The hardest golf courses in Wilmington, Delaware
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of Wilmington, Delaware, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 39 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers Newark.
East
Merion Golf Club
Ardmore, PA, USASlope rating 149, 73.5 course rating, Back tees, 6,592 yds
PrivateHugh Wilson & Perry Maxwell
- 4.8Conditions
- 4.7Layout
- 4.1Scenery
- 4.4Facilities
The tee shot off the first is one of the most intimidating shots in golf. Right next to the lunch patio, golfers are forced to hit less than driver to kick off their round at one of the most esteemed courses in the world.
Written by
@rev
- Must play
- Pristine
- Walkable
Rolling Green Golf Club
Springfield, PA, USASlope rating 143, 74.7 course rating, Black tees, 6,941 yds
PrivateWilliam S. Flynn & Howard C. Toomey
- 4.8Conditions
- 5.0Layout
- 4.2Scenery
- 4.1Facilities
William Flynn nailed it with the routing and Hanse with the restoration is perfect . The course was in great condition . The property it sits on suits the course perfectly. Maybe the best collection of pat 3’s
Written by
@Matthys83
- Fast greens
- Challenging
- Driving range
White Manor Country Club
Malvern, PA, USASlope rating 142, 74.2 course rating, Silver tees, 7,008 yds
PrivateBill Gordon & Bobby Weed
- 3.3Conditions
- 3.2Layout
- 2.8Scenery
- 2.7Facilities
- Driving range
- Grass range
- Putting area
The Golf Course at Glen Mills
Glen Mills, PA, USASlope rating 141, 71.7 course rating, Black tees, 6,646 yds
PublicBobby Weed
- 3.8Conditions
- 3.9Layout
- 3.1Value
- 3.3Scenery
- 3.1Facilities
Incredible variety of holes, fun contouring, and great green complexes. One of the few public tracks worth $100 Glenn guarantees to be engaging throughout. While 17 and 18 may be considered the weakest part of the property the front 9 is near perfect and holes like 8 and 15 never get old.
Written by
@Tom Doakito
- Must play
- Challenging
- Hidden gem
White Clay Creek Golf Club
Wilmington, DE, USASlope rating 140, 75.0 course rating, Gold tees, 7,007 yds
PublicArthur Hills & Steve Forrest
- 4.0Conditions
- 3.8Layout
- 3.0Value
- 3.5Scenery
- 3.5Facilities
Some of the best greens I have ever played and for only $69 on a Friday morning with a cart this is an absolute steal.
Written by
@SamStewart
- Driving range
- Putting area
- Challenging
Waynesborough Country Club
Paoli, PA, USA
Slope rating 140, 74.6 course rating, Gold tees, 7,063 yds
Wyncote Golf Club
Oxford, PA, USA
Slope rating 140, 74.3 course rating, Black tees, 7,148 yds
Llanerch Country Club
Havertown, PA, USA
Slope rating 140, 73.7 course rating, Blue tees, 6,780 yds
(South) Wilmington Country Club
Wilmington, DE, USA
Slope rating 139, 76.0 course rating, Black tees, 7,334 yds
(Du Pont) DuPont Country Club
Wilmington, DE, USA
Slope rating 139, 74.4 course rating, Black tees, 7,120 yds
Applebrook Golf Club
Malvern, PA, USA
Slope rating 139, 73.7 course rating, Back tees, 6,815 yds
Concord Country Club
West Chester, PA, USA
Slope rating 139, 73.6 course rating, Black tees, 6,981 yds
Broad Run Golfer's Club
West Chester, PA, USA
Slope rating 139, 73.4 course rating, Black tees, 6,751 yds
Chester Valley Golf Club
Malvern, PA, USA
Slope rating 139, 72.7 course rating, Blue tees, 6,702 yds
Aronimink Golf Club
Newtown, PA, USA
Slope rating 138, 75.5 course rating, Back tees, 7,267 yds
Radley Run Country Club
West Chester, PA, USA
Slope rating 138, 73.6 course rating, Championship tees, 6,847 yds
Inniscrone Golf Club
Avondale, PA, USA
Slope rating 138, 72.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,605 yds
Radnor Valley Country Club
Villanova, PA, USA
Slope rating 137, 72.7 course rating, Blue tees, 6,572 yds
Penn Oaks Country Club
West Chester, PA, USA
Slope rating 137, 72.6 course rating, Crown tees, 6,644 yds
Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club
Newark, DE, USA
Slope rating 136, 71.1 course rating, Blue tees, 6,323 yds
Whitford Country Club
Exton, PA, USA
Slope rating 135, 73.8 course rating, Black tees, 6,768 yds
RiverWinds Golf Club
West Deptford, NJ, USA
Slope rating 135, 73.8 course rating, Tournament tees, 7,086 yds
St. Davids Golf Club
Wayne, PA, USA
Slope rating 134, 72.3 course rating, Black tees, 6,608 yds
Downingtown Country Club
Downingtown, PA, USA
Slope rating 134, 72.1 course rating, Black tees, 6,642 yds
Overbrook Golf Club
Villanova, PA, USA
Slope rating 133, 73.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,617 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Wilmington, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
East at Merion Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in and around Wilmington, Delaware at Slope 149 (73.5 course rating · Back tees · 6,592 yds). 39 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Wilmington, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of Wilmington, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:43 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
