It is now all but official that the Washington State Golf Association will purchase the new course at the Dupont Dynamite factory clean up site. Final papers are to be signed Wednesday May 23.
With the much discussed Chambers Bay course this opening will provide two 7500+ yard courses within a few miles of each other.
Dupont was designed by Mike Asmundson out of Scottsdale. The project was undertaken on the mostly flat site of the Dupont factory as an environmental clean up. Also on the Dupont parcel is the location of the first settlement in Washington state, Fort Nisqually.
The course is built over a earthen cap and the turf is grown in a layer of Pea gravel. The drainage is excellent and the surface very firm. While the course has been playable for over a year, final reports to the EPA have delayed the final sale until now.
Highlights of the course beyond the firm fast condition are the Rosseque par three 12th, a particularly intriquing green complex on seventeen, and a two very good par 5's in #5 and #15.
Either Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier are visible on every hole making it very scenic. The property has few trees and is buffeted by winds that sweep across the high bluff overlooking Puget Sound.
While not as spectacular as Chambers the Dupont course provides a strong challenge and is a compliment to the nearby RT JonesII Course. USGA championships like the Mid Amateur, and Amateur could well be staged using Dupont as a qualifying course with Chambers used for the finals matches.
Considering the strong cadre of second tier public course at Gold mountain, Trophy Lake and McCormick Woods, and the local Privates; Tacoma Country & Golf (1907), Fircrest (Vernon Macan, 1924), Oakbrook Golf & Coutry Club (Reimer & Brout 1966) and Canterwood (R. Miurs Graves 198?), does the South Puget Sound warrant a look as a vacation stop?
The Pierce County government has bet $21 million on it. Is it enough for you to plan a visit?