Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon) - Pennsylvania - USA
Wissahickon Clubhouse,
6025 West Valley Green Road,
Flourtown,
Pennsylvania ( PA) 19031,
USA
+1 215 247 6113
2 miles E of Norristown
Members and their guests only
John Magliocco
A.W. Tillinghast, Keith Foster
Jim Smith Jr.
A.W. Tillinghast crafted the Flourtown golf course at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1922. In the new millennium, the layout was renamed Wissahickon, after the creek which borders the property. In 2013, architect Keith Foster lovingly restored the Wissahickon course to a standard that Tillinghast would approve of. “There were no real blue prints at all,” Foster said. “I think that was really the challenge, truthfully. It was Tillinghast’s home course and he laid out in theory a skeleton routing, with the belief back then to lay it out and as the golf course matured to go ahead and introduce features that he would want to put in over time. The problem, of course, was that none of the features were ever documented. What I basically had was the routing that he had and then I had the green pads that he had placed, but in terms of tee positions, they were all out of kilter and none of the bunkers existed where they were placed or where he would have placed them.” The PGA of America awarded Philadelphia Cricket Club the honour of hosting the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship on both the Wissahickon and Militia Hill courses. Take a bow please Mr Foster. |
Reviews for Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)





The analysis of the course by the previous reviewer is spot on with the several observations made. Credit has to go the club for the wise choice in bringing on board architect Keith Foster to bring back to life the many aspects Tillinghast originally provided. Anyone venturing to play the Wissahickon Course had best be ready right from the outset with two consecutive long par-4's that yield nothing save for high level execution play.
The inward half of holes only ups the ante in terms of the demands players face. The ending quartet of holes caps the round in grand fashion. The long par-3 15th is a Redan-like hole and it's very good in flushing out the quality approach from an ordinary effort. The last three holes are all strong par-4's -- giving no quarter or respite. The ending hole is on par with another stellar Tillinghast notable closer with the likes of the 18th at Winged Foot / West. Miss the fairway at the 18th and getting over a stream that cuts across the hole near to the green is no automatic situation. For many the closing hole at Merion's famed East Course may get more recognition because of the stature earned when hosting various IUSGA Championships, however, the 18th at Wissahickon can easily claim the silver medal in the greater Philadelphia area.
The City of Brotherly love metro area is stacked with quality layouts -- all on the private side. Only the immediate New York City area surpasses it for overall depth of courses in America.
Overall, it amazes me how the Wissahickon layout is not included among the top 100 courses in America. I'd have the course comfortably in the top three in the Center City area because of how the blending of old and new elements were done with the utmost care and attention. Merion / East and Aronimink get plenty of attention but those coming to the Philadelphia vicinity should plan to wiggle some sort of invitation to play the Wissahickon Course. When you think your game is at the "A" level -- you'll find out if that's the case after playing 18 here.
by M. James Ward


A few greens were moved during the renovation, with the 2nd and


The ashes of A.W Tillinghast were scattered in the Wissahickon Creek in 1942.