It’s time to get the golf clubs ready to swing into American celebrations.
Next year is the 250th Birthday for the USA.
But the Philadelphia region is already partying — along with plenty of golf.
Tony Leodora shows us in the April 2025 episode of the Traveling Golfer.
Tony has a whole plan for us in the Philadelphia region that is getting ready now in 2025 to celebrate in 2026 America’s 250th birthday.
Start Celebrating 250th
Many of us will be attracted to something in this 2-year celebration window. So, we highly recommend keeping this show link handy because Tony has a long list of destinations in PA for exploring, food, drink, history, and of course golf.
First, Tony leads us into Valley Forge National Park with Rachel Riley, VP of Marketing for the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board. This is the winter encampment for General George Washington where we broke away from Britain and then fought for our independence. It is also the birthplace of the US Army. In fact, Valley Forge will have many more events through 2027 and 2028 commemorating the efforts and our victory in the Revolutionary War.
You will understand the military genius of General Washington and how choosing Valley Forge was the perfect strategic location that led to our Independence victory. Besides the 250th anniversary, Valley Forge is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a national park this July 4th in 2025.
Besides history, Valley Forge is surrounded by many malls like the King of Prussia Mall. Ther are also 2,000 restaurants in the region that offer a wide range of cuisines. In addition, there are loads of hotels and parks. It’s perfect for families.
But if you’re just with golfers, Tony reminds you that are more than 50 golf courses nearby as well.
As Tony says, “Imagine playing a round of golf amidst such historic grandeur!”
Golf Courses With History Too
And these courses have plenty of history and events that will create new history.
One of the courses is Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square in Delaware County. It will be the host of the 2026 PGA championship on May 11-17, 2026. . It’s a perfect Pennsylvania course with hills and elevated greens.
The last time the PGA was there was in 1962 when Gary Player won.
And yes, you can play Aronimink. It is a public golf course with a Donald Ross design that was refurbished in 2003 to recapture many of the Ross features that were diluted over time.
Another public course is the Jeffersonville Golf Club in Norristown, built in 1931, and another Donald Ross design.
It too needed renovations at the turn of the century. It has regained its prominence, as Tony and Head Pro Billy Mullen demonstrate, featuring a newly constructed clubhouse and banquet room, along with a Bunker Bar and golf simulators.
Another great course is the Merion Golf Club in Delaware County in Haverford Township. It’s private so you might not play it, but you can visit on August 10-16, 2026 for the 2026 US Amateur. One reason to attend this event is because the surroundings will allow you to get up close to the golfers during the tourney.
Plus, you will be able to feel the historic events from 1930 when Bobby Jones clinched his Grand Slam title and in 1950 when Ben Hogan won with his famous 1-iron shot. Not long after, he started a personal project called The Masters.
Tony also has you set up for the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s actually in the ballpark showing off its views and food. He doesn’t say this, but you know he’s pushing for the Phillies to make the 2026 World Series. My hope is they play the Boston Red Sox.
Wait, there’s more sports. World Cup Soccer will be at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles, on June 25, 2026.
Perfect For Everyone
All this means you need to prepare now.
Planning ahead: This is advisable because the 250th celebration and major sporting events may lead to accommodations filling up quickly. Book your trip at least a year in advance.
Visit in Late Spring or Early Summer: The weather in Philadelphia is ideal for golfing during these months, offering mild temperatures and lush green courses.
Family-Friendly Activities: Philadelphia is packed with attractions that cater to all ages. From interactive museums like the Franklin Institute to the historic tour of the USS Constitution, there’s something for everyone.
Explore Beyond Golf: Take time to savor Philly’s famous cheesesteaks, wander through vibrant neighborhoods, and dive into the city’s thriving arts scene.
One place Tony found that is perfect and a little out of the Philly hubbub is Marriott Philadelphia West Hotel in Conshohocken. Tony got the inside scoop from General Manager Brad Nuss about Conshohocken that is a vibrant, one-square-mile borough with big city conveniences. It has quickly developed into a hub of residential and commercial activity, becoming one of the most important professional centers in Montgomery County that is only 15 miles from downtown Philly. If you’re thinking about relocating here, its school district, the Center City Philadelphia, is highly rated and within close proximity to many leading colleges and universities.
So, you may be wondering why a golf show has so much other sports and activities involved. There is good reason: you can only spend up to 5 or 6 hours at a golf course playing, eating, drinking, and socializing. And golf leads you to so many things for you, your family, and your friends. That’s just one of the reasons golf is so popular.
Tell us what you’re thinking about doing for the 250th.
Watch here.
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Real John Daly is a Producer and fill-in Host for the Traveling Golfer. He writes and produces for the TGD Newswire at www.thegolfdirector.com. He is a former player on the Celebrity Players Tour who still holds a single-digit handicap. He was the host of Real TV, the groundbreaking reality show in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He is currently the Co-Creator and Co-Host of Undercover Jetsetter with Susan Anzalone, a show on travel, food, wine, mixology and, of course, golf. They show you how to jet set the world and at home. They also co-authored the book, The TV Studio In Your Hand: How to Shoot, Edit & Deliver the Easy Way on Your iPhone.
