Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club

As the name would suggest, Manufacturers’ Golf and Country Club started as anything but a golf course. Originally located in central Philadelphia, the club was founded in the 1880s and with executives of various area businesses as its members. As golf increased in popularity in the United States, a farm north of town was purchased along with a manor house overlooking the property. By the mid 1920s, the course affectionately referred to as “Mannies” came to life.

Manufacturers’ has both the location and the architect that largely define Philadelphia area golf. The course is a William Flynn design, the architect whose work is most associated with the city, and its location is among the most densely populated golf areas in the country. Located on the city’s north side, Manufacturers’ has neighbors in LuLu Country Club, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Huntingdon Valley, Whitemarsh Valley, and many more. It’s impossible to live in this area and not feel the everyday presence of golf. At Manufacturers’ specifically, its combination of playability and elite design gives everyone a little bit to love.

Take Note…

Take the tram. Today, the final hole at Manufacturers’ features two green sites. Flynn’s original is the upper green site and plays as a par 5. In 1932, the members had complained enough about the steep uphill climb at the end of the round that they built a second green at the base of the hill and reduced the hole to a par 4. But that still left the walk up the hill. In 1951, the club built a six-seat tram that could take players from the lower green up to the clubhouse. Today, day-to-day play is typically to that lower green, but the club still uses the original green for all tournament play.

Revolutionary history. The site on which MG&CC now sits has history dating back to the Revolutionary War. In the winter of 1777, George Washington and the Continental Army spent weeks at their Whitemarsh Encampment and fought off a British attack. They then went on to Valley Forge for the rest of the winter.

Pregame sleepover. In the mid 1900s, the Navy and Army football teams would often be found bunking up in the main dining room at Manufacturers’ when in town. The annual game between the two teams was hosted at the old Philadelphia Stadium, and the Army team would stay in the clubhouse and work out between the first and ninth fairways. Navy would also stay in the building when they were in town to play Penn. You can find a ticket to the 1963 Army-Navy game framed in the clubhouse.

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