Merion Golf Club’s East Course is available on E6 Connect. The classic 2013 US Open venue with its wicker basket flagsticks, white stone quarry bunkers, and claustrophobically narrow fairways is part of the Expanded tier library. You need the $600/year Expanded subscription to access it. No premium add-on purchase required.
Merion is the course that tells modern golf architecture to sit down and shut up.
While every other championship venue spent the last 30 years adding length and widening fairways to accommodate 350-yard drives, Merion stayed exactly where it was. The East Course measures 6,850 yards from the tips — shorter than the muni down the street. But Merion has hosted more USGA championships than any other course in America, and the 2013 US Open proved it can still test the best players in the world.
The secret is not length. It is the combination of the narrowest fairways in championship golf, rough that makes you think twice about missing, greens the size of postage stamps, and a routing that forces you to hit every club in the bag. A 6,850-yard course that plays like 7,500 because there is no room for error.
On E6 Connect, Merion is one of the most rewarding rounds you will play. Not because it beats you up. Because it makes you think.
How to Access Merion on E6 Connect
Merion is in the Expanded tier library. You need the $600/year Expanded subscription to access it. The $300/year Basic tier does not include it.
Unlike Pebble Beach, St Andrews, and Oakmont — which are premium add-ons at $15-30 each on top of the Expanded subscription — Merion is included in the Expanded library. No additional purchase. If you have Expanded, you have Merion.
Search for “Merion East” or “Merion Golf Club” in the course library. Make sure you are logged into an Expanded tier account.
What the E6 Version Gets Right
E6 Connect’s version of Merion is a professionally licensed build. Laser-scanned, reviewed by the club, approved for release. This is not a community LIDAR project.
The fairway widths. Merion’s fairways are the tightest of any championship venue in the last 40 years. On the 5th hole — a 500-yard par 4 — you stand on the tee looking at a fairway that is maybe 20 yards wide with a creek down the left. The correct play is a hybrid or long iron to the wide part. E6’s LIDAR data captures this corridor accurately. You will see the creek, respect it, and make the smart play.
The wicker basket pins. Merion’s signature feature. Instead of traditional flagsticks, the club uses woven baskets on top of the sticks. They are on the E6 version. They affect putting — a ball that hits the basket can bounce out instead of dropping. This is a small detail that most sim versions skip, but E6’s licensed build includes it.
The white stone quarry bunkers. Merion was built on an old stone quarry. The bunkers are lined with white stone, creating a distinctive visual contrast against the green fairways. On E6, this is rendered well enough to notice. No other course on the platform replicates this look.
What the E6 Version Gets Wrong
The green speeds. Merion’s real greens are famously fast. The 2013 US Open saw greens running at 13-14 on the Stimpmeter. The E6 version’s greens are firm but not that firm. You can hold approaches that would bounce over the back in real conditions.
The rough penalty. Merion’s real rough is the kind that makes you consider just picking up. Players who missed fairways by two yards were hitting wedge just to advance the ball 40 yards. The E6 version penalizes offline shots but not to that degree.
The Holes That Matter
Hole 1 — The statement. A 350-yard par 4 that is supposedly the easy opener. The fairway is narrow. The green is surrounded by bunkers. The smart play is a 3-wood to the widest part. The aggressive play is driver. Your decision on the first hole tells you what kind of round this is going to be.
Hole 5 — The 500-yard par 4. A par 4 longer than some par 5s. The creek runs down the left. The approach is to a small green with bunkers short and right. On E6, this hole plays exactly as designed: you hit a long iron off the tee, leave yourself 180-200 yards in, and try to hit the most accurate long iron of your life. The people who designed this hole were not interested in being liked.
Hole 11 — The quarry hole. The most famous hole at Merion. A 360-yard par 4 that plays through the old quarry. The white stone walls are visible on both sides. The green is tiny and protected by bunkers. On E6, this is the most visually distinctive hole in the round.
Hole 18 — The closer. A 530-yard par 5 with a creek crossing the fairway on the approach. The green is elevated. The clubhouse is in the background. The view from the fairway is one of the best closing-hole views in the Expanded library. Lay up short of the creek or go for it in two. The creek is waiting for the wrong decision.
How to Play Merion on E6
Set conditions to firm — at least 75% firmness. Wind at 5-8 mph. Back tees (the course is only 6,850 yards, you can handle it). Merion rewards smart play over aggressive play. Hit fairways. Hit greens. Do not try to be a hero. The short par 4s at 13 and 14 are where you attack. The 15th through 17th are where you survive.
The Verdict
Merion on E6 Connect is a solid version of one of America’s most historic courses. The official licensed build gets the important details right — the fairway widths, the wicker pins, the white stone bunkers. The greens are not as fast as the real thing and the rough is less punishing, but that is true of every sim version of every course.
The value is strong. Merion is included in the Expanded tier with no premium add-on charge. If you already have the $600/year Expanded subscription, you are playing one of the most strategic courses in the world for free.
Play Merion when you want to practice course management. It is not the longest course on E6. It is not the most visually dramatic. It is the most mentally demanding. Every shot requires a decision. Every hole presents a choice between safety and aggression. That is what makes it great.
For a full breakdown of how E6 Connect compares to the competition, read the E6 Connect Software Review. Want more course recommendations? See the full list in The Best Courses on E6 Connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does E6 Connect have Merion Golf Club?
Yes. Merion East is available in the E6 Connect Expanded tier ($600/year). It is included in the base Expanded library — no premium add-on purchase required.
Is Merion a premium add-on on E6?
No. Unlike Pebble Beach, St Andrews, and Oakmont — which cost $15-30 each on top of the Expanded subscription — Merion is included in the Expanded tier library. You need the $600/year subscription, but no additional course purchase.
How does Merion on E6 compare to Merion on GSPro?
E6 has the officially licensed, professionally scanned version with wicker pins and white stone bunkers. GSPro has community LIDAR builds that are free with the $250/year subscription. The E6 version is more visually polished. The GSPro version has more options and no tier restrictions.
What is the best E6 course for strategy?
Merion East is the best course on E6 Connect for practicing course management. The narrow fairways, small greens, and risk-reward decisions on every hole make it the most strategic round in the Expanded library.
Can you play Merion on the Basic E6 tier?
No. The Basic tier ($300/year) has a rotating course library and does not include Merion. You need the Expanded tier ($600/year) to access it.