Course record
Haverford
Golf at Merion began as an activity of Merion Cricket Club. Its first course opened in 1896 on rented land near the cricket club at Haverford, Pennsylvania, and expanded to eighteen holes in 1900.1
Open the Club record- Opened
- 1896
- Club location
- Ardmore Pennsylvania
Before Merion’s East and West courses
Merion’s first two USGA championships were the women’s national amateur championship, held in 1904 and 1909. Both were played at Haverford. Georgianna Bishop won the 1904 final, 5 and 3: five holes ahead with three left to play. Dorothy Campbell won in 1909, 3 and 2.34
The old Haverford course officially closed on September 12, 1912, although it was used for another year. The new East Course and clubhouse opened two days later, on September 14. Haverford is a separate historical site from Merion’s East and West courses.21
The golf organization became independent of Merion Cricket Club in 1942. Haverford belongs to that earlier shared history, when Merion’s golf was still part of the cricket club.1
Hosted competitions
U.S. Women's Amateur
Sources and record notes6 references
Sources for this history
- Merion Golf Club, East and West Courses: National Historic Landmark nomination
National Park Service
PDF page 3: golf as an adjunct to Merion Cricket Club, rented Haverford site, opening in 1896 and expansion to eighteen holes in 1900. PDF page 7: the golf organization became independent in 1942. Architect fields naming Hugh Wilson concern East and West, not the earlier Haverford course.
Consulted 2026-11-02 - Merion History
Merion Golf Club
History paragraph: the old Haverford course officially closed on September 12, 1912, although used for another year; the new course and clubhouse opened on September 14.
Consulted 2026-11-02 - 2013 U.S. Open Continues Merion’s USGA Legacy
USGA
The article explicitly places the 1904 Women’s Amateur at Haverford, states that Merion’s first two USGA championships were on the Merion Cricket Club course, and lists 1904 and 1909 Women’s Amateurs first. East opened in 1912 and first hosted a USGA championship in 1916.
Consulted 2026-11-13 - 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Record Book
USGA
PDF page 7, 1904 and 1909 result rows: Georgianna M. Bishop won 5 and 3 in 1904; Dorothy I. Campbell won 3 and 2 in 1909. These are match-play margins, not stroke totals.
Consulted 2026-10-22