Aronimink Golf Club
Architect: Donald Ross Year: 1896 3600 St Davids Rd Newtown Square, PA 19073 Phone: (610) 356-8000 Course Access: Private https://www.aronimink.org/ |
Aronimink Golf Club
The corner of 52nd Street and Chester Avenue was the birthplace of the Belmont Golf Association, an outgrowth of Belmont Cricket Club. In December of 1896, this patch of southwest Philadelphia was little more than a pale green meadow. A handful of cricketers led by Harrison Townsend laid out a few rudimentary golf holes here.
In 1900, the Belmont golfers incorporated themselves as the Aronimink Golf Club. Its first professional, James Campbell, was succeeded by John Shippen, an African-American who was arguably the first American born golf professional.
In 1902, the Aronimink golfers moved less than a mile down the road to 54th Street and Whitby Avenue. Out of the caddie yard came 19 year old John Joseph McDermott, who in 1911, at Chicago Golf Club, became the first golfer born and bred in America to win the U. S. Open. And he won it again, the following year, at the Country Club of Buffalo.
In 1913, the Club moved to Drexel Hill, where it remained for 13 years. Then Aronimink acquired 300 acres in Newtown Square in 1926 and commissioned Donald Ross to lay out 18 holes there. The club moved into the current clubhouse on Memorial Day of 1928. Joe Capello was the Head Golf Professional during the move, a position he held until 1967.
A major professional championship, the PGA, came to the Club in 1962. Gary Player won with a total of 278.
The U. S. Amateur was held at Aronimink in 1977. Oregon’s John Fought won the crown, Aronimink member Jay Sigel lost to Fought in the semifinals.
At the official opening of the Club’s Centennial Year, 1996, a rededication of the course took place, together with the unveiling of the plaque behind the 1st tee:
“I INTENDED TO MAKE THIS MY MASTERPIECE,
BUT NOT UNTIL TODAY DID I REALIZE
THAT I BUILT BETTER THAN I KNEW."
– Donald J. Ross
In July of 1997 Aronimink hosted the U. S. Junior Amateur Championship. Trevor Immelman defeated Sean O’Hair in the semifinals, 5 and 4. But the young Immelman bowed to Jason Allred, of Ashland, Oregon, by a hole in the final match.
The 2003 Senior PGA Championship was hosted by Aronimink. The field included 22 players who had won 73 major championships. Among the champions were Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Raymond Floyd and Hale Irwin. Out of the blue came California’s burly John Jacobs, 58 years old, with rounds of 68, 69, 71 and 68 to finish 4 under par and take the crown.
Aronimink's 2005 Master Plan called for renovation and upgrade of many of the Club's Facilities. Among the Plan’s 12 key components were construction of a new ballroom, a new women’s locker room, and a multi-purpose Activity Center. The $15 million project was completed in October of 2006.
On October 15, 2008, the Club voted to bring the AT&T National, a PGA TOUR event, to Aronimink in 2010 and 2011. The tournament’s principal beneficiaries were the Tiger Woods Foundation, joined by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. With its length and its challenges, Aronimink was an outstanding venue.
In 1900, the Belmont golfers incorporated themselves as the Aronimink Golf Club. Its first professional, James Campbell, was succeeded by John Shippen, an African-American who was arguably the first American born golf professional.
In 1902, the Aronimink golfers moved less than a mile down the road to 54th Street and Whitby Avenue. Out of the caddie yard came 19 year old John Joseph McDermott, who in 1911, at Chicago Golf Club, became the first golfer born and bred in America to win the U. S. Open. And he won it again, the following year, at the Country Club of Buffalo.
In 1913, the Club moved to Drexel Hill, where it remained for 13 years. Then Aronimink acquired 300 acres in Newtown Square in 1926 and commissioned Donald Ross to lay out 18 holes there. The club moved into the current clubhouse on Memorial Day of 1928. Joe Capello was the Head Golf Professional during the move, a position he held until 1967.
A major professional championship, the PGA, came to the Club in 1962. Gary Player won with a total of 278.
