merion Golf Club: East Course

Merion, East Course: A Scot, Hugh Wilson designed the original layout, his first and only complete course because of his early death at the age of 46.  The man knew what he was doing because despite its relatively short length, the course remains one of the classic risk/reward challenges of golf history.  Straddling Ardmore Avenue in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Merion, East has hosted many USGA events and was the setting of the great 1971 U.S. Open which featured a playoff between Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino.  They were the only two players to finish the 72 holes at even par 280.  Lee Trevino won the 18 hole playoff by 3 strokes.  21 years before Ben Hogan won a 3-way playoff to win the 1950 U.S. Open and in 1981 David Graham became the first men's U.S. Open contestant to break par on the feisty layout.  He won with a phenomenal final round of 67 beating by 3 strokes four other players, who had managed to break par.  The par-4 First has been lauded as one of the great opening short par-4's.  The only par-5's occur at the Second and Fourth holes, but the routing never lacks for variety.  Lack of parking, other facilities and the shortness of the course precluded further consideration for U.S. Opens at this classic venue, but wiser heads have rethought the proposition!  Not only will this classic test host the 2009 Walker Cup, but the USGA has reconsidered and Merion East will host the 2013 U.S. Open!

An amazing recreation for Links 2003 has been done by Dexter Gresh.  The course can be downloaded for free from the Links Corner.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to David.

Next - return to Courses | Gallery | Introduction | Homepage

Artists' Golf is a conceptual work of art Copyright 1995 - 2008 by David B. Lewis and all original paintings, drawings and art works are Copyright by David B. Lewis. All rights reserved.  Maps of existing courses are original artistic interpretations and impressions from a variety of sources and are not intended to be accurate renderings or representations of the actual courses.  They indicate my interest and study and are intended purely for the pleasure and information of the viewers and are not for sale or profit.