Project

Rolling Green Golf Club

Scope

William Flynn Restoration

Location

Springfield, Pennsylvania, USA

Rolling Green Golf Club has a rich history and remains to this day one of Philadelphia’s most distinct hidden golf gems.  Acquisition of the property for the purpose of creating a golf course dates back to the early 1920’s, but the golf course itself was formally designed and built by renowned golf architect William S. Flynn in 1925.  The course opened for play with rave reviews the following year in 1926.

In early 2018, Rhebb & Johns were retained as consulting architects and began guiding the restoration and course improvement efforts at Rolling Green Golf Club. After extensive research and study of the original course design, the duo developed an evidence based long-range Restoration Master Plan for the club to consider.  The plan centered around faithfully restoring the 1926 design, its features, and the original playing characteristics and bold personality.  The Club also requested forward-thinking recommendations to assist with enhancing and improving every aspect of the property and its related facilities.

In late 2018, an exploratory one-hole construction pilot program was initiated by the club and the 6th hole, a challenging par 3, was successfully restored and on budget. Additionally, before and during the pandemic, ongoing tree management work and grass-line work successfully took place in years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

In early 2021, following the completion of the tree removal work and some course conditioning work, Rolling Green management decided to abandon the Restoration Master Plan efforts and hold off on any future work.

What they’re saying about Rolling Green

In all, Rolling Green is now closer to the version Flynn intended. This is a remarkable example of how much of an effect tree removal can have on bringing a course back to its classic design tenets. At any rate, Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns went about the tree removal the right way. I was treated to the splendor of the newly adjusted course in extravagant glory.

Chris MavrosGolfadelphia