February 2026 FORE Newsletter

FOR E

A NOTE FROM PAULA KELLY

I hope that many of you have been able to escape to warmer and drier locations during the stretch of very wintry weather that we have experienced in this region. Fortunately, with each passing week, we inch closer to spring and the return of the golf season.

In exciting news, we will officially resume food and beverage service at the Clubhouse on Wednesday, March 4. Please see Jon Cichon's article on page 3 for more details on what the dining experience will look like during the first several weeks. We invite Merion members to commemorate this occasion at a Pavilion re-opening cocktail reception and dinner on March 4. I hope you will sign up on ForeTees and join us! In the meantime, we will waive food and beverage minimums through February; and members are welcome to dine at nearby Merion Cricket Club this month by calling their Front Desk to make a reservation.

Before we kick off a new season, I want to take some time to highlight a

few things related to the Merion team. In the winter months, members of our team utilize time to conduct trainings and attend important education or networking opportunities within the industry, such as the PGA Show, CMAA World Conference, and GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. These experiences always impart valuable knowledge and allow us to connect with our colleagues around the industry to share ideas.

We are blessed to have a strong team with many talented and hardworking individuals. Each year, we recognize those who go above and beyond through our Seasonal Spotlight Award. This honor is given to individuals nominated by their peers for embodying our core values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Respect, and Safety. Congratulations to our 2025 seasonal winners, who are pictured to the right.

From the four seasonal honorees, we select an Employee of the Year. This award recognizes an exceptional team member who consistently exemplifies our core values in their daily work. I am very proud to share that the 2025 Employee of the Year is Glenn Thomas. Glenn has been a member of the

2025 TEAM MERION SEASONAL AWARD WINNERS

restaurant staff for the past six years, and has been a vital asset to the Merion team during the Clubhouse renovation project. Please be sure to congratulate Glenn and our other seasonal winners if you see them around the Club. We look forward to seeing you around the Clubhouse again soon!

2026 U.S. AMATEUR PREVIEW: THEN & NOW WITH 2005 U.S. AMATEUR QUALIFIER DUSTIN PIMM Nate Oxman

Dustin Pimm competed in the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion. Pimm grew up outside of Salt Lake City and became one of the top high school golfers in the state of Utah by the time he was a teenager. He played in the 2003 U.S. Junior at Columbia Country Club, and his first U.S. Amateur test was in 2004 at Winged Foot. Pimm missed the cut at Winged Foot after qualifying rounds of 81-83, but used the experience as motivation.

"I always look back on that tournament as the one that changed my outlook," Pimm said. "I made a goal to really figure out my golf game and what I needed to improve on, and I think that's what got me ready for Merion that next summer."

Pimm started the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Philadelphia Country Club, where he got off to a rough start and shot a 76. He refocused his mind and rebounded with a 69 at Merion the next day. He qualified for match play but lost his firstround bout against Nick Thompson, the brother of Lexi Thompson.

CLICK HERE FOR THE Q+A WITH DUSTIN PIMM

While he did not advance farther, Pimm fondly remembers his experience at Merion, including memories of having his friend Matt Lupinacci caddie for him during the championship.

"Every time that we're together, he always talks about how special it was. It's something I will always remember and treasure. I loved Merion from the get-go. Merion is so special," Pimm said.

CLUBHOUSE CORNER Jon Cichon, Executive Chef

At the time this issue of FORE was being finalized, the Food and Beverage team was moving into the Lower Kitchen and Pavilion Pantry Kitchen, and setting up our new culinary spaces. After a quiet December and closed January, we look forward to serving our members again soon. We plan to resume Club dining on Wednesday, March 4, and I hope you will join us for a meal.

Because of where we are within the Clubhouse construction schedule, the dining offerings in the first several weeks of food and beverage service resuming will be a bit different than normal. Here is some key information to help plan your dining at Merion.

DINING AVAILABILITY

The Club will be open for lunch and dinner on its typical winter schedule, Wednesday through Saturday. All

seating will be in the Pavilion. We are excited to see members back in this space for the first time since construction broke ground in July 2024!

THEMED DINNER NIGHTS

To enable the culinary team to offer a variety of food to members within the current capabilities of our kitchen set-ups, the dinner menu will rotate each day. Each night, a limited menu within a specific theme will be available.

Wednesday—Family Night: Bring your family for a night at the Club with your Merion friends. We will feature a fun kids menu filled with new items, allowing them to choose their entrée, side, drink, and dessert. For the adults, a regular limited menu in a similar format will be available.

MERION BRIDGE CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

Wednesday, 2/4

Wednesday, 2/11

Wednesday, 2/18

Wednesday, 2/25

Thursday—Winter Dinner: This will be a great opportunity for Merion members to reconnect over the winter. In the fashion of our popular Winter Dinners from past years, a communal-style table will welcome all members to enjoy a set menu.

