Best golf courses near Cherry Hill, NJ

A genuine original, its unique character is forged from the sandy pine barrens of southwest Jersey. Founder George Crump had help from now-legendary architects H.S. Colt, A.W. Tillinghast, George C. Thomas Jr. and Walter Travis. Hugh Wilson (of Merion fame) and his brother Alan finished the job, and William Flynn and Perry Maxwell made revisions. Throughout the course, Pine Valley blends all three schools of golf design—penal, heroic and strategic—often times on a single hole. Recent tree removal at selected spots have revealed some gorgeous views of the sandy landscape upon which the course is routed, and bunker reconstruction by Tom Fazio has given the barrens a more intricate and ornate look.

Merion East has long been considered the best course on the tightest acreage in America, and when it hosted the U.S. Open in 2013, its first since 1981, the present generation of big hitters couldn’t conquer this clever little course. They couldn’t consistently hit its twisting fairways, which are edged by creeks, hodge-podge rough and OB stakes and couldn’t consistently hold its canted greens, edged by bunkers that stare back. Justin Rose won with a 72-hole total of one-over-par, two ahead of Jason Day and Phil Mickelson. With Gil Hanse's extensive two-year renovation making even more improvements at Merion's East Course, the design should be even more polished when the Open returns again in 2030.

Philadelphia Cricket was Tillinghast’s home club in his early years as a golfer, so when he laid out a new course for the club in the early 1920s, he devoted special attention to it. Over the century, it aged. Greens shrank, bunkers eroded, trees grew (including one right through the roof of a clubhouse veranda). In 2008, Keith Foster was retained to restore the course to its Tillinghast glory, but a poor economy postponed the work until the summer of 2013. The Cricket is now faithful to Tilly once again, with trees removed and original greens and bunkers reclaimed, including the famed “Great Hazard” that must be carried on the par-5 seventh. As per his request, Tillinghast’s ashes were scattered in the Wissahickon Creek that crosses the 18th green.

Philadelphia Country Club's Spring Mill Course in Gladwyne is ranked as one of the best golf courses in Pennsylvania. Discover our experts reviews and tee time information

Founded in 1897, Huntingdon Valley started out as a nine-hole course before expanding to 18 in the 1910s. The club then had to move to its present site in the 1920s and acquired enough land for 27 holes. The main 18 was designed by William Flynn and Howard Toomey and opened for play in 1928.The third nine called the C course fell into disrepair during the Great Depression and only the main 18 was maintained. However to coincide with the club’s centennial, they hired Ron Prichard to bring back what is now called the Centennial nine. The greens are difficult in terms of both undulation and slope. Huntingdon's routing is its strength, as it makes great use of incredibly rolling topography where the only flat lie one gets is on the tee box. It also takes advantage of the valley and creek that the property sits on meaning golfers have to navigate and avoid the tough features they bring.

Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington is ranked as one of the best golf courses in Pennsylvania. Discover our experts reviews and tee time information

Situated just north of Philadelphia, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club was the first 18-hole course designed by George C. Thomas. Thomas designed the course, known originally at Mount Airy Country Club, on his family’s estate. The course is one of the few that Thomas created before heading to California, where he designed Los Angeles Country Club, Riviera and Bel-Air Country Club, among other notable layouts. At Whitemarsh, Thomas used sprawling bunkers with jagged thumbs to shape many holes, as he would come to do at his top designs. Many of the greens accept run-up shots, making Whitemarsh playable for the average golfer, though clever shaping requires precise shots to get close to many hole locations.

Formerly The Ace Club, built by the Chubb Foundation back in 2003, Union League Liberty Hill is a Gary Player design sitting on 311 rolling acres. Liberty Hill was now acquired by the Philadelphia Union League as part of its growing golf portfolio.

Trump National Philadelphia, in Pine Hill, N.J., is a Tom Fazio design with some rolling terrain down the street from Pine Valley. Donald Trump told our John Barton in 2014: "I think it's as good as Pine Valley, OK? People from Pine Valley are playing it all the time, and some say it's just as good, and some say it's better."