Aronimink Golf Club
A big, muscular Donald Ross parkland west of Philadelphia, Aronimink finally took its place on the major stage with the 2026 PGA Championship. Ross opened it in 1928, a par 70 of about 7,237 yards he is said to have called one of his very best.
Photo: Aronimink Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Aronimink Golf Club is one of Donald Ross's grandest American designs and, since the 2026 PGA Championship, a course the wider golf world finally knows by name. It sits on rolling, wooded land in Newtown Square, west of Philadelphia, where the club commissioned Ross in 1926 and opened the new course on Memorial Day in 1928. It plays as a par 70 of about 7,237 yards, a course built on scale and shotmaking rather than tricks, with broad fairways funneling toward some of the most demanding greens Ross ever drew.
A Gil Hanse restoration completed in 2018 stripped away decades of accretions and returned the bunkering, fairway lines and green surrounds to Ross's intentions, sharpening a course that was already a championship venue. Its résumé is deep: the 1962 PGA Championship, the 2003 Senior PGA, the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA, and in May 2026 the PGA Championship, won by Aaron Rai. For a traveling golfer it is a private club of real pedigree, reached through a member, and one of the finest places in America to study Donald Ross at full stretch.
Aronimink at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,237 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, the PGA of America and leading databases. Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1928; it plays as a par 70 of about 7,237 yards in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and hosted the 2026 PGA Championship, won by Aaron Rai. It is a private club; access is generally only through a member, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Aronimink rewards the player who can move the ball both ways and control the long iron and fairway wood. The fairways are generous off the tee, but Ross set his greens on subtle plateaus and pushed up shelves, so the second shot is where the round is won or lost. Land on the wrong tier and a routine par turns into a hard up and down, with the crowned surfaces shedding anything short or loose into deep, well placed bunkers.
The closing stretch is among the strongest in the Philadelphia region, climbing and turning back toward the imposing Tudor clubhouse with a finish that asks for two committed full shots under pressure. After the Hanse restoration the bunkers bite harder and the green surrounds repel more shots, which is why the world's best found Aronimink so searching when the PGA Championship came to town.
What stays with players is the sheer quality of the greens complexes. There are no weak holes and no easy pars; the course simply keeps asking precise questions of distance and angle from the first tee to the last. It is Donald Ross architecture at its most confident and complete.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; not generally open to public play, with access usually through a member |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest play is hosted by a member (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | An introduction through a member, arranged well in advance, is essential |
| On the day | Caddies available and walking encouraged; a collared shirt and traditional dress code expected |
| Getting there | Newtown Square, about 30 minutes west of central Philadelphia; Philadelphia International Airport is roughly 30 minutes away |
| Best months | May through June and September through October, when the greens are firm and fast |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Aronimink is a private club and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
The western suburbs around Newtown Square and nearby King of Prussia offer convenient hotels close to the first tee, while central Philadelphia, about thirty minutes east, has the fullest range of lodging and dining. Philadelphia International Airport sits south of the city.
Aronimink anchors a strong eastern Pennsylvania golf itinerary and pairs naturally with the other great Philadelphia courses. We can arrange the introductions where possible and handle the lodging and transfers around your round.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Philadelphia.
Build a Pennsylvania golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, plan the visit to Aronimink and book the lodging and transfers around your round. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Aronimink questions
Who designed Aronimink and when did it open?
Aronimink was designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1928 in Newtown Square, west of Philadelphia. Ross considered it one of his finest works, and a Gil Hanse restoration completed in 2018 returned the course to his intentions.
What is the par and length of Aronimink?
Aronimink plays as a par 70 of about 7,237 yards, a big, muscular Donald Ross parkland with sweeping fairways, deep bunkering and a celebrated set of crowned greens unaltered since 1928.
What championships has Aronimink hosted?
Aronimink hosted the 1962 PGA Championship, the 2003 Senior PGA Championship, the 2020 KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the 2026 PGA Championship, won by Aaron Rai. It has also staged the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur.
Can visitors play Aronimink?
Aronimink is a private members club and is not generally open to public play. Access is usually only through a member, so arranging a visit well in advance is essential.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; 2026 PGA Championship result and the 2018 Hanse restoration verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.