by Flourtown, Pennsylvania is home to Philadelphia Cricket Club and its A.W. Tillinghast-designed Wissahickon Course. Philly Cricket has recently served as host to two high profile events, the 2015 Club Professional Championship and the 2016 Constellation Senior Players Championship, drawing high praise from contestants in both. It will also test some of the country’s best college players when the Big Ten Men’s Championship arrives in the spring of 2019.
One of the first things one notices when arriving at the Cricket Club are the long views across the course, but until 2013 those views had all but vanished. That was the year that the Club closed down the Wissahickon to do a restoration, with the goal to bring it back to A.W. Tillinghast’s original vision. Architect Keith Foster was commissioned, and historian Phil Young consulted on how Tillinghast would have redone the course. Their collaboration was masterful, and the result is a course that is enjoyable for every day play, while being more than adequate to challenge top players.
(Photos in this piece courtesy Jon Cavalier, @LinksGems on X/Twitter)
The History
The Cricket Club is not short on history. Established in 1854, it holds the unique distinction of being America’s oldest country club. As the name would suggest, the club’s focus was originally cricket, not golf, but that all changed in the late 1800s with the popularity of golf exploding in the area. The Cricket Club moved its home to nearby St. Martins before acquiring a plot in Flourtown, PA in 1920. The land was selected with the help of Tillinghast, who then went to work building a great golf course, finishing in 1922.
Tillinghast was a Philadelphia native and at that time already known as a great architect, having designed outstanding courses like the Pittsburgh Field Club, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, and North Hempstead C.C.. The Philadelphia Cricket Club was special to Tillinghast. He would call it his home course for the duration of his life. Tilly wasn’t the only notable architect that called Cricket home. The great George Thomas (responsible for LACC, Riviera and Bel-Air to name a few) was also a member.
The Tillinghast memorial stone rest near Wissahickon Creek
The Restoration
Over the years, The Cricket Club had fallen victim to the overgrowth of trees and agronomy that hid and diminished many of Tillinghast’s design features. The membership jumped head-first into the restoration project that was led by Foster and head of grounds, Dan Meersman. After the completion of the 2013 U.S. Open at nearby Merion, the Cricket Club started fresh with the Wissahickon course, opting to rebuild every aspect of the course from scratch and leaving only a few landmark trees. The benefit of Foster and Meersman’s strategy was that they gained full control of every aspect of the course and were able to accomplish the task rather quickly, reopening on Memorial Day of 2014.
As the restored course has matured, an additional aspect of its greatness emerged. Tillinghast’s features and greens are visually impactful, but so too is the backdrop against which they sit. Throughout the changing seasons, Wissahickon Superintendent Robb Moulds and his crew present the course optimally to provide players with a spectacular show of colors and textures. The gallery below, featuring Jon Cavalier’s (@LinksGems) photos of the par-3 third, illustrates the visual cornucopia.
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Spring
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Summer
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Autumn
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Winter
In the profile that follows, we have intentionally selected photos from all seasons to give you a feel for just how special this course is all year.
The Course
After the renovation, the Cricket Club regained its rightful place alongside Pine Valley, Merion, and Aronimink – the elite courses in the Philadelphia metro area. It provides a challenging and fair test of golf for players of all skill levels while boasting historical architectural value that all can appreciate.
The property is bisected by a old rail platform which separates the upper from the lower section. Most of the front nine is in the lower half, routed by Tillinghast to create an intimate feel. The back nine has a much more expansive feel, as it makes its way out to the far corner and then back to the grand finish at the clubhouse.
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The Wissahickon from above
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The train platform down the middle of the property
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Five greens intimately situated in this corner
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The far end with the heart of the back nine
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The home hole sweeping back to the clubhouse
My favorite aspect of the Cricket Club is how generous the driving areas are, giving golfers of all skill levels the feeling of having a chance on every hole. This plays into how the golden age architects liked to reward strategy and shotmaking skills. While a poor drive at the Wissahickon will rarely result in a penalty stroke, it will lead to an incredibly difficult shot due to angles and hazards around the green. In order to score well at this championship layout, a player must hit their shots in the right spots of the fairway in order to leave the correct angle of approach to the challenging and well-protected green complexes. After a poor drive, there will still be a shot at recovery, albeit not an ideal one.
No. 1 – 424 yards – par 4
From the back tees, the first hole offers a unique and intimidating tee shot, as the tee box is actually an extension of the putting green! A cool feature you don’t see at many courses which produces some extra discomfort. The uphill, dogleg-right opener requires a tee shot that avoids the fairway bunker on the right side. The approach allows a player to hit any type of shot with no bunkers in front, but they must avoid a miss long, which will leave an extremely fast putt or chip.
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The opening green, the first of Tilly's many challenges
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The intimidating tee shot up the hill on the 1st
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Bunkers flank and guard the approach
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The 1st green, with the 17th above and behind
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From the right, the cant of the green is evident
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Looking back down the 1st
No. 2 – 423 yards – par 4
One of the most picturesque holes at the Cricket Club, the second is a downhill par 4 that runs back towards the men’s locker room with the green sitting just a few paces from it. A tee shot will stop short of the creek that runs 310 yards from the tee, leaving a player with a wedge into the elevated, well-protected green. A player’s second shot is challenged by bunkering on the right and left as well as the illusion of a back bunker, which is actually on the 10th hole. During the restoration, significant shrubs and trees were removed to bring back this visual trick Tillinghast created.
