
My 10 favorite golf course architects and their standout layouts
- Tom Doak. Doak has been the talk of the golf world ever since his Oregon coast meisterwerk Pacific Dunes created worldwide attention.
- Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. ...
- Tom Fazio. ...
- Pete Dye. ...
- Jack Nicklaus. ...
- Dr. ...
- Donald Ross. ...
- A. ...
- Jim Engh. ...
- David McLay Kidd. ...
Full Answer
Who are the best golf course architects?
Apr 03, 2018 · Pete Dye began his career as a golf course designer during his mid-30s after a successful career as an insurance salesman and an amateur golfer. His wife Alice joined Pete in his new career path and the two designed the nine-hole El Dorado course near Indianapolis. The nine holes are now part of the Royal Oak course at Dye’s Walk Country Club.
What are the best golf courses in the US?
May 07, 2021 · At the apex are clear leaders – as judged by volume of top courses in the U.S. – for both the Classic and Modern lists: Donald Ross earned design credit for 65 of the top 200 Classic Courses, and...
How do you design a golf course?
Feb 25, 2021 · The best solution for designers that wish to enter the market is the Total Pro Golf Course Designer. It is available in freeware and can be upgraded when you require more sophisticated designs. It offers to scale end gridlines making the design process straightforward.
How to design a golf course in your backyard?
Designs which include: National Golf Links, Chicago Golf Club, Shoreacres, Camargo, and Yale. They developed and designed some of the most amazing holes in golf. In fact, they had a repertoire of 22 holes that they designed. They called each one of these holes by name…Alps, Biaritz, Redan, Eden, Short, Long are a few of those names.

Who is best golf course designer?
Discover the Top Golf Course Designers in the CountryPete Dye. Born into a family of golf course designers, Pete Dye followed in his father's footsteps to become one of the most famous golf architects in the country. ... Arnold Palmer. ... Jack Nicklaus. ... Tom Fazio. ... Tom Watson. ... Gary Player. ... Ben Wright. ... Tom Jackson.Mar 12, 2021
Who is the greatest golf architect?
Donald Ross As one of the preeminent golf course architects of the early 20th century, he designed such notable courses as Oakland Hills Country Club, Oak Hill Country Club, Seminole Golf Club and Inverness Club.Apr 28, 2014
How much does Tiger Woods charge to design a golf course?
$2 million to $3 millionWoods's first-ever course design. The Asheville project, at a gated community called the Cliffs at High Carolina, had reportedly paid him $10 million. The usual fee for course design by a top architect runs $2 million to $3 million.Apr 2, 2011
Does Phil Mickelson design golf courses?
Mickelson National Golf Club is Phil's first golf course design in Canada and the centerpiece of Harmony, a 1,700-acre community built by partners Qualico Communities, Bordeaux Developments and Windmill Golf.
What is a golf course designer called?
Golf course architecture is a specific discipline of landscape design, with many architects represented in the United States by the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Some architects are highly successful professional golfers who went on to design golf courses.
What are Donald Ross courses known for?
Donald Ross' name has become synonymous with the very best in golf course design. His most famous creation is Pinehurst No. 2, which hosts the U.S. Open this week for the third time in the last 15 years -- and next week becomes the first course ever to host the men's and women's U.S. Open in the same year.Jun 11, 2014
Who is Tiger Woods personal assistant?
Agent - Mark Steinberg Mark Steinberg from Excel Sports Management is Tiger's long-time agent, with the pair working together since 1998.
Has Tiger Woods designed a golf course?
Even though Tiger Woods hasn't retired from professional golf, that hasn't stopped him from designing the golf courses. And he has designed around ten golf courses so far, including his own practice facility in the backyard.Sep 13, 2021
How much is a membership at Bluejack National?
"When people are looking for this kind of live-work-play staycation-style living, I wouldn't be surprised to see that accelerate," he said. Resort memberships sales rose 160 percent over the year to 50 in 2020, according to Bluejack National. Members pay $105,000 to join and annual dues of $15,000.Dec 29, 2020
What golf club does Phil Mickelson own?
The properties Arcis has acquired are three private clubs: The Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley. The Golf Club at Chaparral Pines in Payson. The Rim Golf Club in Payson.Aug 2, 2021
Which golf courses does Phil Mickelson own?
