Union League Clubs - Torresdale vs National

[njlam]

I have been invited by a member to play these course once the pandemic is over.

 

Has anyone played either of them. If you had to play one first, which one would it be?

 

I understand both have gone thru major renovation since their acquisition by the ULC.

 

Hoping to play both, but have to choose one first.

Thanks in advance 

[MPAndreassi]

I’ve played Torresdale  a number of time after the renovation and used to play there almost weekly before, and it is absolutely beautiful. The restaurant is fantastic as well. I haven’t made my way to National yet, but have an invitation pending the pandemic also. The members I’ve talked to have said that National is in another level above Torresdale. The grand plan for National is to try to land a PGA Championship, from what I’ve heard at least. 

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Have only played Torresdale and loved it.  However, I would 100% pick National.  National appears so UNIQUE relative to other courses you could / would play.  My buddy who is a member sends me pics of National and it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in the area

 

Now, if I were playing a course 3 days per week, I’d definitely pick Torresdale

[Sir Larry Wildman]

National, 100%. No doubt. Both courses are good, but National is spectacular. 

[nfreda2211]

Sand barrens, which is now union league national, was my home course for about 10 years. When I was out there this summer I didn’t even recognize most of the holes. It’s incredible the amount of work they are doing out there. It could very well be considered a top 5 course in NJ when they are finished.

[njlam]

Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming!

 

@nfreda2211: top 5 in NJ? With all the great courses in NJ, that is a bold statement!

Having recently played Pine Valley (for the first time), it makes me excited to play National.

Looking forward to the end of the pandemic so cross country trips to play golf are not so risky.

 

Thanks again for all the replies. Feel free to add or embellish.

[nfreda2211]

52 minutes ago, njlam said:

Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming!

 

@nfreda2211: top 5 in NJ? With all the great courses in NJ, that is a bold statement!

Having recently played Pine Valley (for the first time), it makes me excited to play National.

Looking forward to the end of the pandemic so cross country trips to play golf are not so risky.

 

Thanks again for all the replies. Feel free to add or embellish.

I haven’t played most of the top rated courses in NJ. But I have played Galloway a few times which I think is 6 or 7 on the golf digest list. I think Galloway is a great course but I think UL will be better when they are done the renovations.

[nfreda2211]

It’s hard to believe you are in south jersey while you are out there

 

 

[MPAndreassi]

Just now, nfreda2211 said:

It’s hard to believe you are in south jersey while you are out there

 

 

 

I can’t wait for winter to be over so I can get out there in the spring. I have a friend who’s a Union League member and we never got the chance to go down there with the pandemic stuff this summer. 

[mtmgiants]

Have a buddy who belongs to the Union League who is a member at both courses.  I have probably played Torresdale 30+ times over the last few years and National around 10 times.  Both courses are great but it is easy to tell that National has become their baby.  They have completely redone 1 of the 9s and are in the process of completely redesigning the third 9.  If you can only choose one to play it has to be National,  they are separate memberships and the initiation fee at National is going to be astronomic in the next couple of years.

[Benzo]

National no doubt.

 

torresdale is fun, but doesn’t hold a candle to National.

[jibbs1082]

Torresdale is a cool old course. Clubhouse is great, food is great. Conditions are decent - love the nostalgia there, course isn't near the top of my favs for the area though. Union League experience is though, I would say.

 

National is next level.

 

Very interested to see when it starts cracking Digest's top in NJ

[njlam]

I see the Union League just bought a new course (Liberty Hiil).

 

Where does it rank compared with the others?

[jibbs1082]

I've played "Liberty Hill" as ACE several times.

Knocks were a weird stuffy clubhouse that was always a ghost town. Completely un-walkable (although I heard they were making people walk last week?? - maybe had a cart stationed between #5 and #6 which is a mile trek it feels like).

 

Pros: No one out there (will change with UL), TOP shape always, fun and gettable layout. Mint greens, great caddies.

 

I think National is their crown jewel, but excited to see what they do with Liberty Hill. Not much work is needed to be honest, just was stale and boring around the clubhouse, if that's even a complaint. I think UL affiliation alone will enhance the atmosphere there.

[MPAndreassi]

1 hour ago, njlam said:

I see the Union League just bought a new course (Liberty Hiil).

 

Where does it rank compared with the others?

 

I've played Ace a few times, before the UL take over, and really enjoyed it. I kind of prefer Torresdale for the historic and nostalgic feel of it, plus my parents got married there before the UL, and I used to play there a lot. I haven't played National yet, but I think the goal is to have that be their premiere course. Their long term goal is the have a PGA Championship there at some point. 

[jibbs1082]

15 minutes ago, MPAndreassi said:

 

I've played Ace a few times, before the UL take over, and really enjoyed it. I kind of prefer Torresdale for the historic and nostalgic feel of it, plus my parents got married there before the UL, and I used to play there a lot. I haven't played National yet, but I think the goal is to have that be their premiere course. Their long term goal is the have a PGA Championship there at some point. 

I second that... Torresdale oozes nostalgia which is what I think makes NE golf special. ACE plays like a modern mid-west, western states course, which is cool... just not my preference in this area of the country. ACE/LH can be a total monster if you play back, but generally landing areas are wide. UL has a pretty ridiculous portfolio right now for their members. Impressive.

