Rolling Green

With social drinking frowned upon, it wasn’t until 1970 that anyone could purchase alcohol from the bar – now how many clubs could have survived almost 50 years without such an important source of income? And when the club was honoured with hosting the US Women’ Open in 1976, most of the competitors would surely have been happy to drown their sorrows in the clubhouse after returning four round scores of +8 or more!

It’s easy to see why anyone will struggle to put together a score at Rolling Green when you examine the undulating landscape and the way the greens are designed to repel all but the most accurate approach shots to the pin. In fact, with a good number of holes played uphill, many of the putting surfaces will reward a running shot easier than an a ball arriving from a more aerial route.

The balance and variety of holes on this old classic makes it an absolute joy to play with the natural use of the topography by the architects so easy on the eye. Many regard the 12th as one of the finest short par fours in the game. From an elevated tee, a long iron played left of centre will set up an approach shot to a small green that lies on an upslope at right angles to the fairway. The putting surface is protected by one bunker to the right and four to the left, with a severe drop off to the rear - yet another brilliant example of a hole not having to be long to be difficult.

In July 2010, we received the following update from one of Rolling Green’s members: “In the Fall of 2008 the course underwent a $1 million restoration where all bunkers were restored to their original shape and size and more than 1,000 trees were removed from the course. While I may have some bias I strongly believe that Rolling Green is the 3rd best course in the greater Philadelphia area: Merion and Aronomink still rank ahead. We are currently in discussions with the USGA to host an upcoming Women’s US Amateur Championship.

We were notified in early 2022 that a course restoration under the direction of Gil Hanse began in October 2021, following a tree removal program which thinned out almost a thousand trees throughout the layout.