Mickelson and Loy already own Arizona courses McDowell Mountain Golf Club, Palm Valley Golf Club, Golf Club at Chaparral Pines, the Rim Golf Club and Stone Canyon Club.Feb 9, 2017
What golf course does Mickelson?
The Golf Club at Chaparral Pines which is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion David Graham and noted Scottsdale-based architect Gary Panks. The course originally opened in 1997 and was named one of Golf Digest's “Top 10 New Private Golf Courses in the U.S.” upon its opening.Sep 2, 2021
Who designed golf courses?
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1906 – 2000) Robert Trent Jones, Sr. has been credited with designing or redesigning over 500 golf courses throughout 45 states in the United States and 35 countries worldwide. Jones began his golf course architecture career after college as a partner with Canadian Stanley Thompson.
Who was the first golfer to design a course?
James Braid (1870 – 1950) Before getting into course design James Braid was first known as part of golf’s first “Great Triumvirate” of players along with Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor.
What was the first full length golf course in the United States?
The following year MacDonald expanded on his design to create an 18-hole course, making Chicago Golf Club the first full-length course in the United States. MacDonald’s next project began in 1908 with the construction of the National Golf Links of America, in Southampton, New York.
How many championships did Willie Park Jr. win?
Following in his footsteps Willie Park Jr. won 2 Open Championships of his own in 1887 and 1889. As his playing career was coming to a close Willie Park Jr. got into designing golf courses becoming one of the early golf course architects.
Where is the island green on the 17th hole?
In 1980 Dye’s course design at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, TPC at Sawgrass, opened in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida which features the infamous island green on the 17th hole. TPC at Sawgrass is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and The Players Championship annually.
Where was the first golf course designed?
The first golf course Maxwell designed was the Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Maxwell while not formally trained in golf course architecture became one of the finest golf course architects of the time and designed nearly 70 courses and remodeled around 50.
Where did Maxwell and MacKenzie work together?
Their work together include the Crystal Downs Country Club in Michigan, the Ohio State University Golf Course which Maxwell did the construction while MacKenzie did the design, the Melrose Country Club in Pennsylvania, and the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. The partnership ended after MacKenzie’s passing in 1934.
Where did Tom Doak study landscape architecture?
Tom Doak studied Landscape Architecture at Cornell University where he won a scholarship to travel to the British Isles, he then spent seven months on the road, literally living on the links.
Who worked with Tom Morris?
Donald Ross worked with Old Tom Morris at St Andrews in 1893 then spent part of the following season at Carnoustie before returning to serve under the Dornoch club secretary John Sutherland.
When was Coore and Crenshaw founded?
Coore and Crenshaw Inc. was established in 1986, but five years passed before the partnership made a real architectural impact when the Plantation course at Kapalua burst onto the scene in 1991.
Where was Alister MacKenzie born?
Alister MacKenzie was born in England, but his parents were Scottish and the family holidayed every year close to where his father was raised in the traditional Clan MacKenzie lands of Sutherland.
Where did Harry Colt study law?
Harry Colt studied law at Clare College, Cambridge. Twelve months after his 1887 enrolment, he joined the committee of the Cambridge University Golf Club and in 1889 became the club's first captain.
Who is Tom Fazio?
Tom Fazio. Born in the northwestern suburbs of Philadelphia, Tom Fazio entered the business of golf course architecture as a teenager in 1962, assisting his uncle George in course construction. Read More >>. Gozzer Ranch is Tom Fazio’s foremost design that nobody has heard of.
Who was the college team captain in 1957?
Pete Dye captained the college team in his youth before going on to qualify for the US Open in 1957. He won the Indiana State Amateur, took part in The Amateur in 1963 and played in five US Amateurs.
Who is the most famous golf architect?
1. Pete Dye. Born into a family of golf course designers, Pete Dye followed in his father’s footsteps to become one of the most famous golf architects in the country. While a great player himself, his real passion for the sport flourished when he put pencil to paper to bring his visions to life.
Who designed the Cliffs Valley Golf Course?
8. Tom Jackson. Being trained by two of the leading golf course designers –– George Cobb and Robert Trent Jones –– Tom ...
How many golf courses has Tom Jackson designed?
