As golfers approach the 1st tee of the historic East Course at Merion Golf Club, they have an extra bounce in their step. Golfers playing the East Course have high hopes of slaying the beast that awaits them. In order to have any chance on this course you better bring your “A” game or you’ll quickly go down in flames. Two things are certain on the East Course, there will be no breakfast ball off the 1st tee and your round will NOT take longer than 4 hours and 15 minutes. Beyond that nothing is guaranteed on this tightly wrapped course which will challenge ANY golfer in the world, including tour pros who couldn’t even manage to break par over four rounds during the 2013 U.S. Open Championship held on Merion’s fabled East Course.
East Course 1ST HOLE: PAR 4 350 Yards All eyes might be on your first Tee Shot
The first tee is located alongside the outdoor patio, depending on the time of day you might have plenty of eyes on your first tee shot. If that isn’t enough pressure, just think about all the legends past and present who have teed it up on the East Course and you’re sure to start shaking. There isn’t an easy hole on the course and everyone who’s played it, is hard pressed to point out a favorite hole. One thing is for sure if you want any chance of having a good round you better get off to a good start. I’ve already said there isn’t an easy hole on the course but a good tee shot into the fairway will put you in great position for a positive start, the keyword being fairway. The rough on the East Course is absolutely brutal no two blades of grass seem to be the exact same height and no matter what, your ball just seems to settle into a hole in the rough. If you get one sitting up in the rough, be sure to buy a lottery ticket on the way home.
East Course 4th Hole Par 5 601 Yards
If you fared well on the 1st hole then you’re already ahead of the game. If not, that is unfortunate my friend as it’s only going to get tougher from here. The East Course is best described in thirds, the first third is best described as long. As you play the first six holes you’ll encounter both of the Par 5s highlighted by 600 yard 4th. Based on the relatively small amount of land that the East Course is built upon you’re going to expect a shorter course, even on the scorecard the course is less than 6600 yards from the tips, but I guarantee after you play the first six holes you’ll never think of the East Course being short again. To recap the 1st six holes you’ll have played the only two par 5s (the only ones on the course), a long Par 3, and three par 4s including the 5th which is rated as the hardest hole on the course.
Coming into the second third of the course which is best described as short, if you aren’t already under par chances are you aren’t going to get there. While this section of the course is short that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Every hole at Merion is unique in some form or fashion and contains a certain trick and if you don’t know it you sure better hope your caddie does. This stretch consists of five par 4s (all under 400 yards) and one par 3. The beauty of the East Course is that you don’t have to be a big hitter off the tee, to be effective you just need keep it in the fairway. As I mentioned before, the rough can easily bring you to tears. When you do end up in the rough my advice would be, club down and just make sure you get out of the rough. If not, you’ll quickly find yourself out of the hole. When making the turn you’ll have a chance to stop at the halfway house and refuel, after walking the front nine I’m sure you’ll be ready for at least one drink.
East Course 12th Hole Par 4 377 Yards
Starting the trip back in, pay special attention on the Par 4 12th hole which is a 350 yard, dogleg right with not only an elevated green but also an elevated spot in the fairway. According to course lore that hump in the fairway is the final resting place for one of the many horses used to build the East Course back in 1912, just one of the many chapters in the legend of Merion Golf Club.
The Plaque Marking the Spot of Ben Hogan’s Famous Shot on 18.
The final six holes which make up the last third of the course and are best described as brutal. By the time you walk across the practice green and find yourself under the flag pole on the 14th tee you had better have taken as much as you can from the East Course, because the final 5 holes are arguably one of the hardest home stretches you’ll find anywhere. During this final stretch of 6 holes you’ll play two Par 3s and four Par 4s finishing on the iconic 18th where Ben Hogan hit that famous 1-iron shot in route to winning the 1950 U.S. Open Championship. By the time you reach the 18th you’re sure to have taken your lumps and long given up on your quest to slay the beast, but you’ve fully experienced the lore of Merion’s East Course and played on hollow ground which is sure to be an experience you’ll always remember.
I wanted to be sure to give a special thanks to Bob R., my host at Merion Golf Club. Bob went above and beyond to ensure that I got the full Merion experience, and I couldn’t be more thankful. The experience Bob provided me with was as legendary as the East Course itself. The only thing better than the round on the East Course, was the drink I enjoyed with an extraordinary group of men after our round.
Course Rating 4 ¾ Stars out of 5
The one thing you hear again and again about the East Course is that it’s the best small course in the world. Small is a relative term, compared to most golf courses the fact that the East Course sits on less than 120 acres would make it small compared to most other championship courses. However, when you’re playing the course it doesn’t feel small; in fact, I found myself halfway thru the round wondering what the heck everyone had been talking about. The fact that the East Course is a Par 70 and only features two Par 5s I can see why from the outside you would think it’s a short course, but the better term to use would be tight not short. Like we saw during the 2013 U.S. Open, breaking par on this course is extremely difficult. In fact, Justin Rose won the 2013 U.S. Open Championship shooting a 4-day total of 281 to finish one over par on the East Course. It goes to show no matter which hole you’re playing on the East Course; shot-making is extremely difficult. With only 2 par 5s and one of them playing at 600 yards you can argue there isn’t an easy birdie to be had. If you aren’t a low handicapper chances are your only reasonable shot at birdie is going to come on one of the Par 3s, and you better stick the tee shot close because these bent grass greens aren’t going to give up anything easily.