Ben Wheeler 11/2/23 Ben Wheeler 11/2/23

Union League National Golf Club

Ask any golfer what their idea of the perfect golf course would be. Most would say some combination of perhaps the two most iconic courses, and most regarded, in America: Pine Valley and Augusta National. If you can imagine that, then you are imagining Union League National Golf Club. The Union League of Philadelphia, which owns Union League National, was founded in 1862 to support President Abraham Lincoln and The Union in the United States’ Civil War.

Ben Wheeler 2/16/22 Ben Wheeler 2/16/22

Fry/Straka going big at Union League National

Any discussion of Union League National begins with The Big Fill, a large-scale earthmoving effort — more than 1.6 million cubic yards in scope — that Fry/Straka created at the center of the 268-acre parcel. It rises to 78 feet above sea level, 56 feet above the original grade. However, its tendrils spread out hundreds of yards in half a dozen directions. The man-made ridgelines slowly but elegantly taper down, only to rise again and form new, smaller plateaus, from which other distinct ridge networks splinter off into the landscape.

Ben Wheeler 1/6/22 Ben Wheeler 1/6/22

22 notable golf course renovations to be unveiled in 2022

Creative approaches to golf course remodeling and authentic restoration efforts continue apace.

Ben Wheeler 3/9/20 Ben Wheeler 3/9/20

Pine Valley and Calusa Pines-inspired Union League project takes shape

Golf architecture firm Fry/Straka has completed 12 holes of a huge renovation project on the newly-named Union League National Golf Club in Swainton, New Jersey, and is now working on the club’s ‘Sherman’ nine.

Ben Wheeler 3/1/19 Ben Wheeler 3/1/19

Union League National - 2019 Master Plan

Below are excerpts from the monthly newsletter BANNER published by the Union League of Philadelphia, which provides a spotlight on the Master Plan for Union League National Golf Club.

Ben Wheeler 7/20/18 Ben Wheeler 7/20/18

Union League National

Inside Golf talks to Dana Fry about the transformation at Union League National.

Ben Wheeler 3/20/18 Ben Wheeler 3/20/18

Changes at former Sand Barrens course following Union League’s purchase

The Union League of Philadelphia has acquired the former Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton, New Jersey, and hired Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design to create a masterplan for the club.

The firm has been tasked with beginning the process of moving from a public and resort facility to an upscale private club, which will be known as Union League National Golf Club moving forwards.

GCA spoke to Jason Straka of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design to find out more about his firm’s plans.