The U. S. Amateur was held at Aronimink in 1977. Oregon’s John Fought won the crown, Aronimink member Jay Sigel lost to Fought in the semifinals.
At the official opening of the Club’s Centennial Year, 1996, a rededication of the course took place, together with the unveiling of the plaque behind the 1st tee:
“I INTENDED TO MAKE THIS MY MASTERPIECE,
BUT NOT UNTIL TODAY DID I REALIZE
THAT I BUILT BETTER THAN I KNEW."
– Donald J. Ross
In July of 1997 Aronimink hosted the U. S. Junior Amateur Championship. Trevor Immelman defeated Sean O’Hair in the semifinals, 5 and 4. But the young Immelman bowed to Jason Allred, of Ashland, Oregon, by a hole in the final match.
The 2003 Senior PGA Championship was hosted by Aronimink. The field included 22 players who had won 73 major championships. Among the champions were Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Raymond Floyd and Hale Irwin. Out of the blue came California’s burly John Jacobs, 58 years old, with rounds of 68, 69, 71 and 68 to finish 4 under par and take the crown.
Aronimink's 2005 Master Plan called for renovation and upgrade of many of the Club's Facilities. Among the Plan’s 12 key components were construction of a new ballroom, a new women’s locker room, and a multi-purpose Activity Center. The $15 million project was completed in October of 2006.
On October 15, 2008, the Club voted to bring the AT&T National, a PGA TOUR event, to Aronimink in 2010 and 2011. The tournament’s principal beneficiaries were the Tiger Woods Foundation, joined by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. With its length and its challenges, Aronimink was an outstanding venue.
Course Photos
Preserved Links Member Photos
1962 PGA Championship
The 1962 PGA Championship was the 44th PGA Championship, played July 19–22 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, a suburb west of Philadelphia. Gary Player won the first of his two PGA Championships, one stroke ahead of runner-up Bob Goalby, for the third of his nine major titles and the third leg of his career grand slam.
The Open Championship was played the previous week in Troon, Scotland, the first of five times in the 1960s that these two majors were played in consecutive weeks in July. The PGA Championship moved permanently to August in 1969 (except 1971, when it was played in late February).
Player missed the 36-hole cut at Troon, the British Open was won by Arnold Palmer for the second straight year. Palmer had also won the Masters in April. Both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship were played in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1962, just five weeks apart. Palmer lost to 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open at Oakmont near Pittsburgh, then finished ten strokes back in a tie for 17th at Aronimink.
Jack Nicklaus, age 22, shot a final round 67 to finish in a tie for third in his first PGA Championship.
This championship was originally scheduled for Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles, the first in California since 1929. In November 1960, the PGA of America had voted to retain its "caucasian only" clause, and had gained the ire of California's attorney general Stanley Mosk, who threatened to shut down the PGA in the state until the clause was removed. In response, the championship for 1962 was moved from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. The PGA of America dropped the clause in November 1961 by amending its constitution. The championship returned to California in 1977 at Pebble Beach, but was not played in southern California until 1983 at Riviera.
The Open Championship was played the previous week in Troon, Scotland, the first of five times in the 1960s that these two majors were played in consecutive weeks in July. The PGA Championship moved permanently to August in 1969 (except 1971, when it was played in late February).
Player missed the 36-hole cut at Troon, the British Open was won by Arnold Palmer for the second straight year. Palmer had also won the Masters in April. Both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship were played in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1962, just five weeks apart. Palmer lost to 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open at Oakmont near Pittsburgh, then finished ten strokes back in a tie for 17th at Aronimink.
Jack Nicklaus, age 22, shot a final round 67 to finish in a tie for third in his first PGA Championship.
This championship was originally scheduled for Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles, the first in California since 1929. In November 1960, the PGA of America had voted to retain its "caucasian only" clause, and had gained the ire of California's attorney general Stanley Mosk, who threatened to shut down the PGA in the state until the clause was removed. In response, the championship for 1962 was moved from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. The PGA of America dropped the clause in November 1961 by amending its constitution. The championship returned to California in 1977 at Pebble Beach, but was not played in southern California until 1983 at Riviera.
