Bidermann Golf Course

Bidermann Golf Club was originally the 9-hole private course of Henry Francis du Pont at his home estate of Winterthur. Du Pont, the club’s only member, hired architect Devereux Emmet to build him a course on his property. In 1963, du Pont was approached by his cousin and Bidermann’s founding member, George Weymouth, who believed that there was a need for a small, intimate club devoted solely to golf. Du Pont had enough land to complete a 15-hole course, but needed more property to finish a full 18-hole course and to have a place for a locker room and dining. So, he turned to his cousin, close friend and avid golfer Emily du Pont, who was able to provide the remaining property to complete the course and surrounding facility.

Bidermann officially opened on July 4, 1965 in Wilmington, Del. In the beginning, there was only one club rule: “ball must be lifted from any flower bed and dropped no nearer hole without penalty.” This remained the only club rule because Weymouth was insistent that given the size and quality of the membership, rules were unnecessary.

Architect Dick Wilson designed the course on a 300-acre site. In the golf realm, Wilson, an understudy of the iconic Bill Flynn and Howard Toomey, was considered one of the best architects of the post-World War II era. He designed 74 golf courses, including Cog Hill G&CC’s Dubsdread Course in Lemont, Ill. and Pine Tree GC in Boynton Beach, Fla., a track that Ben Hogan once called “the best I have ever seen.”

Bidermann offers a traditional style course, with native grasslands separating each golf hole. It was renovated and restored in 2006. In 1977, Bidermann GC merged with Vicmead Hunt Club to provide a full-service country club. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, its features include a driving range, putting green, chipping green, long range practice green, men’s and women’s locker rooms, pro shop and a farmhouse with terrace dining.