
Union League Course
Union League Golf Club at Torresdale


About this course
Union League Golf Club at Torresdale occupies a historic site along the Delaware River in northeast Philadelphia, where the Union League of Philadelphia established its country retreat in the late nineteenth century. Willie Campbell, a Scottish professional who worked extensively in the United States during golf's early American period, laid out the original course in 1897. Donald Ross later revised and expanded the design in the 1920s, bringing his characteristic strategic bunkering and green contouring to the layout. More recently, architect Stephen Kay has undertaken restoration work to preserve and enhance the Ross elements while adapting the course to modern conditions. The routing takes advantage of rolling terrain that moves toward the river, with mature trees framing many holes and creating definition throughout the property. The course reflects Ross's design principles in its emphasis on approach shot angles and subtly contoured putting surfaces that reward precision. Several holes play along elevation changes that add variety to club selection and shot strategy. The Union League itself traces its origins to 1862 as a patriotic society supporting the Union cause during the Civil War, and the club's Philadelphia heritage remains central to its identity. The Torresdale facility serves as the League's golf and country club component, maintaining the formal traditions and civic-minded character associated with the organization. The course provides members with a layout that balances its historical design pedigree with the demands of contemporary golf, set within a landscape that has hosted the club's recreational life for well over a century.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in PA
Quick facts
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1896
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Willie Campbell, Donald Ross, Stephen Kay
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,612 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.8/143
- Course Vaults score
- 8.3
Getting there
Union League Golf Club at Torresdale is most readily accessed via Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), situated roughly twenty miles southwest of the club, with a straightforward thirty-to-forty-minute drive north through the urban and suburban corridors of Northeast Philadelphia. For members arriving by private aircraft, Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) offers a considerably more intimate alternative, positioned just minutes from the club's grounds along the Delaware River. The final approach winds through the leafy, established neighborhoods of the city's northern reaches before arriving at the club's storied grounds, where the transition from metropolitan bustle to the quiet dignity of one of America's oldest golf institutions feels both immediate and complete.

FAQ
Common questions about Union League
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Union League has a Course Vaults score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 33 logged golfers.
Union League was designed by Willie Campbell, Donald Ross, and Stephen Kay.
Union League is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Union League is 70.
Union League plays 6,612 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Union League is 143.



