My next adventure took me to Huntingdon Valley Country Club. This William Flynn designed golf course just minutes outside the city limits in an absolute treat. The walk in has a ‘wow factor’ that is perhaps unrivaled around the region. As you walk from the parking lot toward the clubhouse, you overlook a great valley that displays all of the elevation change that the golf course has to offer.
Despite the transcendent views and tremendous hospitality, the quality of the golf course is this club’s greatest asset. “Everything breaks toward the valley”, is the general rule of thumb commonly known on the grounds and I found that out the hard way. The golf course is challenging, rewarding, penal, fair and pure. No two holes on the course are the same, and it has a tremendous finishing stretch. The par-5 15th hole, is a lengthy test, but if played correctly is a scoring opportunity. The 17th is an extremely difficult, downhill par 3 with a creek running down the entire left-hand side of the green. The 18th hole is the signature hole on the golf course. I have included a view from to 18th fairway toward the 18th green below. The hole measures roughly 460 yards and the second shot plays tremendously uphill to a 3-tier green that is severely sloped. It is most certainly one of the most difficult holes around.
The locker room is fantastic as well. It has a rustic feel, almost as if there should be air conditioning inside. The showers, while not quite the quality of Merion’s, are terrific. Water pours out of the ceiling with perfect pressure. The only thing lacking in comparison to Merion is the ambiance. The showers are plain looking and have no unique features outside of the ideal water pressure. All in all, the locker room is certainly an upside to the club.
HVCC is most definitely a top five golf club in Philadelphia. While not mentioned with the elites such as Merion, Pine Valley and Aronimink, HVCC leads the pack in the second tier without question. You aren’t going to find a more enjoyable golf course to play, and would be a fantastic course to play everyday.
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