1977 USGA AmateUr
John Fought, a young golfer who intends to turn to the pro tour for a living within a few weeks, and Doug Fischesser, an assistant greenskeeper from Indiana, will meet tomorrow for the United States Amateur golf championship.
Fought, a member of the United States Walker Cup team that trounced Britain last week, beat one of his Walker Cup teammates, Jay Sigel, 2 up, in the semifinal round today. The 23‐year‐old Fought eliminated the 1972 United States Amateur champion, Vinnie Giles, 3 and 1, in the quarterfinals earlier today.
Fischesser, who has beaten two Walker Cup players in this 77th annual United States Golf Association amateur championship, moved into the title round by beating Ralph Landrum,a University of Kentucky golfer, 1 up, in the semifinal round. Prior to that, the 26‐year‐old Fischesser had beaten Mike Brannan, a United States Walker Cup golfer, 3 and 2.
Sigel had struggled back from a three‐hole deficit and was one down after 17 holes against Fought. Sigel tried to get too close to the stick for a necessary birdie to extend the match, but hooked his 5‐iron approach into that left bunker.
John Fought became Champion of the 1977 USGA Amateur at Aronimink Golf Club.
Fought, a member of the United States Walker Cup team that trounced Britain last week, beat one of his Walker Cup teammates, Jay Sigel, 2 up, in the semifinal round today. The 23‐year‐old Fought eliminated the 1972 United States Amateur champion, Vinnie Giles, 3 and 1, in the quarterfinals earlier today.
Fischesser, who has beaten two Walker Cup players in this 77th annual United States Golf Association amateur championship, moved into the title round by beating Ralph Landrum,a University of Kentucky golfer, 1 up, in the semifinal round. Prior to that, the 26‐year‐old Fischesser had beaten Mike Brannan, a United States Walker Cup golfer, 3 and 2.
Sigel had struggled back from a three‐hole deficit and was one down after 17 holes against Fought. Sigel tried to get too close to the stick for a necessary birdie to extend the match, but hooked his 5‐iron approach into that left bunker.
John Fought became Champion of the 1977 USGA Amateur at Aronimink Golf Club.
1997 USGA JR Amateur
1997 (July 22-26): Jason Allred d. Trevor Immelman, 1 up; Aronimink G.C., Newtown Square, Pa.; Medalist — 140, Ryan Hybl; Entries: 4,012
2003 Senior PGA Championship
John Jacobs -4, Winner
2010 AT&T National
Clinging to a one-shot lead, Justin Rose stood over his tee shot on the 18th hole at the AT&T National when he heard fireworks in the distance. The celebration had started somewhere in Philadelphia, just not Aronimink. Rose knew that from experience. Only a week ago in the Travelers Championship, he took a three-shot lead into the final round and collapsed on the back nine for a 75. On Sunday at Aronimink, he was five shots clear going to the back nine and found himself in a battle he didn't expect. He lost another big lead. This time, he didn't lose the tournament. Rose hit every green in regulation on the back nine, including the final one, and closed with seven straight pars for an even-par 70 to win for the second time in three starts on the PGA Tour. The relief at the Memorial came from winning for the first time in America. The relief at Aronimink was for learning not to lose. "I knew having not closed out last week it was important for me -- just for myself -- to do it today," Rose said after his one-shot victory over hard-charging Ryan Moore. "Still, it's never easy to close these things out, I'll tell you." He sure made it hard on himself. Staked to a five-shot lead at the turn after a 5-wood to tap-in range for eagle on the ninth hole, Rose had three-putt bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes -- after having gone 274 holes without one on the PGA Tour -- and just like that, the game was on. Moore one-putted his last eight greens, including a 12-foot par putt on the 18th hole, for a Sunday-best 65 to make Rose work to the very end. Rose two-putted up a dangerous ridge on the tough 17th for par. And with the Fourth of July fireworks booming in the distance, he hit the fairway and green for one last par. "I knew level par would get the job today," Rose said. "Every two-putt felt like hard work coming in, I've got to tell you. It was good fun. I felt very much in control of my emotions, and it's been a long week. But I'm very glad we've got to this point with a win." Tiger Woods wasn't close at all. The defending champion shot a 1-over 71, marking the first time in 11 years that he didn't break par over four rounds in a regular PGA Tour event. He wound up 14 shots behind Rose, the most Woods has finished out of the lead since the 2006 