Who Are the Greatest Golf Course Designers?
One of the coolest features of the current golf video game scene is the ability to build your course. Dabbling in this feature should highlight how difficult creating something beautiful and challenging can be. But maybe, if you look at who the greatest golf course designers of all time are, you can find your motivation.
Tom Watson
Watson has eight major championships to his name, but the run for his ninth captivated the world.
In 2009, the 59-year-old led in the British Open for most of the tournament, only needing a par on the 72nd hole to take home the Claret Jug. Unfortunately, Watson duffed his eight-foot putt, losing to Stewart Cink in a four-hole playoff.
Although Watson’s efforts came up short in 2009, that doesn’t take away from the fact he’s one of the finest course designers the game has ever seen. Watson’s primary goal with his courses is repeatability and enticing golfers to come back and shoot a round multiple times.
Gary Player
The South African native is no stranger to success, completing the career Grand Slam at the ripe young age of 29. Overall, “The Black Knight” had nine major championships in his tenure, but now his complete attention is on designing majestic courses.
Player and his architecture team have had their hands in designing over 400 courses globally, including Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. However, Player’s signature course is The Cliffs at Mountain Park, which gives you a taste of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.
Arnold Palmer
Like his patented drink, Arnold Palmer was an absolute delight. “The King” was a trailblazer on the pro golf circuit, from a charming golf enthusiast to the most popular player in the world during his heyday. He competed for six decades, taking home 62 tour titles and seven majors.
As dominant as Palmer was on the course, he might have made more of an impact designing them. Palmer designed over 300 courses in 37 states and 25 countries, with his most prominent course being Bay Hill Club in Orlando. The PGA Tour annually holds the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the club. However, Palmer’s personal favorite was Old Tabby Links on Spring Island, South Carolina.
Jack Nicklaus
When you think about professional golf greatness, the first name that comes to mind is “The Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus has the most career majors on the PGA Tour with 18, a record that seems safe now that Tiger Woods is unlikely to catch him. Aside from his numerous wins, Nicklaus used his golf expertise to design over 300 courses spanning six countries, including Punta Espada in Punta Cana, which you can explore on a high-definition golf simulator. Nicklaus credits one man for his inspiration for his course designs, the one and only Pete Dye.
Pete Dye
Pete Dye may not have the major championships the previous four golfers have racked up, but there’s no doubt that Dye’s impact on the game is as significant. Dye is a guru for course designs, creating stunning imagery with enough challenges to frustrate even the most accomplished golfers. The odds are, if you are in a country with a golf course, at least one of them was Dye’s design—considering you can find one in Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and North America.
Knowing the greatest golf course designers helps you create your course bucket list. Playing on one of their courses should be a lifetime memory, even if you shoot 120 over 18 holes.