MODERN ARCHITECTS

In the 1990s he created the first golf course in his home state – Commonwealth National. It still stands as one of the most difficult golf courses in the entire Greater Philadelphia area.

That effort was followed quickly by Palmer’s design at Blue Bell Country Club. Created under a different mantra, Blue Bell stands as the prime example of a successful members club.

In the 1990s, Gary Player created the vast golf course at the ACE Club. Purchased by the Union League, it has been renamed Union League Liberty Hill.

Local architects – such as Jim Blaukovitch (Quakertown) and Ed Shearon (Whitemarsh Township) have come along in recent years and added to Montgomery County’s rich golf tradition.

Among others, Blaukovitch designed Bella Vista Golf Club in Gilbertsville. Shearon, also active in New Jersey, received awardwinning acclaim for his design of Raven’s Claw Golf Club near Pottstown.

“I would be lying if I didn’t admit that growing up among so many golf courses designed by the all-time greats wasn’t a great source of inspiration to me,” said Shearon. “If you grew up next to Yankee Stadium, you have no choice but to love baseball. For a young golfer growing up in Montgomery County, it’s impossible not to appreciate great classic golf course architecture.”