[MPAndreassi]

8 minutes ago, jibbs1082 said:

I second that... Torresdale oozes nostalgia which is what I think makes NE golf special. ACE plays like a modern mid-west, western states course, which is cool... just not my preference in this area of the country. ACE/LH can be a total monster if you play back, but generally landing areas are wide. UL has a pretty ridiculous portfolio right now for their members. Impressive.

 

It's amazing the courses they scooped up. They were the best thing that could have happened to Torresdale. They were looking to sell off and develop it. I'm happy it got bought up and saved. it would have been such a disaster to lose that one to more housing in that area. I agree with what you said about the other courses as well, Torresdale really is the epitome of NE golf. The biggest benefit for the members down there is having some of each in the roster to go out and play. I don't know if you guys have seen the logo for Liberty Hill yet, but it's pretty cool. 

 

And here's a quick article about it for those interested.

 

https://clubandresortbusiness.com/union-league-of-philadelphia-to-acquire-ace-club/

 

[simsjim215]

A bold question perhaps, but how does one get information on membership without knowing a current member?  The Torresdale site beckons me because of my passion for old Philly golf.

[jibbs1082]

28 minutes ago, simsjim215 said:

A bold question perhaps, but how does one get information on membership without knowing a current member?  The Torresdale site beckons me because of my passion for old Philly golf.

Have to be a Union League member, and then buy into each club separately.

 

Initiations ballpark 25k for Torresdale, will be 50K for the others. I think 7ish per year annuals.

 

[njlam]

Its really visionary with ULC is doing with golf. 

 

An east-coast Olympic Club. Love it!

[simsjim215]

@jibbs1082  thanks for the info!  

[KMeloney]

On 3/16/2021 at 8:45 AM, jibbs1082 said:

Have to be a Union League member, and then buy into each club separately.

 

Initiations ballpark 25k for Torresdale, will be 50K for the others. I think 7ish per year annuals.

 

 

Also, UL members are allotted a few rounds per year at the various courses without having to "join" each/any of the golf courses. There are restrictions, but there's some access otherwise. 

[njlam]

that is probably great for marketing.

 

I wonder if UL members belong to more than one of their clubs, or if there are favorable reciprocal policies?

[KMeloney]

19 hours ago, njlam said:

that is probably great for marketing.

 

I wonder if UL members belong to more than one of their clubs, or if there are favorable reciprocal policies?

 

Yes, some do. You can specifically "join" (enjoy unlimited golf privileges at) one, a couple, all three, or none at all. Again, if you don't join any of them, you still can enjoy limited play across the three golf clubs by virtue of being a UL member. 

Edited March 24, 2021 by KMeloney

[KMeloney]

On 11/25/2020 at 11:03 PM, njlam said:

I have been invited by a member to play these course once the pandemic is over.

 

Has anyone played either of them. If you had to play one first, which one would it be?

 

I understand both have gone thru major renovation since their acquisition by the ULC.

 

Hoping to play both, but have to choose one first.

Thanks in advance 

Did you ever make it to National?

[njlam]

While I have played a lot of golf during the pandemic (Pine Valley/Beth Page Black/Trump Ferry Point/Torrey Pines/Aviera/Chambers Bay), I have yet to make it to Philly.

 

My son is starting college in August at a NJ school, so I will be close by. My ULC friend has made an open ended invitation to any/all of the courses and I am most anxious to play National.

Hopefully soon. Will post a review when I do.

[JCarl]

On 1/14/2021 at 9:36 PM, mtmgiants said:

Have a buddy who belongs to the Union League who is a member at both courses.  I have probably played Torresdale 30+ times over the last few years and National around 10 times.  Both courses are great but it is easy to tell that National has become their baby.  They have completely redone 1 of the 9s and are in the process of completely redesigning the third 9.  If you can only choose one to play it has to be National,  they are separate memberships and the initiation fee at National is going to be astronomic in the next couple of years.

It’s already $40,000 for 40 plus and $32,000 for 35 plus. The annual dues aren’t bad but you have to at least double them when you factor in the union league dues on top of that. 

[njlam]

I am scheduled to play Torresdale tomorrow and am very excited. 

 

Was able to make the reservation on relatively short notice so that is good. National was completely booked! Perhaps next time...

 

Played Baltusrol (Upper) yesterday, so my east coast swing is going well...

[sui generis]

25 minutes ago, njlam said:

I am scheduled to play Torresdale tomorrow and am very excited. 

 

Was able to make the reservation on relatively short notice so that is good. National was completely booked! Perhaps next time...

 

Played Baltusrol (Upper) yesterday, so my east coast swing is going well...

 

Good for you! I was a member there 25 years ago and even in those days it was a wonderful place to be. I was flying a GIV out of NE Philly and lived just around the corner in Andalusia. My wife and I were married at TFCC.

[njlam]

Unfortunately, a few holes in, thunder storms began and we were called in with a lightning warning. Tried to get out again after 90 minutes, but the lightning warning was called before another hole could be finished.

From what little I saw, the golf course is very nice, with some attractive elevation changes, and reminiscent of the Springdale golf course in Princeton, NJ.

The clubhouse is very nice and has some impressive history and traditions. Staff was excellent. I look forward to returning under better weather conditions.