Philadelphia is such a central city. The city played an important role in the establishment of the US. It is here that the founders of the nation sign the Declaration of Independence, signaling the start of the American nation.
Besides this, it has a rich history in terms of the development of golf courses in the country.
Officially named the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Keystone State boasts a number of top golf courses and has over 20 different golf associations.
Actually, it is regarded as one of the leading authorities when it comes to golf, with over 300 affiliated clubs on its register.
Two of the most respected old golf courses in the state—Hugh Wilson’s Merion (East) and the Henry Fownes-designed Oakmont—sit comfortably among the best 100 rankings in the world.
Our guide will highlight the best Pennsylvania golf courses. We recommend that you go through each golf course to find your favorite one.
List of the Top Pennsylvania Golf Courses
- Oakmont Country Club: Best Overall
- Merion Golf Club: East: 1st Runners Up
- Aronimink Golf Club: 2nd Runners Up
- Laurel Valley Golf Club
- The Philadelphia Cricket Club: Wissahickon
- Fox Chapel Golf Club
- Lancaster Country Club: Meadow Creek/Dogwood
- Stonewall: Old Course
- Gulph Mills Golf Club
- Huntingdon Valley Country Club: Toomey/Flynn
- The Country Club of Scranton: Old
- Applebrook Golf Club
- Huntsville Golf Club
- Longue Vue Club
- Saucon Valley Country Club: Weyhill
- Saucon Valley Country Club: Old
- Sunnehanna Country Club
- Nemacolin: Mystic Rock
- Rolling Green Golf Club
- Philadelphia Country Club: Spring Mill
- Nemacolin: Shepherd’s Rock
- Lehigh Country Club
- St. Clair Country Club: Championship
- Pittsburgh Field Club
- Philadelphia Cricket Club: Militia Hill
The Best Golf Courses in Pennsylvania
1. Oakmont Country Club
- Location: Oakmont
- Length: 7,254 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Henry Fownes
- Year of Establishment: 1903
- Championship(s): the 1919 U.S. Amateur Championship; the US Open 2016; the U.S. Open in 2025, 2034, 2042, and 2049.
Once filled with thousands of trees, Oakmont has one of the most notorious bunkers. The original architect, H.C. Fownes, staked out the bunker the moment he saw a player hit an offline shot.
Besides this, Oakmont is one of the most outstanding Pennsylvania golf courses because it has the game’s swiftest putting surfaces.
2. Merion Golf Club: East
- Location: Ardmore
- Length: 6,946 yards.
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Hugh Irvine Wilson
- Year of Establishment: 1910
- Championship(s): the 2005 U.S. Amateur; five U.S. Opens (1934, 1950, 1971, 1981, 2013); the 2026 U.S. Amateur; the 2030 U.S. Open; the 2034 U.S. Women’s Open
The east course of Merion Golf Club has been regarded as one of the best Pennsylvania golf courses on the tightest acreage in the US.
The course underwent a two-year renovation that included lots of improvements to make it more polished in preparation for the Opens in 2030.
3. Aronimink Golf Club
- Location: Newtown Square
- Length: 7,237 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Donald Ross
- Year of Establishment: 1896
- Championship(s): the 1962 PGA Championship; the 2026 PGA Championship; the BMW Championship in 2018; the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Aronimink Golf Course is an important showcase for architectural evolution. The original designer, Donald Ross, intended to make this golf course a masterpiece.
Over the years, the course underwent a lot of renovations, which introduced lots of changes. But recent developments revert back to Ross’ concept.
4. Laurel Valley Golf Club
- Location: Ligonier
- Length: 7,154 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Dick Wilson Arnold
- Year of Establishment: 1959
- Championship(s): the PGA Championship (1965); the 27th Arnold Palmer Cup in 2023; the 1975 Ryder Cup matches between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland
This is considered one of the best designs by Dick Wilson. The course was formed by three golf lovers, including Anolrd Palmer, a decorated professional golf player.
5. The Philadelphia Cricket Club: Wissahickon
- Location: Flourtown
- Length: 7,119 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): A.W. Tillinghast, Willie Tucker, and Keith Foster
- Year of Establishment: 1922
- Championship(s): the 9th Annual USGA Four-Ball Championship in 2024; the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship
The Wissahickon course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club was, for a long time, Tillinghaast’s home club.
The designer participated in creating the first layout of the course, which changed slightly over the years.
This period saw the bunkers erode, the trees grow, and the greens shrink. That is why the club engaged Keith Foster in 2008 to restore the course to its Tillinghast glory.
6. Fox Chapel Golf Club
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Length: 6,705 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Seth Raynor, A.W. Tillinghast, and Alden & Harlow
- Year of Establishment: 1923
- Championship(s): the 1985 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship; the 30th Constellation Senior Players Championship in 2012; the USGA championship in 2024; the 2002 Curtis Cup; and the 2012, 2013, and 2014
The Fox Chapel golf course is one of the best Pennsylvania golf courses, but it evolved along the way to become a more fancy course.
Many of its bunkers were overgrown and became circular. So, Brian Silver was brought on board to restore Seth Raynor’s original features.
