Originally chartered in May 1902 as the Delaware County Country Club, Llanerch is one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. The first 18-hole course opened in 1903 and over the decades the club underwent several changes and mergers. As the Delaware County Field Club, its mission emphasized “encouraging all athletic endeavors.” In 1911 it joined the Athletic Club of Philadelphia, and when that merger ended in 1914 it adopted the name Bon Air Country Club. One of the membership’s first priorities was replacing sand greens with grass. After a devastating clubhouse fire in 1918, the club took on its current name, Llanerch Country Club. Ownership brought in noted golf architect Alexander H. Findlay to design a championship 27-hole layout, and the new course opened in 1928 to much acclaim.
Ownership changed again in 1938, and after World War II the property nearly became housing to meet Philadelphia’s postwar demand. Fortunately, a group of investors preserved 119 acres and rebuilt an 18-hole course that preserved much of Findlay’s original routing. In the 1940s and 1950s Llanerch hosted numerous championships, including the 1958 PGA Championship.
In 1995 the club launched a long-range plan that included course updates and facility improvements. Part of that effort involved course design work by Stephen Kay, who has experience restoring the character of classic architects such as Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, Devereux Emmet and Charles Banks. The long-range plan also encompassed a major renovation and expansion of the clubhouse and other amenities, modernizing the club while respecting its historic roots.
I played a hot August round at Llanerch with Gerry Patrick, “Lucky” Bob Hancock and member John Kelly. Gerry, Bob and their childhood friends grew up nearby and were famous for youthful mischief—stealing tee markers, flags and even a 25-foot aiming pole from the course in the late 1960s and early ’70s, all while evading Upper Darby police across township lines. John kept a watchful eye during our round for any signs of their old shenanigans.
Hole 1 | 403 yards, par 4
A par on the first hole gives you an optimistic start. My tee shot landed on the right and kicked left since the fairway tilts from right to left. The rest of our group scattered drives in different directions: Gerry and Bob went left and John found the trees. John navigated the tree route all the way to the green. My second shot found the area pin high but just right of a bunker. A fortunate lob wedge to the putting surface set up a par. The others carded bogeys and a double.
Hole 2 | 432 yards, par 4
Findlay’s handiwork shows on this demanding second hole. It requires distance to reach in two and the fairway sits elevated, framed by pines. Bob—off his usual game—smacked a drive into a brown patch at the fairway’s start, prompting jokes from the group. The green is two-tiered and guarded by four bunkers, so it’s easy to score poorly here if you miss the right level or leave yourself a long up-and-down.
Hole 15 | 321 yards, par 4
This hole looks straightforward but can be treacherous. I was tempted toward fairway hollows and traps on the left, moving from bunker to bunker and ultimately finding one near the green. The wiser play is to lay up short of the left-side moguls and hazards. John followed a similar plan but positioned himself behind a tree. Gerry and Lucky Bob were seldom in evidence on 15; rumor has it they disappeared off the right side of the map. Llanerch rewards repeat play—local knowledge and course management matter.
Hole 17 © Francis X. Gallagher
Hole 17 | 150 yards, par 3
This pleasant par 3 features an elevated green and a gently flowing brook nearby. The hole took an amusing turn when Bob received a call from his son, who had apparently jumped into the Atlantic with his BMW key fob still in his pocket. I hit an overzealous 8-iron that cleared the green and settled in Llanerch’s characteristic high rough. A neat chip saved me a par, while Bob continued to fret on the phone about the car key.
Hole 18 | 296 yards, par 4
Finishing with a par is a fine way to close a round. The signature 18th requires clearing an imposing pond with the recently renovated clubhouse visible beyond the green. I pulled my drive left and briefly feared it was lost near the creek, but a fortunate tree catch placed me in play in the rough. A solid iron to the green and two putts sealed a par. It’s a memorable finishing hole—the setting makes you feel like you’re almost in the Men’s Grill as you line up those final putts.
Playing Llanerch was a nostalgic pleasure, a return to childhood memories with friends now grown. The course blends history, thoughtful design and a leisurely suburban setting that keeps members and visitors coming back.
Llanerch Country Club
950 West Chester Pike
Havertown, PA 19083
tel 610 446 2232
llanerchcc.org