Most golf courses are static landscapes—carefully groomed and waiting for golfers to arrive. Chester Valley Golf Club is different. Its history is marked by movement: changes of ownership, shifting designs and even a major highway cutting through the property, all of which give the course a unique character among the clubs I’ve played.
The land that is now Chester Valley was once the Smedley and Hatton farmsteads. In 1928 the Pennsylvania Railroad Golf Club purchased the properties after renting play space at Llanarch Golf Club, another storied Philadelphia-area layout.
Long before it became a golf course, the valley served as home to Swedish fur traders in the late 17th century, who traded beaver pelts with the Lenape and Susquehannock peoples. A century later, General George Washington identified the area as strategic terrain for military movement, though the decisive engagement he planned here never materialized.
Members of the Pennsylvania Railroad Golf Club funded the course by purchasing $300 bonds, making the course available to any director, officer or employee of the railroad. The club opened on Memorial Day, 1930, with 60 foursomes playing—55 male foursomes and five female foursomes—celebrating the new facility.
While debate continues about the original designer, most historians credit Perry Maxwell with the early routing. Maxwell’s handiwork remained largely intact until 1968 when construction of Route 202 bisected the property. That project forced a major redesign by George Fazio, who kept only a handful of Maxwell’s holes. The current layout rewards shot-making, with rolling hills and a tight, strategic design.
On my recent visit I played with John Ecklund, a past GTee reviewer, and our host Bobby Hancock. Below are notes on some key holes from that round.
Hole 1 (381 yards, par 4)
A deceptively tricky opener. Many players steer left off the tee, but going too far left dumps you under large willow trees and forces a punch-out. Even a leftward position on the fairway makes the approach to the raised green awkward. Favor the right side off the tee to leave a clean angle into the slightly elevated green, which is protected by bunkers.
Hole 2 (575 yards, par 5)
Ranked ninth in difficulty, this hole plays as an uphill test off the tee: you must drive long to reach the crest. The second shot is partially blind as you clear the rise toward one of the smallest greens on the course. A precise short chip is often required to land on the putting surface, which is ringed by bunkers. This is one of the original Maxwell holes—take care not to fly the green; the area beyond is unkind.
Hole 5 (196 yards, par 3)
From the tee this par 3 looks straightforward, but it often proves otherwise. On our round John and Bobby hit approach shots to within 15 feet of the pin. My tee shot drifted left, leaving a downhill chip that rolled into a bunker and turned a possible par into a costly five. In tournament play this hole can be a real equalizer.
Hole 6 (418 yards, par 4)
Rated the course’s No. 1 handicap hole, No. 6 presents several hazards. Big hitters risk finding the creek that runs below the landing area; Bobby’s drive found the slope toward that creek, creating a difficult recovery. From a safe drive short of the creek you’ll need a confident mid-iron to an uphill green. Four large bunkers guard the putting surface, so scrambling for par is a solid result.
Hole 8 (405 yards, par 4)
Reaching in two is a tall order because the landing area climbs sharply. A long, straight tee shot is essential to leave an iron into the green; anything short yields a demanding fairway approach. Drives to the right run into thick rough and trees. The green sits tucked to the right and is protected by a bunker on that side, making the proper line from the tee critical.
Hole 10 (217 yards, par 3)
Stop at the halfway house for a drink before tackling this challenging par 3. From an elevated tee the green sits just above a valley, and any shot that falls short leaves a tricky chip. On our day nobody hit the green; John’s chip came to within two feet for a par while Bobby and I took fours. Club selection and commitment are key here.
Hole 13 (449 yards, par 4)
The drive is blind to the landing and the fairway drops steeply, with heavy woods to the right that will swallow errant slices. Bobby found the ideal line left-center over a fairway ridge, while John and I flirted with the right side and paid the price—my punch shot kept me in play but limited my approach. I managed to reach the green in three but found a bunker and made a bogey; Bobby cleared the creek and carded a par.
Hole 14 (495 yards, par 5)
A diagonal creek crosses this fairway from left to right, so tee shots farther left generally leave more fairway to work with while shots trending right risk water. My drive held a gentle fade and landed near the creek, opening up the uphill fairway beyond. From there a conservative fairway wood and careful navigation past a series of traps led to a position where I could attack the green. I ultimately two-putted for par after a cautious but effective sequence.
Hole 18 (440 yards, par 4)
The finishing hole is memorable. The fairway slopes right-to-left before leveling near a pond about 80–90 yards from the green. The tee shot plays downhill; accuracy is more important than distance to avoid the rough and brush on the right. A good drive leaves a short approach—often 100 yards or less—into a slightly elevated green protected by bunkers. The clubhouse and first hole provide a picturesque backdrop as you finish. After your round, the clubhouse bar is a fitting place to relax and toast the day.
Chester Valley Golf Club
430 Swedesford Road
Malvern, PA 19355
tel 610 647 4007