Being trained by two of the leading golf course designers –– George Cobb and Robert Trent Jones –– Tom Jackson has left his mark on 124 courses over the course of his 45-year career. Home to the fourth most scenic hole in the U.S. by Golf Digest, Jackson recognizes his work at The Cliffs at Glassy golf course as his best.
How many offices does Nicklaus have?
Originally finding inspiration in the legendary Pete Dye’s designs, the Nicklaus’ design company has come to be one of the most successful golf architecture firms with eight offices in six countries and over 300 completed courses.
How many PGA Tour titles did Arnold Palmer win?
Over the course of his career, he won 62 PGA Tour Titles and seven major championship wins including the Master’s Tournament, the U.S. Open Championship, and The Open Championship.
What is Tom Watson's goal?
Designed with the goal of “making golfers replay his courses over and over again”, Tom Watson marries beauty and playability in each of his creations. He has designed courses on three different continents –– earning his place among the greatest golf course designers.
Where is Jack Nicklaus' favorite golf course?
They include the Tralee Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland, Tradition Golf Club in La Quinta, California –– and his personal favorite, Old Tabby Links on Spring Island , South Carolina. 3. Jack Nicklaus. Known as the Golden Bear and considered the greatest professional golfer the sport has ever seen, Jack Nicklaus is also an accomplished course ...
Who is the best golf course designer?
Hanse has emerged in recent years as one of the world’s very best golf course designers. Golf aficionados have known him for quite some time thanks to projects such as Streamsong Black, Los Angeles Country Club South, the restoration of The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, and his masterful redesign of the Blue Monster at Doral.
Who designed the Blue Monster Golf Course?
Robert von Hagge was nothing if not prolific, designing over 250 courses in 20 different countries prior to his death in 2010. His most famous credit is consulting with Dick Wilson on the original ‘Blue Monster’ at Doral, a famously difficult course that played host to the Doral Ryder Open and then the WGC-Cadillac Championship on the PGA Tour until 2016. Perhaps his finest course is the gorgeous Les Bordes in France, which is consistently ranked in the top three courses in continental Europe. A staggering, beautiful achievement in golf course architecture, Les Bordes was originally a private course designed specifically for the inventor of the Bic pen and his friends. It’s now open to the public for limited ‘stay and play’ access, and everyone who plays golf here walks away breathless.
Where is Fenway Golf Club?
Despite a name that immediately associates it with Boston baseball, Fenway Golf Club is actually located just an hour’s drive north of New York City. An AW Tillinghast design currently under an ongoing restoration project from Gil Hanse, Fenway is notable for its steeply sloping greens and deep bunkering.
Where is Les Bordes?
Perhaps his finest course is the gorgeous Les Bordes in France, which is consistently ranked in the top three courses in continental Europe. A staggering, beautiful achievement in golf course architecture, Les Bordes was originally a private course designed specifically for the inventor of the Bic pen and his friends.
Where did Kyle Phillips get his degree?
Phillips received his degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State University and began working under legendary designer Robert Trent Jones Jr shortly thereafter. He made his name by taking on RTJII designs in Europe and the Caribbean, before starting his own Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design company in 1997.
Where is the 14th hole in San Antonio?
The signature par-5 14th is a beautiful hole, winding through ponds and requiring thoughtful precision on every shot. Situated near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from San Antonio, Rockport Country Club is well worth the trip.
Who is Jordan Fuller?
Jordan Fuller is a golf enthusiast, and he likes to travel around the world to experience a tee time at wonderfully designed and crafted golf courses. He is now mentoring and coaching his students to improve their play, especially in perfecting their golf swing plane.
Who installed the new hazards and greens on the golf course?
Hanse and Wagner installed new hazards and greens – and even several new corridors – making what Hanse has called “an entirely new course” on the same property. Hence, the course was placed on the Modern list even though golf began on that ground more than a century ago.
Who designed Pinehurst No. 2?
Colt, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Tom Doak all appear in the design credits, with Doak working in 2011 to restore the course more closely to Alison and Colt’s original intent. Pinehurst No. 2 was designed by Donald Ross.
Why is it impossible to add less-prolific designers to any such shrine?
Likewise, it would be impossible to add some less-prolific designers to any such shrine because the influence of their work lacks scale – their courses might be incredible, but there simply weren’t enough holes built for some designers to reach the highest peaks.
Who designed the original Sand Hills?
