Farmland to Fairways
The original course was built on working farmland, and the old farmhouse still hosts the club’s gathering spots today. The property’s rural roots lend it a timeless feel often missing from suburban courses.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
The 1912 Club
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Established
1912
Architect
William S. Flynn (original), Ron Prichard & Tyler Rae (2014 restoration)
Access
Private
Par
Par 70
Length
5,290 – 7,222 yds
The verdict
Flynn’s Refined Local Classic
The 1912 Club offers a classic Philadelphia-area golf experience, pairing William Flynn’s strategic Golden Age style with a contemporary country club atmosphere. Though it flies under the national radar, the course rewards thoughtful play with its firm, rolling fairways and subtly demanding greens. Private access means it’s a treat for members and their lucky guests.
Course DNA
Difficulty
77
Scenery69
Conditioning84
Shot Variety75
Walkability73
Green Complexity73
Wow Factor66
Design Quality77
Don't miss
Stop in the original farmhouse clubhouse after your round—its preserved early-20th-century rooms are a living link to the club’s roots.
At a glance
Quick facts
Original founding name
Plymouth Country Club
Recent restoration year
2014
Clubhouse feature
Historic original farmhouse remains
Major regional event
1939 Philadelphia Open
Latest APGA Tournament
2026 APGA at The 1912 Club
Rebranding date
2018 (renamed The 1912 Club)
Practice facility
Full driving range and short game
The design
The architecture
The 1912 Club’s course showcases Golden Age strategy with a strong William Flynn influence, fusing rolling suburban landforms and thoughtful bunkering into a brisk, constantly engaging routing. Ron Prichard and Tyler Rae’s 2014 restoration reestablished classic green shapes and hazard placements, letting the land’s natural movement and the club’s quietly elegant design philosophy shine. While the architecture relies on subtle angles and approach demands rather than bold heroics, it rewards carefully plotted golf and classic lines.
Flynn’s influence built on by Ron Prichard’s respectful restoration, preserving intelligent shot values for the modern game.
Defining features
- Restored, naturalistic bunkering in Flynn fashion
- Strategic use of rolling terrain and doglegs
- Greens with nuanced internal contours
- Stout mix of long par 4s and short tactical par 3s
- Clever routing leveraging the site’s farmhouse centerpiece
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
Risk-Reward Double Dogleg
PAR
5
YARDAGE
591
A true three-shotter for most, the 3rd unfurls across rolling land with a distinct double dogleg and gently elevated green. Position from the tee is everything; getting home in two is a thrill but brings the fairway bunkers and tall rough into play.
Play it smart
Favor the left off the tee to open up your angle and weigh up whether a gutsy second will leave an easier wedge or cost dearly if missed.
Where it bites
Cut the corner at your own risk—deep cross-bunkering and closely mown edges wait to snag the greedy.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching the tough first hole
Don’t go flag-hunting out of the gate—play for the safe half of the green and shake off any nerves early.
Laying up on key par 5s
Favor position and wedge yardage over maximum distance—angled greens reward smart setups.
Facing dogleg tee shots
Trust your shape and stay disciplined; chasing extra yards often brings deep bunkers into play.
Selecting clubs into the wind on par 3s
Play for the center, as swirling winds and deceptive contours can punish aggressiveness.
Approaching elevated or subtly crowned greens
Land your shot short and accept a longer putt over risking a big miss long or left.
Navigating finishing stretch pressure
Big numbers lurk on 17 and 18—commit to your lines, and don’t get greedy into the greens.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Firm, smooth fairways and greens, with private-club attention to detail throughout.
Pace
Standard for private clubs—expect a brisk but unhurried round, with busy weekends.
Vibe
Traditional, welcoming club atmosphere, mixing historic charm and modern hospitality.
Dress code
Collared shirts, tailored shorts or slacks, and standard private-club dress; check official guidelines for specific restrictions.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Brush Up On Flynn Strategy
Expect to play angles and place tee shots for better approaches—don’t just grip it and rip it.
02
Practice Your Mid-Irons
Several long par 4s require strong mid-iron and hybrid approaches if you want a real birdie chance.
03
Check Hole Locations
Greens have subtle slopes and false edges—knowing pin positions makes a difference.
04
Arrive Early For The Range
A well-maintained practice range lets you loosen up before a demanding opening stretch.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1912
Club founded as Plymouth Country Club
- 1924
Land addition leads to 18-hole planning
- 1927
Full 18-hole course opens
- 1939
Hosts the Philadelphia Open
- 1949
Hosts Philadelphia PGA Championship
- 2014
Major restoration by Ron Prichard & Tyler Rae
- 2018
Rebranded as The 1912 Club
Stories & legends
What makes it special
The Flynn Enigma
While most modern sources credit William S. Flynn for the course design, old club lore debates the true degree of his involvement in the initial nine holes. Even so, the classic Flynn strategies and feel remain.
Tradition With a Modern Twist
After nearly a century as Plymouth Country Club, the club rebranded and revitalized its course and facilities in the late 2010s, offering members the feel of an old-line club with upgraded amenities and restored golf challenge.
The House That Survived
Club meetings to create the course began in Norristown City Hall during a frigid 1912 winter, but it was the sturdy farmhouse on site that outlasted the decades and now anchors the property’s social life.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The club’s original farmhouse still forms the heart of the modern clubhouse.
2
The 1912 Club name is a nod to the club’s founding year and its historic local roots.
3
The course has hosted the Philadelphia Open and the Philadelphia PGA Championship.
4
Major restoration in 2014 revived classic Golden Age design elements.
5
Club meetings to establish the course started in Norristown City Hall in winter 1912.
Build the trip
If you're on a Greater Philly golf adventure
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Jeffersonville Golf Club
Public
A Donald Ross original restored for public play—just minutes away.
Paxon Hollow Country Club
Public
Classic golden age charm in a daily-fee format, playable for all.
Philadelphia Cricket Club—Militia Hill
Private
Historically rooted, multi-course private club just around the corner.
Heritage Creek Golf Club
Public
Contemporary design with accessible green fees, a good change of pace.
Sunnybrook Golf Club
Private
High-quality, local private experience if you snag an invite.
King of Prussia or Conshohocken for location and amenities.
Course DNA
If You Like The 1912 Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.0
Medinah Country Club (Course No. 2)
Bloomingdale, IllinoisConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Medinah Country Club (Course No. 2)'s own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.3
Glen Oak Country Club
Glen Ellyn, IllinoisConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Glen Oak Country Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Guyan Golf & Country Club
Huntington, West VirginiaConditioning
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Guyan Golf & Country Club offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to The 1912 Club.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?