7. Lancaster Country Club: Meadow Creek/Dogwood
- Location: Lancaster
- Length: 6,850 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): William Flynn
- Year of Establishment: 1901
- Championship(s): the 2015 and 2024 U.S. Women’s Open
What originally started as a simple nine-hole course designed by William Flynn has expanded into a magnificent golf course. It features rolling terrain with a river meandering around the heart of the property.
Holes two to eight are particularly impressive as they are located in a river valley, providing exciting opportunities for golfers.
8. Stonewall: Old Course
- Location: Elverson
- Length: 6,653 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Tom Doak with Gil Hanse assisting
- Year of Establishment: 1993
- Championship(s): the 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship; the Women’s Trans National Tournament in 2006; the United States Mid-Amateur Championship in 2016; the Mary Farnum Cup for the WGAP; and the Jack Connelly Invitational in 2005.
The Old Course at Stonewall features a minimalistic layout and is situated about 45 miles north of Philadelphia.
Nonetheless, it is a challenging course with a good amount of elevation change.
9. Gulph Mills Golf Club
- Location: King of Prussia
- Length: 6,627 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Donald Ross
- Year of Establishment: 1916
- Championship(s): the Joseph H. Patterson Cup in 2018
Gulph Mills is among the most recognized golf courses in Pennsylvania.
So, it tends to have the toughest tee times to get into the Keystone State.
Besides this, the terrain and setting are special.
10. Huntingdon Valley Country Club: Toomey/Flynn
- Location: Huntingdon Valley
- Length: 7,042 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): William Flynn and Howard Toomley
- Year of Establishment: 1928
- Championship(s): the Philadelphia Senior Amateur in 1984; the 107th Open Championship in 2011; the Lynnewood Hall Challenge Cup (1901–39, 1982–present); and the Pennsylvania Amateur (1909, 1911, 1923, 1939, 1964, 1975, 1984, 1995, 2005).
Founded in the late 19th century, the Huntingdon Valley Country Club began as a nine-hole course before being upgraded to an 18-hole course in 1910.
Due to limited space, the club decided to relocate the course to its current site in the 1920s.
Overall, Huntingdon Valley Golf Course features greens that are difficult both in terms of slope and undulation, making it one of the best Pennsylvania golf courses.
11. The Country Club of Scranton: Old
- Location: Clarks Summit
- Length: 7,015 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Walter Travis and Dr. Michael Hurdzan
- Year of Establishment: 1927
- Championship(s): the Pennsylvania Amateur Championship in 1997 and 2003
The Old Course is an 18-hole layout designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s.
We included this course in this list of the top Pennsylvania golf courses because it offers players three combinations of 18-hole composites to play.
12. Applebrook Golf Club
- Location: Malvern
- Length: 6,942 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Rodney Hine, Bill Kittleman, and Jim Wagner
- Year of Establishment: 1999
- Championship(s): Senior Men’s Club Championship in 2022
The Applebrook Golf Club features wide fairways and green complexes that are both subtle and intricate.
The course architect, Gil Hanse, aimed to provide a challenging course with options for playability.
13. Huntsville Golf Club
- Location: Shavertown
- Length: 7,204 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Peter Bohlin of Bohlin, Cywinski, and Jackson Architects
- Year of Establishment: 1994
- Championship(s): The AJGA Junior in 2023; the 2022 Huntsville Open; and the 2023 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Men’s Golf Championship
This is yet another golf club that demonstrates excellence, especially when it comes to the holes. It claims to have some of the best holes you can find around. Holes 2 to 12 are particularly impressive as they wind their way through the mountains and farmland.
14. Longue Vue Club
- Location: Verona
- Length: 6,631 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Robert White and Albert Warren Tillinghast
- Year of Establishment: 1920
- Championship(s): the Girls Championship in 1966 and the Women’s Amateur qualifier in 1993; the 2021 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play
The Longue Vue golf course is located on the bluffs that overlook the Allegheny River.
We believe it is one of the top Pennsylvania golf courses because it possesses some impressive vistas and strong strategic holes.
15. Saucon Valley Country Club: Weyhill
- Location: Bethlehem
- Length: 7,071 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): William and David Gordon
- Year of Establishment: 1968
- Championship(s): the 1992, 2000, and 2022 U.S. Senior Opens; the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2026; the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2038
It is one of the most outstanding Pennsylvania golf courses that features marvelous views and dramatic changes in elevation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pennsylvania is one of the most golf-rich states, with several excellent golf courses.
In total, there are about 706 golf courses in the state, including 451 public courses, 195 private courses, and 60 municipal courses.
There are two different courses at the Penn State golf courses: the Blue and White Courses.
The blue course is dedicated to veteran golfers, while the white course is for average golfers, but it does provide a challenging atmosphere.
An average 18-hole golf course of all short par 3s can be constructed on as little as 30 acres.
An intermediate-length course of 18 holes of par 4s and 3s could be built on 75–100-acre land.
A full-size par 72 course will need over 120 acres.
Final Thoughts
The key to enjoying golf in Keystone State is to find the best golf courses in the area.
More importantly, you need a golf course that meets most of your preferences.
The good thing is that our list of the best Pennsylvania golf courses caters to different categories of players.
For instance, we have a challenging course for those who value the demands of hitting every club in the bag.
Likewise, there are courses that feature interesting design attributes. Others are even set in nature.
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