Edgmont continues its family-owned and charitable tradition

By Jeff Smith - Staff Writert

It wasn’t about hiring a nationally renowned architect, or a professional with a PGA Tour background.

It was about a family vision and developing a parcel of land that was perfect for golf.

Surrounding the scenic Ridley Creek State Park, Edgmont has developed quite a niche for itself.

The course was designed and constructed by Edgmont owners Frank and Nazz Mariani and Tanino “Tiny” Pedone—also the club’s first golf professional and the first dirt was moved on the property in 1963.

The search for the site of the course ended when Pedone, who had worked at Overbrook and Kimberton Golf Clubs, discovered the Barrows Estate on West Chester Pike in Edgmont Township. The property contained 183 acres of gentle rolling hillside and was within a few minutes of driving time of the western suburbs of Philadelphia. The property was also generously irrigated by the waters of Ridley Creek.

Photo courtesy of Edgmont Country Club

Today, the club is run by Nazz’s daughter Pam Mariani and son Peter Mariani, as it remains one of the few family-owned private clubs around.

The top emphasis for the club, which is located centrally between Media and West Chester, the past 45 years, is its work with charities.

In 1967, Bob Hope came to the club to host the Hope for the Blind Golf Tournament. After that, the club hosted several fundraisers for the U.S. Blind Golfer’s Foundation Inc. The club is also planning a 40th Anniversary celebration of Hope’s event in 2007. Over the years, Edgmont hosted tournaments for organizations involved with Parkinson’s, Hemophilia and Lukemia research and the Arthritis Foundation. Each year, Edgmont hosts a charity golf tournament and this year’s charitable recipient is the Delaware and Chester County Special Olympics.

The club may just a little over 40 years old, but a wealth of history surrounds this course.

The Mariani’s have made very few changes to the original clubhouse circa 1791. The main offices are located in the building, and it is home to an intimate dining area and outside porch area where you can watch fellow members play up to the 18th green. You also get a great view of the entire par 3 10th hole.

The Fireplace Room was a quaint family room on this early American estate with exposed beams and can seat 10-24 guests. The 1791 Room is located on the second floor and used to be the family’s master bedroom. It sits atop a spiraling staircase and has been decorated to fit the early American era. It now hosts bridal showers and intimate dinner parties complete with a private bar and dance floor. The Porch Room was once the front entrance of the building, and it houses the original cornerstone of the building. The large picture windows lend a nice view of the 18th green, and the backdrop is Ridley Creek State Park. The room can seat 35-60 guests.

For bigger parties, Edgmont built The Roof Top in 1997, which features high cathedral ceilings and large arched windows. It can seat 60 to 200 guests. The building is located adjacent to the pro shop and men’s locker rooms, which were formally the horse stables on the original estate.

Club History

The first record of Edgmont Township dates back to 1686, when Joseph Baker was listed as constable of Gilead Township, the original name of Edgmont and a portion of Thornbury Township. The township was incorporated in 1687 and officially settled on the name Edgmont in the 19th century.

In the early 1960’s the estate was sold to a group organized by Pedone. He had a vision of a top-notch, affordable private golf club for the average golfer. Beginning in April of 1963, the Nazz Mariani Company became partners in the project and became responsible for the course’s construction. Nazz Mariani provided the needed excavation experience to carve out the 18-hole golf course out of the rolling hills and wooded countryside along the picturesque Ridley Creek Valley.

See EDGEMONT, page 31