Lesson with David Rose

Lesson with David Rose; Men's Bridge Match (at Cynwyd)

Lesson with David Rose

Lesson with David Rose

WEDNESDAY LESSONS - 10:30 a.m. to Noon

WEDNESDAY DUPLICATE GAMES - 1 p.m.

THURSDAY DEAL, PLAY, DISCUSS - 1 p.m.

*Through February 25, Lessons and Wednesday game will be held in Merion Cricket Club's Sun Room

*Through February 26, Thursday "Deal, Play, DIscuss" games will be held at the Kent home

BRIDGE MIXED MEMBER-GUEST

Wednesday, April 29 11 a.m.

Mark your calendars!

Friday—Burger Night: Kick off the weekend with a casual menu featuring a few appetizer choices, a selection of burgers and sandwiches, and dessert.

Saturday—Prime Rib Night: Saturday remains Merion's classic prime rib special night. Enjoy a choice of soup or salad, entrée, sides, and dessert.

We hope that you'll join us for a meal starting March 4, as we continue to work toward our full reopening for the golf season. We look forward to seeing you around the Clubhouse again soon!

STRATEGIC PLANNING

CORNER: CLUBHOUSE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Basement & Pavilion Areas

In January, construction on the new Lower Kitchen and updated Pavilion Pantry was completed. In the weeks since, the Merion Food & Beverage and Clubhouse teams have worked diligently to ready these spaces, along with the main Pavilion room, for use. This included moving many items from the Pavilion, where the bulk of the Club's food and beverage supplies have been stored since July 2024, into their homes in the new storage spaces in the basement. The Pavilion will be ready to welcome members back for regular dining on March 4. Please join us that night with your family and Merion friends for a reception and dinner to celebrate the first step in our Clubhouse reopening!

Staff locker and restroom areas are being framed and are on track to open in late February. This will be an important milestone for the Merion team, which is looking forward to having its own dedicated facilities again.

First-Floor Member Spaces

Construction is moving along rapidly in all of the first-floor spaces. Much of the millwork is in place, and new hardwood floors are being installed room by room over the next few weeks. The majority of the Clubhouse is on track to open to members sometime in April; and the Upper Kitchen and Trophy Room will be completed a few weeks later.

Golf Operations

In the golf operations area, the new merchandise storage space is being framed, and the Barn area above the Golf Shop is being fitted out to give the team better space to complete administrative work. The gripping station is being relocated to create a more functional workspace. The changes to this area are mostly behind the scenes, but they will be visible to members in the form of better workflow for staff and greater ability to stock the Shop.

Men's Locker Room

Installation of the air-conditioning system in the Men's Locker Room is on track for the Locker Room to reopen at the start of the golf season. The changes are mostly behind the walls, but they will be very appreciated by our male golfers in the heat of the summer. Additionally, HVAC work is now being extended into the Champions, Jones, and Board rooms, completing the work of air-conditioning the Clubhouse member spaces; these areas, too, will be ready for the start of the golf season.

GOLF HIGHLIGHTS

Jack Davis, Director of Golf

Despite the frigid cold gripping much of the country, the game of golf continues to show strong momentum. Our team recently returned from the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, and it was one of the busiest shows we have ever seen. The enthusiasm behind the game and our industry remains robust.

We saw several established vendors invest in larger-than-usual setups, while many new companies and products are just beginning their stories. Merion, along with many private clubs in our region, can at times feel somewhat insulated from broader industry trends. The PGA Show provides a valuable annual opportunity to step outside our friendly confines and see how the golf business is performing. While the post-Covid golf boom has leveled somewhat, industry data points to a sustained “new normal,” with elevated play levels, continued growth in alternative forms of the game (such as simulators and off-course facilities), and a steady influx of new golfers.

For our team, the PGA Show was an outstanding opportunity to connect across the industry. We had numerous vendor meetings to preview upcoming lines and products for the year ahead, while also exploring potential new partners. Beyond retail, our staff attended educational seminars hosted by vendors and various golf organizations. Just as valuable was the opportunity to network — reconnecting with fellow PGA Professionals, vendor leaders and representatives we don’t often see at Merion, and enthusiastic PGM university students. We always appreciate the chance to exchange ideas and perspectives with so many people across the game.

Now that we’re back at Merion, we are finalizing our 2026 buying plan and continuing to introduce merchandise featuring the exciting 126th U.S. Amateur Championship logo. In the coming months, I look forward to introducing our 2026 PGM interns, highlighting key events—some of which have shifted due to our championship-year calendar— and sharing U.S. Amateur updates. Please review the recently released 2026 Club calendar to begin planning what should be a very memorable season at Merion!

Until then, stay warm, consider booking some time at the Learning Center, and enjoy the West Coast swing on television.

