Rolling Green Golf Club

When Rolling Green Golf Club opened for play in 1926, a local paper wrote: “The original purpose of the club’s founders was to omit all social frills that enter into the life of a country club, and make it shine where ‘the skill and ingenuity of the lover of the game could have full play.’” In fact, the Quaker-dominated membership wanted to avoid the social drinking found at their original club and it wasn’t until 1970 that Rolling Green had a liquor license. That is not to say, however, that some of the members’ lockers didn’t contain a fifth of their favorite beverage. The demand for such a club was evidenced by the fact that the membership was closed before the club or the clubhouse were completed. The 335th and final bond certificate was sold on August 9, 1926 for $1,050 in comparison to the face value of $600. The 157 acres that comprise the land on which the golf course and facilities are situated are ideal for a parkland course. There are rolling hills and significant elevation changes on individual holes and throughout the course. There is a total of 130 feet of elevation change from the highest point on the 5th fairway to the lowest point where the creek exits the property on the 8th fairway. Streams meander throughout the course, but mostly along the periphery of the holes serving to frame holes. The ground contours are complex on the approaches to the greens, even on the steeply uphill holes – numbers 4, 8, 11, 12, and 15. Accordingly, local knowledge is especially helpful in navigating the intricacies of the full 18 holes. Rolling Green has hosted two national tournaments: the 1976 USGA U.S. Women’s Open won by Joanne Carner and the 2016 USGA U.S. Women’s Amateur won by Eun Jeong Seong. The Club has hosted many other regional events, such as the Pennsylvania Open, the Pennsylvania Men’s and Women’s Amateur, the Philadelphia Amateur, the Philadelphia Open and served as a regional qualifying site for several USGA U.S. Men’s Opens.