Donald Ross, in the mid 40s and close to the end of his life, visited Aronimink and said, "I intended to make this course my masterpiece. Not until today did I realize that I built better than I knew".
Now, salesmanship aside, not many people in modern times have been able to determine the veracity of that statement. Extensive revisions to the course over the years by Dick Wilson (prior the the 62 PGA), George and Tom Fazio, and most extensively, Robert Trent Jones in preparation for the 1990's PGA Championship that never happened had effectively reduced the course to a Donald Ross routing with modern-style bunkering. Thankfully, the excellent greens were never changed much over the years.
I'm happy to report that Aronimink is back, thanks to a membership decision to return the course to its Ross roots. Architect Ron Prichard was brought in to bring the course back to the original Ross layout, including everything from foreshortened "top-shot" bunkering (such as on 13), to wonderful, diagonal bunkers 50 yards short of the green (such as on 3) that have new meaning when one finds the rough from the tee. Fairways have been widened, modern "fronting" bunkers have been removed, and Superintendent Rick Holanda has committed to providing firm and fast conditions.
On the face of it, one might think that these changes might somehow weaken the demands of this championship course. But, one would be wrong. Aronimink has always been a challenge, and remains so, only with somewhat different criteria.
Significant length is still a major factor, with the course playing at 7,152 yards to a par of 70 from the tips, although a more manageable and fun challenge can be had from the middle tees at 6502. However, the new, revised bunkering, particularly in the fairway, is lethal. Prichard built steep, grass-walled bunkers that are as difficult as anything I've seen. Many times the best option is an explosion back to the fairway, and given Ross's varied and staggered bunkers (as opposed to Jones's "pinched-in" bunkers only in the landing area for the top players) at all lengths from the tee, one has to carefully consider the minefield of problems confronting them from the tee before just slinging away.
The members, while conceding that the course now plays more difficult for most of them, seem enormously pleased and proud of the changes, and there is little question that it's a much more interesting and strategic course for most golfers than before. Many holes now again accommodate a running approach, which is a necessity for reasonable golf at that length.
It was my first time seeing Aronimink, and I was really surprised on what a superb piece of rolling property it sits upon. There are also any number of really good holes, including some medium length par fours that utilize the property really well such as 2, 6, 7, and 11, and a set of greens that are almost too severe at modern green speeds given some hole locations. I'm sure Ross didn't envision them stimping at 12-13, but knowing their intense speeds sure has one thinking on the approach.
From a challenge standpoint, Aronimink is one of those courses that could hold a US Open tomorrow. It has a fierce combination of length, strategic demands, and mind-bending greens that would hold up to the games of the world's best.
Still, two criticisms that I think hold true...one probably since inception, and the other related to the recent restoration work.
First, although Aronimink is clearly a superb course, with generally excellent restoration work, it has little of the variety and memorability that one associates with the greatest courses. I'd struggle to call any one individual hole "great", although most are very, very good. It just lacks some of the creative sophistication and surprise that many Ross courses do, until one gets to the greens. For instance, I think most here would enjoy a course like Plainfield (another recently restored Ross course) more than Aronimink for the greater variety.
Second, and this is a purely aesthetic criticism, I found the bunker surrounds to be of the "puffy, sodded" variety that seem to be the non de plume of a particularly prolific course construction contracting company whose work seems to be showing up everywhere these days. To be frank, too much of their work makes the previously unique and varied bunkers of so many courses look almost exactly the same, sans shape and depth. Bunker styles machine-stamped out like bottle caps are NOT where restoration work should be heading.
Still and all, it was a real pleasure to see Aronimink returned to its heritage. The club should be given every commendation and respect for their chosen direction, which I think most everyone on GCA would heartily applaud.