
West Course
Merion Golf Club


About this course
West at Merion Golf Club stands as a testament to strategic golf, a demanding counterpoint to its more celebrated East Course sibling. Built in the rolling hills of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, the West presents a distinctly different test, one favoring accuracy and guile over sheer power. Designed by Hugh Wilson, with later refinements by Toomey and Flynn, the West embraces its parkland setting. Fairways wind through mature trees, placing a premium on precise tee shots and approach play. The course offers more generous landing areas than the East, but errant shots are severely penalized by dense rough and strategically placed bunkers, many framing the greens demanding creative short game solutions. Don’t be surprised to witness a Merion member sporting plus-fours while walking the course. While the West Course hasn’t hosted the same caliber of major championships as its neighbor, it remains a highly regarded and respected course in its own right. It is a cherished club for its members, with a vibrant and active golf community - one where serious golfers appreciate the challenge and camaraderie it provides.
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
- Ardmore, PA, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1914
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Hugh Wilson, Perry Maxwell, William S. Flynn
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 5,989 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.8/133
- Course Vaults score
- 7.9
Getting there
The journey to Merion Golf Club begins at Philadelphia International Airport, a mere twenty-minute drive east along the leafy Main Line corridor that has long defined the Philadelphia aristocracy. The route traces Lancaster Avenue through a succession of stone-walled estates and century-old sycamores, the urban edge softening into the manicured calm of Ardmore and Haverford. As you turn onto Ardmore Avenue, the club reveals itself with characteristic understatement - no grand gates or sweeping entrance, just the quiet certainty of arrival at one of American golf's most hallowed and fiercely private grounds.

FAQ
Common questions about West at Merion Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
West at Merion Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 7.9 out of 10 based on 57 logged golfers.
West was designed by Hugh Wilson, Perry Maxwell, and William S. Flynn.
West at Merion Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at West is 70.
West plays 5,989 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at West is 133.






