Merion Golf Club history

Work started on a new nine-hole course that opened for play in March of 1902.

In 1910, the Merion Cricket Club Golf Committee assigned Hugh Wilson the task of creating a new golf course, since the Haskell ball had outdated the Haverford course's short length.

On September 12, 1912, the old course at Haverford was officially closed, although used for another year, and on the 14th, the new course and the clubhouse were opened to members.

His love for the game grew from his teenage friendship and competitions with Francis Quimet, the amateur who upset the professional field to win the 1913 United States Open.

By the summer of 1915, William Flynn, Merion's Superintendent, received patent approval for his wicker basket design.

When 14-year-old Guan Tianlang of China made the cut in the recent Masters, he deserved cheers, but Jones was 14 when he won two matches in the 1916 United States Amateur at Merion.

In the summer of 1922, the name of the club was changed to Springdale Golf Club.

Flynn performing a substantive re-design in 1927 at the mid-point of his storied career.

His triple bogey for a 76 enabled Olin Dutra, who had won the 1932 P.G.A. Championship, to win by one with a 72.

In 1950, Ben Hogan hits the famous 1-iron shot on 18, forcing a playoff that he would win the next day to claim the United States Open championship.

In the 1960 World Team Amateur, Jack Nicklaus, then a beefy 20-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, shot 66-67-68-68 for the United States.

Lee Trevino beats Jack Nicklaus in a playoff to win the 1971 United States Open championship.

Ten years later, David Graham, an Australian who had won the 1979 P.G.A. Championship, won the Open with a virtually perfect 67 in the final round.

David Graham wins the 1981 United States Open championship.

Established in 1996, The Roger Rulewich Group, a golf course design and construction firm based in Bernardston, Massachusetts, is considered among the best in the industry.