Players Championship. Moore thought he had a chance when he started the final round six shots behind, mainly because of major conditions at Aronimink. "Justin played really good, solid golf today," Moore said. "He won the golf tournament. I did everything I could to make him think about it, and he played better at the end." The consolation prize for Moore, who finished second, was a trip to St. Andrews for the British Open. Rose earned a spot in the British Open through a special money list, along with Travelers winner Bubba Watson, who did not play this week. Another spot was available for the leading player not already eligible among the top five at the AT&T National. Moore wound up winning that little battle over Jeff Overton, who shot 67 to finish third; and Charlie Wi, who shot 69 to finish fourth. All of them were chasing Rose and that silver trophy with a Liberty Bell. It didn't appear to be much of a tournament when Rose hit a fairway metal from 264 yards up the hill on the par-5 ninth, onto the green and to tap-in range for an eagle, giving him a five-shot lead. But when he walked off the 11th green, his lead already had been trimmed to two. From 35 feet below a ridge on the 10th, Rose left it 7 feet short and three-putted for bogey. From 45 feet below a ridge on the 11th hole, he overcompensated and hammered his putt some 10 feet by, missing that par putt, too. Rose collected himself, walking slowly to the tee. He hit every green the rest of the way. When he won the Memorial a month ago by coming from behind, the U.S. Open exemption deadlines had already passed and Rose failed to qualify for Pebble Beach the next day. He felt as if he played a U.S. Open this week on a course that was firm, fast and demanding. "This was my U.S. Open the way the course was set up," Rose said. He finished the AT&T National at 10-under 270 and earned $1.08 million, moving up to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings behind Ernie Els. Rose also will crack the top 20 in the world ranking, likely going to No. 16. Woods left Aronimink in good spirits, despite his tie for 46th. It was the first time he finished a regular PGA Tour event out of the top 40 since he tied for 53rd in The Players Championship five years ago. Even so, he hardly sounded worried. Woods hit the ball off the tee better than he has all year. He hit his irons decently enough, but his putting was simply atrocious. Woods took 120 putts for the tournament. "It does feel good to hit the ball as well as I did this week," he said. "I just need to get my putter organized a little better and really work on my putter over there." It was almost like two tournaments Sunday. The gallery showed up in thousands to watch the world's No. 1 player, even if he doesn't look like one at the moment. About the time Woods tapped in for his 71, thousands headed for the parking lot. Rose played before a moderate-sized crowd, but he had enough to worry about inside the ropes. And he managed just fine.
2011 AT&T National
Nick Watney fired an impressive -12 under par on the weekend, including a bogey free stretch through his final 27 holes. Nick was the highest-ranked player at the AT&T National, and he won a World Golf Championship in March. Nick had rounds of 62-66 on the weekend.
2018 BMW Championship
The 2018 BMW Championship final leaderboard is headed by winner Keegan Bradley, who won his first PGA Tour title in six years with a playoff win over Justin Rose at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.
Both players finished regulation Monday at 20-under 260, with Bradley's par on the first playoff hole locking up the win.
Bradley won the $1,620,000 tournament winner's share of the $9,000,000 purse.
Both players finished regulation Monday at 20-under 260, with Bradley's par on the first playoff hole locking up the win.
Bradley won the $1,620,000 tournament winner's share of the $9,000,000 purse.
2020 Women's PGA Championship
The 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship was the 66th Women's PGA Championship. It was originally scheduled to be played June 25–28 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. It was rescheduled to October 8–11 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as the LPGA Championship through 2014, it was the third of four major championships on the LPGA Tour during the 2020 season.
Kim Sei-young won with a record low aggregate of 266, 14 under par, after a final round 63. She finished five strokes ahead of Inbee Park, who had a last round of 65.
Kim Sei-young won with a record low aggregate of 266, 14 under par, after a final round 63. She finished five strokes ahead of Inbee Park, who had a last round of 65.