Gulph Mills

Donald Ross designed the club’s course and it opened for play in May of 1919 at a construction cost (excluding land acquisition) of $92,277, which was more than three times the original estimate. For some reason, all of the putting surfaces were rebuilt after only five years in operation, though Donald Ross recommended renovating four of these new greens in 1926.

Perry Maxwell changed five greens (the 8th and 10th in 1934, the 11th and 14th in 1937 then the 7th a year later) before Wayne Stiles drew up a comprehensive hole-by-hole report for the club in 1940, focusing mainly on the replacement of the Ross bunkers. William Gordon became the club’s course consultant for a time then Robert Trent Jones was called in to advise on modifications to several holes in 1966.

"I've simplified the [architect] credits for this course", commented Tom Doak in The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses , “everyone from Flynn to Bill Gordon to Robert Trent Jones tinkered with it at some point, but Gil Hanse has thankfully sorted through the hodgepodge of styles and restored the best of Ross' and Maxwell's work. There are a few holes that would rate with Philly's finest, including the short 4th across a deep valley, and the 6th and 11th with their distinctive and severe Maxwell greens – but there are also some clunkers, and the cramped and hilly site does not allow it to surpass the second tier of Flynn’s many fine courses in the area.”

Correctly accrediting architectural provenance, especially for historical courses, can be error prone. David A. contests: “William Flynn was mistakenly credited with re-doing a number of the greens, but as it turns out, merely assisted in re-grassing them in the early days of the course.”