More than a century ago, a country club sprouted up in the affluent Wilmington suburb of Westover Hills and became a second home for some of the DuPont Company’s upper management executives.
Just 30 years later, the club was gone, moving a few miles up Route 52 to a more spacious location that would serve as the canvas for one of the top classic designs in the country.
Thanks to the repeated generosity of the DuPont family, the golf course that was left behind remained, and through the commitment of the city of Wilmington, which operates Ed “Porky” Oliver Golf Club today as a municipal facility, the golf course continues to flourish.
It’s a definitive parkland layout: both walker- and player-friendly. It won’t wow you aesthetically - although the Wilmington skyline is a pleasant sight from the first tee - or in enormity. Instead, it warms you with its subtle charm, beckoning the nostalgic golfer to come take a look.
I fell in love with Porky Oliver’s before I knew a single thing about the golf course, before I even knew who Porky Oliver was. Now that I’ve learned its history and his legacy, I’d be honored to call it my second home (if only I could find the time). The Philadelphia area has more than its fair share of fine daily-fee options, but given the choice I’d much rather make the short drive down I-95 to Porky’s. Check out my profile of Ed Oliver Golf Club on the In My Opinion page.