18- AND 9-HOLER WOMEN: REGISTER FOR THE 2026 GOLF SEASON

Merion's women's golf season is right around the corner! Online registration for the Club's 18-Holer and 9-Holer programs is now open. Please use the link below to complete your registration form.

• Your contact information provided in this registration will be included in the 2026 Women's Schedule Book directory.

• Please register by March 20, 2026.

• If you are signing up for Team Matches, you must also register with WGAP at wgapgolf.org.

• If you have any questions about registration, please email mikeboucher@meriongolfclub.com or bradymcdonald@ meriongolfclub.com.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

GOLF INSTRUCTION OFFERINGS

Stay sharp, have fun, and enjoy the offseason with a full lineup of winter lessons, clinics, and social events organized by Merion's golf professional team! Visit ForeTees for more information.

SAM PuttLab Putting Analysis & Fitting Day

Using the industry-leading SAM PuttLab system, the Golf Professional team will analyze 28 key metrics of your putting stroke and reveal how small adjustments can make a big difference. Video feedback and custom putter fitting provide actionable tips to improve consistency and accuracy.

WHEN: Friday, February 13, with one-hour sessions available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Learning Center

HOW to participate: Sign up on ForeTees under Lessons.

COST: $165 per putting lesson; $85 per putter fitting

Open Instruction Days

Sharpen your skills with small-group guided practice sessions hosted by Joanna and Nick. Each student will have access to an individual bay and Trackman.

WHEN: Saturdays through March 7 with sessions at 10 and 11 a.m.

WHERE: Learning Center

HOW to participate: Sign up on ForeTees under Golf Events.

COST: $60 per person with up to three students per professional

Women's 18-Holer "Play with Your Coach" Series

Join a member of the Professional Team on the West Course for small group, on-course playing lessons.

WHEN: Tuesdays beginning March 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE: West Course

HOW to participate: Sign up on ForeTees under Golf Events.

COST: $60 per person

TURF TALK Paul

Latshaw, Director of Golf Course Operations

This winter has already delivered recordbreaking snowfall, and team has spent several days over the last few weeks clearing driveways, walkways, and parking areas across the property. Once those areas are safe and accessible, our team returns to its winter projects and preparation for new and returning staff for the upcoming season. We have a world-class staff that takes great pride in training the next generation of turfgrass managers.

Each spring, we welcome a new group of turfgrass interns to begin their Merion journey. This year, due to staffing needs, we were fortunate to welcome two interns and two new Assistants-inTraining ahead of the normal schedule. Merion has one of the strongest internship programs in the country, and for many years, we have been fortunate to see these positions fill quickly.

In contrast, many clubs across the country are struggling to fill open turf positions, reflecting a broad and growing crisis in the turf management and golf maintenance industry. Many smaller private clubs have a tough time filling open Assistant positions, and public courses struggle to compete for quality Superintendents. The “farm system” is drying up. The trade shortage certainly affects our industry nationwide.

To help strengthen the future of our profession, we are proud supporters of The SuperScratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2020 to advance education and opportunities in turfgrass and agronomy. Its mission is clear—investing in the next generation. It states: Our partnerships with colleges, universities, and the golf community demonstrate our collective commitment to advancing the industry, encouraging members to feel part of a vital movement toward sustainability.

MEMBERSHIP

The foundation raises funds primarily through Superintendent-Amateur invitational golf events. In its first five years, SuperScratch has donated more than $300,000 to agronomy students and now supports over 15 universities. Its model draws inspiration from the highly successful J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, founded in 1958, which has awarded more than $30 million to over 4,000 caddies and golf operations staff, demonstrating the profound impact of sustained educational support.

Merion’s commitment to the future of golf course management highlights our role in industry sustainability, and it makes us proud of your role in shaping the profession's legacy. Penn State University is a great example as the national leader in turfgrass science, with programs dating back to 1957. Merion’s own history is intertwined with Penn State through the pioneering work of Joseph E. Valentine, whose innovations— including the development of Merion bluegrass—led to the establishment of the Joseph E. Valentine Turfgrass Research Center in 1970.

After preliminary screening, the Membership Committee publishes new candidates for membership in FORE, primarily for the scrutiny of our members. We welcome any information on these candidates, which will be treated confidentially.

CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP

APPLICANT PROPOSER SECONDER

Tyler Dunlap

Craig M. Tallent

John M. Ballbach (Son of Fred & Anne Dunlap)

Jeffrey M. Welsh

(Significant other to Leigh Wood)

Thomas D. Kent, Jr.

Thomas M. Balderston

IN MEMORIAM

Charles O. Rose, Jr.

