McDonald Design Group has completed renovation work on the North course at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.

“Our goal was to update and improve the North course prior to it hosting the 2020 United States Women’s Amateur Championship in August,” said Joel Weiman, designer at McDonald Design Group.

“We have introduced strategic playing angles for skilled golfers, while maintaining a fun and playable round of golf for higher-handicappers through thoughtful bunker placement and dramatically increased fairway width – as demonstrated within the new home hole’s design.

“Our approach has also included the introduction of additional visual definition and artistry through new flashed sand bunkers, fine fescue out-of-play areas, and dew walks throughout the course.”

The project on Woodmont’s North course, which also regularly hosts US Open qualifying, has seen contractor McDonald & Sons rebuild the entire eighteenth hole and soften putting surfaces on the fifth, ninth and sixteenth to provide new pin positions. Bunkers have been rebuilt, with Better Billy Bunker liner installed, in addition to work on teeing grounds and extensive fairway alterations.

The project was completed over the past three autumn seasons to minimise disruption to play. Members will be able to play on the renovated course once Maryland’s temporary suspension of golf – due to the coronavirus pandemic – has been lifted.

Weiman says the firm is now also developing design strategies for the club’s South course.