Other designers completed renovations to another designer’s original layouts. For example, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw did the original design for Sand Hills, while Rees Jones’ work on Medinah No. 3 was part of a series of renovations to Tom Bendelow’s 1928 layout, with more renovations planned.
Where was Ross born?
Born in 1872 in Dornoch, Scotland, Ross is credited with the design or renovation of more than 400 courses around the world. His lay-of-the-land style – before the advent of heavy, mechanical earth-moving equipment – has shaped the ethos for many of the best modern designers. And it wasn’t just volume for Ross.
Is single design credit rare?
Singular design credit is more rare on these Classics than on the Modern tracks . Work has continued on many of the Classics since 1960, so even Modern architects might appear in the credits for several of the Classics.
Does Fazio make the top 200?
Fazio is just as interested in his courses that don’t make the top-200 lists as those at the top, believing many of them to be worthy of higher ranking. “I’ll also say one other thing, not a facetious thing but on the other side of that list that has many of those top golf courses,” he said.
What is the first requirement for designing a golf course?
The first requirement for designing a golf course is to identify the land that the golf course will be built on. This will provide you with a blank canvas to start your masterpiece.
When was the last update for Golf Course Design Software?
Last Updated: February 25, 2021 by Nick Lomas. The fortunate golfers among us that can get into the design and building of golf courses, must know the best golf course design software. Contents [ show] The process of designing a golf course: Tips To Design A Course: Software. 1.
What is AutoCAD LT?
For use by experienced designers. AutoCAD LT is an add-on to AutoCAD specifically developed for the design of golf courses. It can be downloaded from the website. You can download a free trial version for 30 days but will have to purchase the software for professional use.
How many textured shapes are there in golf?
There are fifteen textured shapes predefined within the software varying in shape and color. Four types of tees are available in the freeware to place the tees according to skill level. Tees on golf courses are allocated into black, blue, white, and red.
What is recovery shot?
Recovery Shots. Unless the golfer hit a poor shot that goes deep into a hazard or out of bounds, allowing them to save face by having an option to recover back to the fairway or to the green. Quality recovery shots will remain with the golfer, or in the case of it being on TV, with the viewers for a long time.
Do golf course designers have to design by hand?
Golf course designers are in the privileged position that they do not have to do the design by hand anymore. Although many will start the design off on a piece of paper, the final product can now be done on design software.
Who was the first architect to design golf courses?
He is known as the first architect who sought to build beautiful golf courses. Additionally, Tillinghast employed a wide variety of design ideas to his courses and he had no self-imposed limits concerning golf course architecture and aesthetics.
What is Alister Mackenzie's greatest contribution to the world of golf course architecture?
Perhaps Alister Mackenzie's greatest contribution to the world of golf course architecture is his almost seamless blending of strategic golf course architecture with artistic beauty. Without question, Mr. Ross is the most prolific of the old school golf designers.
Where is Perry Maxwell's golf course?
Mackenzie has courses on the Monterrey Peninsula, the Sandbelt of Australia, and one that annually host a major golfing championship (The Masters), Perry Maxwell's gems are in northern Michigan, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Who is Tom Doak?
Tom Doak. Tom Doak is an architect that I think will continue to climb my Top Ten list as he builds more and more golf courses. He is already one of the greatest golf course architects of all-time with Unanimous Gems not only in the US, but on the international scene as well. Perhaps his landmark breakthrough was his design at Pacific Dunes, ...
Who is the old man with the long gray beard holding a golf club?
Tom Morris. Old Tom Morris is perhaps the most historic figure associated with the game of golf. He is that old man with the long gray beard holding a golf club in all the old golf pictures you've probably seen. He was the greens keeper at St. Andrews and has won the Open Championship many times over.
Who is Donald Ross?
Donald Ross is a genius in the field of golf course architecture and has left a lasting legacy that continues to entertain and confound avid golfers to this day. I think a strong case for making Mr. Colt the #1 golf course architect can be made. He, in fact, hired Alister.
Is Pinehurst #2 boring?
Pinehurst #2 maybe his crowning achievement, but you certainly can not overlook Seminole, Oakland Hills, Scioto, Plainfield, Oak Hill, Wannamoisette, or Inverness. His routing and strategic bunker placement seems to earn the highest of praise, yet his subtleness is often overlooked as boring by the novice golfer.
