Course record

West

Merion’s West opened May 30, 1914, giving Hugh Wilson another property to design. The West and East occupy different terrain.¹²

Open the Club record

Original design: Hugh Wilson
Opened: 1914
Holes: 18
Par: 70
Club location: Ardmore

Wilson on different ground

The landmark nomination describes the West as hilly and wooded, descending toward Darby Creek. Its more rectangular property contrasts with the East’s irregular outline. The available parcels, rather than a continuous estate, determined the separation between the two courses.²

The historic survey records a different balance of hazards: the West’s more abundant natural obstacles accompanied fewer sand bunkers. Its description draws attention to the terrain Wilson encountered on this second property, where slopes, woods and water shaped a different course.²

Even the smaller clubhouse belonged to this different setting. The survey describes a log building arranged in the form of a Greek cross, rather than the expanded farmhouse serving the East. Merion’s history extends across both properties, while its best-known championship moments belong to the East.²¹

Course design

Date unrecorded Original design

Hugh Wilson

Scorecard

Complete 18-hole record

Historical competitions may have used different tees or routing.

Course record

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Tee register

Tee	Gender	Par	Rating	Slope	Front yards	Back yards	Total yards	Front par	Back par
Back	Men	70	69.9	129	2,962	3,057	6,019	35	35
Middle · Men	Men	70	68.6	126	2,801	2,933	5,734	35	35
Middle · Women	Women	74	74.1	135	2,801	2,933	5,734	37	37
Front	Men	70	66.8	122	2,606	2,742	5,348	35	35
Forward	Women	74	72	130	2,606	2,742	5,348	37	37
Short Course · Men	Men	70	61.6	112	1,865	1,970	3,835	35	35
Short Course · Women	Women	74	63.5	113	1,865	1,970	3,835	37	37

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In	Tot
Back	317	402	526	217	409	133	284	243	431	2,962	362	399	337	346	441	224	462	140	346	3,057	6,019
Middle · Men	307	381	476	202	399	117	273	233	413	2,801	339	381	333	334	411	215	449	135	336	2,933	5,734
Middle · Women	307	381	476	202	399	117	273	233	413	2,801	339	381	333	334	411	215	449	135	336	2,933	5,734
Front	296	326	452	181	386	112	234	213	406	2,606	313	358	316	272	401	195	430	130	327	2,742	5,348
Forward	296	326	452	181	386	112	234	213	406	2,606	313	358	316	272	401	195	430	130	327	2,742	5,348
Short Course · Men	200	250	340	125	270	115	160	135	270	1,865	195	270	230	200	310	110	340	85	230	1,970	3,835
Short Course · Women	200	250	340	125	270	115	160	135	270	1,865	195	270	230	200	310	110	340	85	230	1,970	3,835
Par	4	4	5	3	4	3	4	4	4	35	4	4	4	4	4	3	5	3	4	35	70
Hcp	17	5	7	13	1	11	9	15	3		10	2	14	12	4	18	8	16	6

Front nine Holes 1-9

Tee or hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out
Back	317	402	526	217	409	133	284	243	431	2,962
Middle · Men	307	381	476	202	399	117	273	233	413	2,801
Middle · Women	307	381	476	202	399	117	273	233	413	2,801
Front	296	326	452	181	386	112	234	213	406	2,606
Forward	296	326	452	181	386	112	234	213	406	2,606
Short Course · Men	200	250	340	125	270	115	160	135	270	1,865
Short Course · Women	200	250	340	125	270	115	160	135	270	1,865
Par	4	4	5	3	4	3	4	4	4	35
Hcp	17	5	7	13	1	11	9	15	3

Back nine Holes 10-18

Tee or hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In
Back	362	399	337	346	441	224	462	140	346	3,057
Middle · Men	339	381	333	334	411	215	449	135	336	2,933
Middle · Women	339	381	333	334	411	215	449	135	336	2,933
Front	313	358	316	272	401	195	430	130	327	2,742
Forward	313	358	316	272	401	195	430	130	327	2,742
Short Course · Men	195	270	230	200	310	110	340	85	230	1,970
Short Course · Women	195	270	230	200	310	110	340	85	230	1,970
Par	4	4	4	4	4	3	5	3	4	35
Hcp	10	2	14	12	4	18	8	16	6

Sources and record notes5 references

Sources for this history

Club Information Merion Golf Club
West Course opening in May 1914.
Consulted 2026-09-15
Merion Golf Club, East and West Courses: landmark nomination National Park Service
PDF pages 2, 5–7: separate properties, terrain, clubhouse and May 30, 1914 opening.
Consulted 2026-09-15

Course record sources

Club mark sourceClub Mark
National Park ServiceCourse record
National Park ServiceHugh Wilson · Original design · Date unrecorded