#6 - Merion (East) - Drama, Comedy, Tragedy
Merion is often described as a three act play:
The lengthy, intimidating opening 6 holes are drama.
The shorter, quirkier middle 6 holes are comedy.
The final 6 holes, with danger awaiting, are tragedy.
The significance of the club can also be broken down into three acts: history, tournaments, and the course itself.
Opening 6 Holes and History
1. Merion was founded as a cricket club, but as golf rose in popularity, the cricket club split off in 1896. The club still exists today, just down the road. The club maintains archives dating back to its inception in 1865.
2. The most unique feature at Merion is the wicker baskets that adorn each flagstick. Officially, the baskets origin story remains a mystery, but they were implemented three years after the course opened in 1912, by course superintendent William Flynn. One theory posits that course designer Hugh Wilson was inspired by the wicker baskets on the ends of Scottish sheep herders staffs, used to hold their lunches up high and away from the animals. Nonetheless, the unique feature makes Merion stand out.
3. The first tee box is directly next to the clubhouse patio, and mulligans are prohibited. Certainly adds a bit of pressure.
4. The East Course was a response to the invention of the Haskell rubber-cored ball. When players were consistently driving the ball 200+ yards off the tee, the old grounds were insufficient. Despite further advances in technology, the course has only been lengthened by about 250 yards.
5. Merion’s greenkeeper in 1918, Joe Valentine, convinced Penn State to start an agronomy course.
6. Annual dues in 1865 were $2
Middle 6 Holes and Tournaments
7. Merion has hosted 18 USGA Championships, the most of any course.
8. The club has hosted 5 U.S. Open tournaments, tied for the 4th most.
9. Lee Trevino defeated Jack Nicklaus in a U.S. Open playoff in 1971.
10. Justin Rose won the most recent U.S. Open at Merion, in 2013, with a score of 1 over par.
11. Bobby Jones completed his Grand Slam at Merion in 1930. This consisted of winning the British Open, British Amateur, U.S. Open, and U.S. Amateur. In the 36-hole final, Jones sealed the deal on the 11th hole. A plaque on a rock next to the tee box marks the feat.
12. In his first tournament back following a car crash that nearly claimed his life, Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open in 1950 at Merion, hitting a famous 1-iron approach on the 18th hole to force a playoff with a par (the spot is marked with a plaque). In those days, the final day of the tournament consisted of 36 holes, something I think they should bring back. Hogan won the tournament the next day in a playoff.
Closing 6 Holes and Course
13. My favorite hole was #11. A medium-short par 4, with a stream running down the left side of the fairway before cutting across the hole right in front of the green. After hitting an extremely poor tee shot, I hit my 200 yard approach into the stream, only to have it bounce off the stepping stone and up onto the green.
14. Joe’s favorite holes were #5 because of the large green that slopes dramatically from right to left, as well as #16 with the blind tee shot and approach over the quarry.
15. Taylor’s favorite hole was #17. Possibly the second best shot of his life, a 225 yard hybrid to about 10 feet.
16. Joe made birdies on both par 5’s (#2 and #4), as well as #8, and #10. My lone birdie was on #8. Taylor birdied #12.
17. The closing 4 holes are the best closing 4 I have ever seen. We will see if this assessments stands the test of time.
18. Joe finished with an outstanding 72 (+2), I shot an 84, and Taylor an 86.
