The History of The DuPont Country Club

Located in historic Brandywine Valley, The DuPont Country Club, was incorporated on May 20, 1920, with a total of 600 members. Its first Board President was Mr. Leslie P. Mahoney. The first "clubhouse" consisted of a two-story frame house, a baseball diamond and grandstand. The property had formerly been used for gun club purposes.

A nine-hole golf course, named the DuPont Course, using clay tees and sand greens, was constructed in 1921. Eight tennis courts were also constructed. At that time, three additional courts were acquired from the Experimental Station Tennis Club.

By 1924, the Club membership had outgrown its original building and a new clubhouse was built on the grounds of the present Experimental Station. The land was leased from Mrs. Copeland who supplied the necessary stone to insure that the building would be made of stone.

Also at this time, an additional nine holes were added to the Du Pont Course and the first golf professional, Tommy Fisher, was hired. In 1929 additional tennis courts were added, bringing the number to fourteen. A second 18-hole golf course, "Nemours", was added in 1937. The membership at this time totaled 1700.

Because of expansion of the Experimental Station into a broadened research center, plans were made to construct a new clubhouse. Land from an adjoining farm was purchased in 1946 and a new 18-hole (designed by Alfred Tull) championship course, "The DuPont", was built that winter. Lawrence Therien had been appointed Clubhouse Manager and design work was started on the new clubhouse. On May 28, 1949, with a membership of 5,000, the present Georgian Colonial Clubhouse was dedicated with a grand ceremony.

Twelve tennis courts were also constructed at this time and the first Tennis Professional, Dan Martella, was hired.

In July of 1955 a third 18-hole course was built at our Louviers location in Newark, Delaware. The Louviers Locker Building was dedicated on May 26, 1956 and John Long was appointed Golf Professional. (Property since sold in 1994).

A nine-hole golf course, the Black Gates Course, was added at our Wilmington location in 1955. In 1965 it was enlarged to 18 holes and renamed "The Montchanin".

Lawn Bowling and Deck Shuffleboard facilities were installed in 1956.

Tennis was becoming a very popular year-round activity and, as a result, a tennis enclosure, with two courts, was added in 1970. Three additional tennis courts were added in 1972, and four-all weather tennis courts were constructed at Louviers in 1974.

The Black Gates Tennis Center with six enclosed courts, was opened in October of 1981. At that time, the two-court tennis enclosure was dismantled and converted to all-weather courts. A new state-of-the-art tennis building was built in 1996 with six indoor courts. This new structure replaced the bubble. Enclosed within is an award-winning fitness center. Currently, over 10% of the Club's membership use the fitness center.

1986 brought the first Mc Donald's LPGA Championship to the Club, which continues to be a highlight of the golf season. A "Major" event on the LPGA tour, the McDonald's LPGA Championship has remained one of the top fund-raisers in the country for children's charities. To date, this event has raised over $27 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides grants to not-for-profit children's programs around the world.

During December 1990, The DuPont Country Club grounds were increased by 60 acres with a purchase from the du Pont family's historic home site. A part of this purchase was the 28,000-square-foot du Pont Family home, renamed "Brantwyn" and renovated to accommodate Du Pont corporate and community business meetings, conferences, weddings, parties or other special functions.

Today the DuPont Country Club has a membership of over 6000 and is unequaled in world-class golf and tennis, its distinctive restaurants and social activities as well as facilities for weddings, private parties and meetings.