The longtime home of the LPGA Championship is heading toward a revamped look as one of its three 18-hole courses is to be converted to a practice facility.
The DuPont Country Club – which hosted the LPGA Championship from 1987 until 2004 – is in the midst of converting the full-length Monchanin course to a par 3 course and practice area. The other two full-length courses, Nemours and DuPont, will remain intact. (The LPGA Championship was played on the DuPont course.)
Located in Wilmington, Del., where it began life as an employee sports complex for the DuPont Co., the country club was purchased last year by heir Ben DuPont and former DuPont executive Don Wirth.
David Ferris, a designer with Sanford Golf Design – which is working with the course on the redesign – told Golf Course Architecture that the new layout will put the driving range near the clubhouse and parking lots so golfers no longer have to drive to hit a bucket before their round. An indoor practice facility will include simulator stalls equipped with TrackMan technology — that can also be opened up when weather permits to hit onto the range.
DuPont told the Wilmington News Journal that the upgrade will also include three new swimming pools and a large fitness center near the clubhouse.
Ground broke in January, and construction is being handled by the George E. Ley Co. Plans call for completion ahead of the American Junior Golf Association tournament in August, according to Golf Course Architecture.