Philadelphia's renowned country clubs provide outstanding golf courses and facilities, social activities and networking opportunities. Whether you're a professional golfer or just an average duffer, a membership to a country club offers many benefits.

Besides their outstanding facilities, country clubs such as Philmont Country Club are known for their unique architectural style. Architects who specialized in remodeling country estate houses became famous for their designs of clubhouses and other buildings.

The History of Country Clubs in Philadelphia

The country clubs that dot Philadelphia’s landscape offer a lot more than just a golf course. They also feature tennis, swimming, bowling, dining and more. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax or want to challenge yourself with some competitive sports, there’s sure to be a club that meets your needs.

One of the oldest clubs in the area is Philadelphia Country Club. It opened in 1890 and features a 27 hole course designed by William Flynn. The club has hosted several prestigious events, including the U.S. Open and the Curtis Cup. It also boasts a manor house that is beautifully set on a hill and seems to be a part of the landscape itself.

This club is famous for its secluded location and the excellent facilities that it provides. Its course was once voted the best in Pennsylvania. The course itself is a classic design from the Golden Age of golf and is masterfully routed across the land, making full use of its natural features without over-developing it.

This club was also a pioneer in the integration of Black players into mainstream golf. It was the first club to allow middle-class Black players, and it helped create a number of other clubs in the region that would welcome African American members. By the 1930s, there were over fourteen country clubs in the nation that allowed Black membership, but the Philadelphia Country Club was still the only one to have a true integrated membership.

The 1912 Club

The 1912 Club is an exclusive, family-friendly club that offers a full range of amenities and services. It was founded by a group of men who wanted to build a community where they could relax and socialize. This country club has a stunning 18-hole golf course and a beautiful 20,000-square foot clubhouse. It is located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania and is just a short drive from downtown Philadelphia.

Quinn was able to purchase the club for an undisclosed price and plans to make improvements. He believes the location is ideal as it is only a 10-minute drive from his golf academy in Conshohocken. One of his priorities is to restore the 6,608-yard, 18-hole golf course designed by William Flynn. He has hired Ron Prichard to lead the effort, a course architect who has redone many courses, including Georgia’s East Lake, which will host the PGA Championship in 2027.

The club’s talented culinary team can serve plated meals, food stations, and family-style service. They are also able to create delicious hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail hour. The staff is able to offer tastings before the event to help couples decide which menu items will be best for their guests.

Weddings at The 1912 Club can be a truly memorable experience. Its combination of upscale style and dedicated service makes it an excellent choice for a Wedding venue in the Philadelphia, PA area. KSTG often works with Brides and Grooms from The 1912 Club to provide Transportation services for their Wedding guests. They will often hire KSTG to run shuttle services for 2 hours both before and after the reception so their guests can enjoy the party without having to worry about how they will get back to their Hotel rooms in time for a good night’s rest.

Squires Golf Club

In a city that places so much value on inclusion, a men-only club like Squires can seem out of place. But it’s important to note that when the club first opened in May 1964, its policies were pretty typical of the time. Women weren’t allowed to play on the weekends, weren’t even allowed to enter the men’s grill room and could only vote in the club’s elections if they were male.

As it turns out, Squires is still very much a boys’ club and has been for decades. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Many of the most influential guys in town are members. From titans of sports (current Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, late Eagles owner Leonard Tose and former Sixers owner Harold Katz) to heavy hitters in real estate, business (PREIT’s Ron Rubin, Campus Apartments’ David Adelman and Morgan Properties’ Mitchell Morgan) and even religion (the late Cardinal Krol), Squires is a who’s who of the local scene.

What’s more, the golf course is terrific. Designed by George Fazio and located in Ambler, the course plays over 6,765 yards from the back tees with a par of 72. The greens are smartly shaped, challenging players with their subtle undulations and ridges. Ultimately, though, it’s the camaraderie that really brings people together here. And the fact that it’s so relaxed and casual allows for an element of enjoyment that other clubs just don’t have.

The Gladwyne Country Club

The Gladwyne Country Club is a private club available for the enjoyment of its members and their guests. It offers several different sports and activities, but golf is the main focus. The club is located in the Gladwyne suburb of Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The club has 27 holes of golf between its Spring Mill and Centennial courses, a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, bowling alleys, and a large clubhouse.

The golf course is known for its fast bent grass greens and stunning views. The fairways are well-groomed and challenging for all skill levels. The club also has a driving range and short game chipping greens. The clubhouse is beautiful, with multiple dining options and a terrace that can be used during warmer months.

In 1990, on the occasion of the Club’s Centennial Anniversary, an additional nine hole course was opened. This new course, named the Centennial Nine, was designed by Tom Fazio.

The clubhouse features four dining rooms and a terrace for outdoor seating. There is also a ballroom that can hold large events, like weddings or bar and bat mitzvahs. The club also has a shooting lodge and range, a squash building with singles and doubles courts, and a tennis and paddle hut. Its golf pro shop has a wide variety of equipment and accessories from Titleist, Cobra, Taylor Made, FootJoy, and more.