Waynesborough Country Club

I got the opportunity to play Waynesborough last week. I qualified for and competed in the Philadelphia Middle-Amateur which was hosted at this enjoyable venue. Initially the event was scheduled to be held at Manufactures GC, which I know I enjoy quite a bit, but the changed opened my eyes to local hidden gem. Waynesborough certainly impressed from all angles. It doesn’t quite rival Huntingdon Valley or Llanerch from an ambiance perspective, but the golf course is a legitimate test and the clubhouse and hospitality were sensational.

The golf course certainly showed its teeth over the two-day tournament. Only two players finished the event under-par. I was not one of them. There are very few holes on the golf course that present true birdie opportunities, while there are several holes that are some of the toughest in Philadelphia. The par-3 17th measures a ridiculous 252 yards from the back tee box and offers a great look at the undulating green. If you find a way to make par on this hole, you are gaining shots on the field. The 9th hole is also a great one. Measuring 450 yards, the second shot plays back uphill directly toward the clubhouse. Lounge chairs surround the green atop the hill creating a great environment to make the turn. Typically there are members out on the chairs enjoying a beverage or simply watching some golf. A truly fun hole to play.

The clubhouse is big. Almost too big. I walked in for the first time and it took me at least five minutes to find the locker room. When I finally did I was very pleased with I found. The locker room attendant couldn’t do enough for me. He offered me a guest locker, to get me a drink and to clean my shoes after the round. These are all small things but certainly go a long way toward making feeling someone feel welcome at a place they’ve never been before.

The food was well above average. I enjoyed the french dip for lunch and finished every bit of it, although I was starving. All in all, Waynesborough was fun place to be able to play and while I wouldn’t be itching to go back in the immediate future, I can appreciate the quality of the all of the amenities of the club. Waynesborough scores a 4.2/5.

Llanerch Country Club

 Llanerch (pronounced Lan-Arch) was a real treat to play. I was able to play there last month in the Drexel Athletic Club outing and I seriously underestimated the facilities. I had not been there in three years or so but the changes that they have made in the timespan have transitioned the club into one of the elite in Philadelphia.

Llanerch is rich in history having hosted the 1958 PGA Championship. It has also hosted several high-level amateur events including the Philadelphia Amateur and qualifying for the U.S Amateur. There’s simply no other way to put it; the golf course is hard. The tee shots are tight and challenging, the approach shots require precision and the greens are small, firm, fast and severely sloped. The course has it all. The real treat on this course is the unique 18th hole. Measuring under 300 yards as a par-4, the tantalizing 18th tempts you to attempt to drive the green however the smart play is to layup with an iron to leave yourself a full shot into a green that slopes more than any other on the golf course and looks about as big as your kitchen table. Making a par on the 18th is a job well done despite the fact that it looks like a birdie hole on the scorecard.

The golf course is only the beginning to this masterpiece of a property. The clubhouse was completely redone in 2012 and is now one of the premiere clubhouses in the region. What separates this clubhouse from most, if not all other clubhouses is the outdoor, multi-story patio overlooking the 18th green. This setup is what every golf course should strive for. A three-story outdoor deck feels like it basically hangs over the 18th green. It creates an incredible atmosphere to play your final hole in. People are on the patio having dinner or enjoying a cocktail after their round as you walk up the scenic final hole.

The locker room is outstanding as well. The showers rival that of Huntingdon Valley’s. They are spectacular. There really isn’t a bad word I can say about Llanerch. I don’t enjoy it quite as much as I do Merion, because I don’t enjoy anywhere as much as Merion, but this is right there with the next best clubs. Llanerch is on par with HVCC and the other elite clubs in the area. Llanerch earns the impressive score of 4.7/5.

Blue Bell Country Club

In my 3rd country club, I had the opportunity to play Blue Bell Country Club in Montgomery County. Simply put, it just isn’t in the same universe as Merion or Huntingdon Valley. While I enjoyed the day and the golf course is decent, it is a far cry from an elite facility. The golf course is built around a Toll Brothers housing community with over 700 units. The houses breathe down on the golf course creating very few scenic vistas. Unfortunate because if the houses were not present, the golf course itself would be much more enjoyable to play as the layout is certainly above average.

The clubhouse is nice looking, but has no differentiating factors or quality. Like the rest of the grounds, it is plain. The food inside after the round was average and the locker room was confusing and only had two undersized shower stalls. It was a disappointing clubhouse setup. The service was mid-level and my chicken wings were undercooked, which is a big no-no. However, the facility is only semi-private therefore my expectations for it were not as high as the other clubs I visited.

As I mentioned before, the golf course has a very solid layout. An Arnold Palmer design, no two holes are very much alike and it keeps you guessing throughout your round. My favorite hole on the course is the downhill Par-3 10th. Playing about 200 yards, it presents one of the only downhill tee shots with any kind of vista. A challenging shot, but certainly a welcoming one to hit thanks to the view. Blue Bell Country Club has it’s share of positives and negatives but as far as a grade goes, it receives a 3.5/5. Not bad for a semi-private track.