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The downhill tee shot on the short 2nd
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The approach over the creek
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In the winter light, the bunker depth is evident
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Yes, the green is the close to the clubhouse
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The bunkers from the 10th are in play behind
No. 3 – 122 yards – par 3
A terrific short hole that Tillie would call “Tiny Tim’s”, the third provides an early birdie opportunity for players of all skill levels. This hole embodies the short hole mentality of hit it or pay the price, as the green is heavily protected with deep bunkering. The putting surface has heavy slope, making longer putts challenging.
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The well defended 3rd from above
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The elevated green floats in a sea of fescue
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Hit the 3rd green or else
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No safe bail out to the right
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Artful bunkering fronts the putting surface
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An outstanding shorty
No. 4 – 517 yards – par 4
A former par 5, the fourth hole is as tough of a par 4 as you will find. The strongest aspect of this hole is the “switchback” strategy involved. The tee shot calls for a draw around the bunkers, but the ideal second shot is a fade. This subtle design element shows why Tillinghast was a championship course genius, as it tests the best of players by requiring them to move the ball both ways.
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Winter sun across the approach to the 4th
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The tough tee shot on this par-4
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Bunkers guard the left side of the landing zone
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The staggered bunkers short right
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One more rugged bunker left of the 4th green
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A strong Tillinghast two-shotter
No. 5 – 215 yards – par 3
One of the strongest aspects of the Wissahickon course is the variety of shots the par 3s require. At the fifth, a player’s long-iron game is tested with a tough tee shot into this beautifully set green. The hole is reminiscent of the eighth at the Old Course and Macdonald’s Eden template, as the severely sloped green is flanked by right, left, and back bunkering. A wise player will keep their approach shot below the hole to avoid a slippery downhill putt.
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The 5th is gorgeous and stout
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A strong tee shot is demanded
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A creek fronts the approach, adding to the challenge
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From the side, the cant of the 5th is evident
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Above the pin or in the back bunkers is not the place to be
No. 6 – 498 yards – par 4
Another spectacular and challenging par 4, the sixth is another hole that underwent significant change with the restoration. Believe it or not, this hole was completely tree-lined down the right and left sides. It’s now been opened up again, giving players a beautiful vista and a look at the old Reading Railroad platform. A good tee shot will move left to right and avoid the fairway bunkers that flank the fairway in the landing area. The uphill approach plays about a club longer and requires a precise long iron for a shot at birdie.
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The tee shot at the brutish uphill 6th
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Fairways bunkers must be avoided
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The 6th green is surrounded on three sides by bunkers and fescue
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The giant, tiered putting surface
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Simultaneously pretty and punishing
No. 7 – 553 yards – par 5
Another hole that underwent significant change during the restoration was the seventh in an effort to bring back one of Tillinghast’s favorite designs, “the Great Hazard.” Tillinghast wanted to be able to replicate the impact that a water hazard has on play through mass bunkering. His intention was for the Great Hazard to come into play when a player misses either his drive or his second shot. Along with the seventh at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Tillinghast also used this design at Bethpage Black, Baltusrol, and what many believe to be his design of the seventh at Pine Valley. A good tee shot gives the long hitter a chance at hitting the green in two. It’s not an easy shot, however, as the seventh green is guarded by deep bunkers in front, requiring players to hit a high, soft long iron in, which very few have in the bag. It’s a terrific par-5 design.
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Tilly's Great Hazard 7th
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Yet another solid tee shot is required to score
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Bunkers flank the drive zone
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Too many bad possibilities to count in here
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The 7th green has its own defenses
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Looking back, with the 8th beyond
No. 8 – 365 yards – par 4
A player can finally sigh a breath of relief after the challenging stretch of holes 4-7, but this short par 4 will bite those who drop their guard. A drive down the left side of the fairway is preferred as everything on the eighth slopes right. From there, players are tested with a semi-blind uphill wedge shot to a green that slopes heavily from left to right. A miss in the bunkers is a big mistake, as they are extremely deep and make for a challenging up and down.
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Bunkers to navigate on the par-4 8th
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The entire hole slopes high left to low right
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The uphill approach
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Philly Cricket's classic setting
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Looking down across the property from this high point
No. 9 – 373 yards – par 4
This short par 4 is an excellent example of how Tillinghast challenged players with angles. An ideal tee shot is down the left side of the fairway, but that route brings the out of bounds into play, leading the majority of players to bail more right. From that side, you are forced to fly your approach over deep bunkers into the green, whereas the left side will allow a player to run the ball up to this putting surface that slopes front to back.
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The short 9th is all about angles
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The safe right side of the fairway
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Short of the angled 9th green
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A deep bunker waits to snag overcooked approaches
No. 10 – 172 yards – par 3
The par 3 10th is set intimately against a road and the great backdrop of the men’s locker room. The infinity green complex makes the putting surface appear much smaller than it is. Protection from bunkers on the front, left, and backside makes for a tough up and down for any miss.
