The Springhaven Club was founded in October 1896, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in the country. The original location was at 5 Points (now Providence Road and Jackson Street) in Media. By 1903, the membership ranks had swollen to nearly 200 and the original 9 hole course simply could not handle the demand. In 1904, the Club moved to its current location in Wallingford.
Early that summer, the new 18 hole golf course and clubhouse were ready to open. It is believed that the course’s original design was attributable to one of its founding members, Ida Dixon. At the very least, she was the driving force behind the design, which makes her the first female golf architect in the United States. She later served as president of the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia (WGAP) from 1911 until her untimely death in 1916. The following year, Springhaven hosted the inaugural Ida Dixon Cup. Over 90 years later, the tournament continues to be played at Springhaven by some of the finest women golfers in the Philadelphia region.
Through the early part of the 20th century, the design was further shaped and molded by Horace Rawlins, winner of the first US Open in 1895 and Springhaven’s first head golf professional; Andy Campbell, a native of Troon, Scotland, who also competed in a number of US Open championships and served as the Club’s head golf professional from 1908 until 1932; and finally by William Flynn, the world famous golf architect whose list of accomplishments includes the design of Shinnecock Hills in Long Island and the Country Club in Brookline Massachusetts, as well as a number of fine courses here in the Philadelphia area.
Over the years, the course has evolved as additional land was purchased; however, it has remained remarkably true to its original design. There have been only two major renovations. The most recent renovation took place in 2005 when two existing holes were rerouted, two new greens were built, one hole was added and the closing hole lengthened. The result is a balanced par 70 golf course playing 6,181 yards from the white tees and 6,518 yards from the championship tees.
Throughout its history, the Club has hosted and continues to host numerous local and national tournaments. In 1949, Springhaven was one of 30 courses around the country selected as a US Open qualifying course. Over 60 years later, Springhaven has proved it is still more than capable of challenging a new generation of players and equipment. The Club has also hosted a number of sectional US Open qualifying rounds and did so again in 2010. In 2003, Springhaven was the site of the US Senior Open Qualifier where such notable names as Gary Koch and Andy Bean were among the 100 competitors on hand. Only four broke par.
The clubhouse has also evolved over the years but like the course, has remained true to its original design. In 1990, a $3.5 million dollar renovation updated the entire facility, and in 2005, another $1.1 million dollar renovation was completed. Today the 27,800 square foot clubhouse features four separate dining areas as well as lounges in the men’s and ladies’ locker areas. The Springhaven Room, which overlooks the golf course, and a 1,800 square foot patio that was added in 1999 can accommodate up to 220 guests and is an ideal setting for both wedding receptions and corporate events. The pool area features a large pool and wading pool for youngsters and also includes changing facilities and showers, as well as a fully stocked snack bar.
Springhaven is quite proud of its rich and storied past but we continually have our eye on the future. We have a strong, diverse and active membership. Surviving for over 100 years is an accomplishment of which we should be proud. Continuing to thrive for another 100 years is a challenge we believe we are well positioned to meet.