Joan Warren

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Catherine Travaglini (Co-Chair) - (610) 291-0360

Ginny S. Williams (Co-Chair) - (610) 909-1670

Christopher H. Ray (Co-Chair) - (215) 287-1431

Olin M. Belsinger - (610) 647-0474

Christopher C. Dodson - (917) 617-8945

E. Michael Forgash - (610) 505-7585

Robert P. Good, II - (610) 247-5240

Sarah L. Hall - (267) 346-4300

Alexis C. Hollander - (610) 331-1135

Kimball H. Morsman - (610) 745-7729

Michael J. Selverian - (610) 212-3313

Richard C. Unger, Jr. - (610) 909-1066

Gerhard T. van Arkel - (610) 213-7175

Lee Warden - (610) 527-6664

Ashley E. West - (610) 608-1052

Your support—both as members and as ambassadors for the profession—plays a meaningful role in sustaining the next generation of turfgrass leaders. By investing in education, opportunity, and innovation, we help ensure the future of our industry and carry forward Merion’s long-standing stewardship of the game.

For more information, visit superscratchfoundation.org.

Robert T. Jones, Jr., was born in 1902. He was a sickly child who was encouraged to play golf as a means of building strength and endurance. The Jones family had a home near the Atlanta Athletic Club, where Jones played golf with his father and his friends, Alexa Sterling and Perry Adair. Jones took lessons from the East Lake Golf pro, Stewart Maiden. Jones also credited Douglas Edgar for the many golf games they played that helped refine his skills. Jones developed quickly into a child prodigy, winning tournaments by the age of six. Within a few years, Jones was contending for state and national championships. Jones defeated his father in the 1915 Atlanta Athletic Club championship. In 1916, Jones won the inaugural Georgia State Amateur Championship at the age of 14.

Jones played in his first national championship at the 1916 U.S. Amateur at Merion Cricket Club. This was the first time Jones played anywhere outside of the southern U.S. Jones qualified for match play and lost in the quarterfinals to Robert Gardner, the defending U.S. Amateur champion.

Seven years later, Jones captured his first major championship, the 1923 U.S. Open Championship at Inwood Country Club. Jones learned a lot in what he termed his “lean years.” He overcame the temper that hindered him as a boy, while learning how to score when he wasn’t playing well. The following year, the U.S. Amateur returned to Merion with Jones as the favorite to win the championship. After qualifying with a pair of 72s on the East Course, Jones handedly dispatched W.J. Thompson, D. Clarke Corkran, Rudolf Knepper, Francis Ouimet, and George Von Elm for the 1924 title.

The U.S. Amateur returned to Merion in 1930, six years and 11 major championships after Jones’s 1924 U.S. Amateur victory. Despite being a heavy favorite, the pressure on Jones was enormous—he was the current title holder of the 1930 British Amateur (won at St Andrews Old Course), British Open (Hoylake), and U.S. Open (Interlachen) championships, and was seeking to win the fourth major of the year. This was only the second time in his career that Jones would play in all four majors in the same year, coinciding both times with the Walker Cup being held in the UK.

Jones came to Merion in top form. For the sixth time, he won medalist honors with a qualifying score of 142 and was never challenged in any match. In the first two rounds of match play, Jones defeated C. Ross Somerville and F.G. Hoblitzel each by the score of 5-and4. In round three, Jones defeated Fay Coleman 6-and-5. In the semifinal match, Jones defeated Jess Sweetser 9-and-8. In the final match, Jones beat Eugene Homans 8-and-7, securing the victory on the 11th hole and capturing golf's elusive Grand Slam.

According to his grandson, Bob Jones, IV, Jones considered Merion one of his two favorite courses, along with the Old Course at St Andrews. Jones believed that “Merion’s greens are unquestionably among the best in the world. … Merion is not a course which requires great length off the tee. … All in all, Merion is a great course and a great place for a championship.”

What about the design of Merion’s East Course suited Jones so well? Though there were numerous architectural revisions over time, particularly prior to the 1924 and 1930 U.S. Amateur Championships, Jones had familiarity, success, and comfort in his favor.

1. Accuracy Over Power: Jones was long for his era, but his true edge was accuracy with every club. Merion’s narrow fairways, demanding angles, and penal rough rewards accuracy over length. Jones excelled at placing his tee shots for the ideal approach to the greens.

2. Demanding Iron Play: Jones was widely regarded as the greatest long iron player of his time. Merion’s firm greens are among the most exacting in championship golf. His ability to hit high, controlled iron shots allowed him to attack hole locations that others could not.

3. Strategic Course Design: Merion was designed to reward those with elite strategic minds. Merion East is relentless, and there are no easy holes. The course favors players who plan several shots ahead. Jones was famous for his analytical approach.

4. Firm and Fast Conditions: Jones understood how to use the ground game where options allowed. Where aerial shots were demanded, Jones hit higher than most of his competitors and was able to hold greens where others could not.