The Golfdom Files: ‘Tough but not treacherous,’ describes Aronimink layout

Major golf returns to Newtown Square, Pa., when Aronimink Golf Club plays host the 2026 PGA Championship, May 14-17. This is the course’s first men’s major in 60-plus years, honoring Gary Player’s 1962 win. Here, Golfdom heads back to 1962 with a look at the layout and history of Aronimink Golf Club. To read the full article, visit here. To see all of the Golfdom Files, visit here.

Aronimink Golf Club, Newton Square, Pa., the site of this year’s PGA Championship (July 19-22), is not treacherous, isn’t beset with cliffs and doesn’t have unreadable greens, but according to those familiar with the course, it isn’t a setup — even for the country’s finest pros. The course extends 7,045 yards from the back tees and has a par of 70. Some changes were made in tee positions last fall, traps have been slightly revised and there, of course, will be the usual narrowing of the fairways.

General chairman of the event is Jack A. MacInnes, who is in the bleacher seat manufacturing business, so there will be plenty of seats for the spectators. In fact, there will be 10,000 of them, located in the strategic spots, and all will be free. More than nine miles of rope and about 3,000 metal stakes will be used in cordoning off the fairways and greens.

Built in 1926

The name, Aronimink, is of Indian origin, of course, and means “by the beaver dam.” There is no evidence that a tribe of the same name ever existed. The club, one of the country’s oldest, is located 15 miles southwest of Philadelphia and covers about 300 acres. Residential properties and highways are rather remote and persons who play or view the course get a feeling of being in the unspoiled open spaces. The club is in its fourth location since being founded in 1895. It moved to its present site in 1926. The course was designed by Donald J. Ross.

Each of the holes bears an Indian name ranging from Apache (No. 1) to Aronimink (No. 18) and including Comanche, Sitting Bull, Cherokee and others. The No. 1 hole has a spectacular elevated tee; No. 2 is one of the tougher ones, requiring smart trap playing to match par; No. 6 and No. 7, both par 4s, can work to the disadvantage of those who over-drive; No. 8, fronted by a lake, is a scenic beauty; No. 9 extends to 610 yards; No. 10 may be the most formidable hole on the course, being a 449-yard copy that demands the best possible shots for a par 4; No. 12 which crosses a gulley, also is a tough par 4; No. 13 probably will turn out to be the birdie hole; No. 15 is well trapped and calls for a good degree of sharpshooting; No. 16, also well trapped, is 541 yards long and eagles are almost impossible to make on this hole; No. 18 is something of a sleeper, presenting a long, uphill haul to the green.

Joe Capello is Aronimink’s professional and George Baskin is the superintendent.