Club History

Middletown Country Club is celebrating 97 years of tradition in historic Langhorne, PA. Operated by the Agro Golf Corporation, the club remains one of the most popular layouts in Bucks County.  Originally founded as the Bucks County Country Club in 1901, the original course was a rudimentary 9-hole course that was located closer to Pine Road (Route 413).  The club moved to it’s current location in 1913. The rolling course layout was designed in 1913 by Scottish architect Alexander Findlay, who designed many courses across the United States, especially in the Phialdelphia area such as Burlington, Coatesville, Medford Lakes, Llanerch, and Pittsburgh Field Club.  PGA Tour player-turned architect George Fazio renovated several holes during his years of ownership of the club. Local golf historians will remember that Fazio dueled with Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum in a playoff during the famous 1950 U.S. Open at nearby Merion Golf Club. Originally known as Langhorne Country Club, recent renovations by Stephen Kay have made the layout play to a challenging 6,217 yards and a par of 69.  The 455-yard 16th hole is widely regarded as one of the most challenging holes in Bucks County. A long tee shot is needed to tackle a second shot that must avoid a pond and bunker in front and out of bounds long and right.

Mr. Hogan teeing off the old 1st Tee of Langhorne Country Club on May 10, 1941.

Middletown has a history associated with some of the game’s best.  During the late 1930’s and 1940s, exhibition matches featuring PGA Tour professionals and host professionals were commonplace.  Three exhibitions are known to have take place.  One featured PGA Tour pros Ted Turner, Henry Picard, and Leo Diegel along with host pro Al MacDonald.  A second included Tour players Picard and Vic Ghezzi along with MacDonald.  The feature match was played at Langhorne CC as part of Philadelphia PGA Golf Week. On May 10, 1941 the team of Al MacDonald and Joe Kirkwood Sr. (PGA Tour player and head professional at Huntingdon Valley CC) defeated Ben Hogan and fellow PGA Tour member Jimmy Thomson 1 up. MacDonald, the head professional for 29 years at Langhorne,  also served as the President of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA from 1951-1952.  Gary Player represented our club at the invitation of George Fazio during the beginning of his Hall of Fame career on the PGA Tour.  Johnny Miller also played here during his time in the Philadelphia area. Hollywood actor Michael Douglas also played Middletown while in the area.  Middletown has played host to several high school and college golf teams through the years, including Neshaminy High, Conwell-Egan, George School, Bucks County Community College, and Philadelphia Bible Univeristy.

Ben Hogan and Langhorne CC Head Professional Al MacDonald warming up in the current 18th fairway prior to their exhibition match along with Jimmy Thomson and Joe Kirkwood Sr.Jimmy Thomson tees off while Ben Hogan, Al MacDonald, and Joe Kirkwood Sr. look on.