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The elevated 10th green, fronted by fescue and a deep bunker
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The clubhouse provides a beautiful backdrop
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No good place to miss the 10th
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Overclub, and you might take a road trip
No. 11 – 427 yards – par 4
This uphill par 4 provides players with a birdie opportunity if they are able to avoid the tall grasses on the right and fairway bunker on the left. To spice things up, Tillinghast challenges short-iron approach skill with a semi-blind uphill shot, making distance control a taller task.
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The 11th from across the platform
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The tee shot on this uphill par-4
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Approaching from the left
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The sloped front of the 11th green
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The magical colors of the Wissahickon
No. 12 – 546 yards – par 5
If players harbor any hope of posting a good score, picking up a shot at this short par 5 is an opportunity that cannot be squandered. The blind tee shot from the back tee requires picking the right target on the sharp dogleg. A good drive will lead to a green light to get home in two as the front of the green allows for a shot to run up. A layup shot needs to be well placed to avoid the bunkers that lie on the right and left sides of the fairway about 125 yards out.
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The 12th is open and gettable
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Good shots are still required here to score
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Looking back down the long 12th fairway
No. 13 – 447 yards – par 4
Often overlooked among all of the great par 4s at Philadelphia Cricket Club, the 13th is a spectacular two-shot hole. This dogleg right requires a great tee shot to avoid the fairway bunker that cuts in at the turn of the dogleg. A player is then tested on their approach with deep bunkers on the right and left side that will catch any wayward shot.
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The bunker guarding the corner at the 13th
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Plenty of room on the left line of this dogleg par-4
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Tough bunkers flank both sides of the green
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The putting surface has slope and subtle contour
No. 14 – 435 yards – par 4
Not to sound like a broken record, but the 14th is another great par 4. It offers players a wide driving area that narrows slightly on the right because of the tree which comes into play for long hitters. What makes this hole special is the downhill approach shot to the heavily bunkered green. During the restoration, several bunkers were added to match Tillinghast’s original design. The shot into the back left pin position is quite intimidating.
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Tillinghast's artfully bunkered green complex at the 14th
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The right side tree is in play for out of position drives
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Short is not the place to be on approach
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The stout 15th distracts from putting
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Looking back, the view couldn't be simpler
No. 15 – 240 yards – par 3
Who doesn’t love a great redan hole? The 15th at the Wissahickon fits that bill. Playing at 240 yards, this par 3 matches the original design intent, requiring players to hit a long-iron or fairway wood approach that utilizes the slope to get the ball close.
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A classy transition on a classic hole
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From the back tee, a strong tee shot is required
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The open-fronted Redan accepts running approaches
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The 15th green, perched on a ridge
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Low winter sun across the green front
No. 16 – 426 yards – par 4
The start of Philadelphia Cricket’s closing stretch of three tough par 4s, the 16th offers golfers a beautiful vista of the back nine. The terrific fairway bunkering forces players to hit a good tee shot down the right side to set up an approach to the green. Shots left leave an angle that makes for a tough approach, as the deep bunker that guards the left side of the green is much more in play.
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The angled bunkering players must challenge from the 16th tee
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From the A position in the fairway
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The 16th green, with its false front
No. 17 – 449 yards – par 4
Players who move the ball right to left will find that this uphill dogleg left fits their eye. A good tee shot hugs the left side of the fairway, avoiding the bunker, and will set up a mid-iron approach. The 17th offers a spectacular second shot from one of the high points of the course. The green seems to float in the air, and the approach is guarded by bunkering that forces a player to hit a precise shot to have a good look at birdie. From the green, players are able to look back and reminisce on the great collection of holes that is the Wissahickon.
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The 17th green sits beautifully on a high point
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The fairway running out to infinity
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The 17th is elevated, requiring a solid approach
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Bunkers guard both sides of the green
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Standing on the putting surface the panoramic view is stunning
No. 18 – 487 yards – par 4
For those hoping to score well, the closer provides one of the course’s toughest tests as a finale. The 18th is a long, downhill dogleg left. An ideal tee shot moves right to left and will leave a long-iron approach to a well-guarded green. If a player doesn’t hit a good tee ball, they will be faced with the decision to either lay up short of the Lorraine Run creek or try to hit it over and leave a chip shot third. This routing is masterful, as it forces a player to hit the fairway in order to have a legitimate shot at reaching the green in regulation.
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The Wissahickon always leaves you wanting more
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The tough tee shot on the 18th
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From the fairway down to the closing green
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The 18th is set tightly against the clubhouse
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Plenty of slope on the final putting surface
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One final, magical look back
After having time to digest my round at Philadelphia Cricket Club, I can’t think of many other courses I have played that have provided as fair and as strong of a test. There is not a weak hole on the Wissahickon – the short par 4s and par 3s present unique challenges for players whose games are even slightly off. Tillinghast’s design forces players to hit every club and shot shape in their bag well to have success. It stands as one of my favorite courses, and I believe it belongs in the top 50 courses in the United States.
