Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. was a legendary golf course architect who left an indelible mark on the world of golf. Born on June 20, 1906, in Ince-in-Makerfield, England, he passed away on June 14, 2000, at the age of 93. Jones' career spanned over seven decades, during which he designed or redesigned more than 500 golf courses in 45 U.S. states and 35 countries.
Jones' passion for golf began at a young age when he worked as a caddie at The Country Club of Rochester and accepted a job as a golf professional at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club in New York. He attended Cornell University, where he studied golf course design, and later designed nine holes of the university's golf course, now known as the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University.
In 1936, Jones designed the Green Lakes State Park Golf Course in upstate New York, which was his first solo project. He was commissioned in 1990 to design the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the largest single golf design contract in history. The trail consists of 468 holes of championship golf on 26 courses at 11 sites across Alabama.
Jones was known for his innovative design techniques and his ability to create challenging yet beautiful courses. He was the first to consistently push layouts past the 7,000-yard barrier and introduced the use of earth-moving equipment to build artificial bodies of water and create severely penal hazards. Jones was also a pioneer in the field, helping to open up the game to the public and move away from the old school of golf, which had been for the social and sporting elite.
Some of Jones' most famous designs include the redesigns of the U.S. Open venues at Oakland Hills in Michigan, Baltusrol in New Jersey, and the Olympic Club in California. He also collaborated with Bobby Jones on the design of the Augusta National Golf Club, where he famously suggested damming Rae's Creek to create the spectacular beauty of the pond in front of the par-3 16th hole.
Throughout his career, Jones received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame and the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. His legacy is carried on by his sons, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees Jones, who are also renowned golf course architects.
Jones' passion for golf began at a young age when he worked as a caddie at The Country Club of Rochester and accepted a job as a golf professional at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club in New York. He attended Cornell University, where he studied golf course design, and later designed nine holes of the university's golf course, now known as the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University.
In 1936, Jones designed the Green Lakes State Park Golf Course in upstate New York, which was his first solo project. He was commissioned in 1990 to design the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the largest single golf design contract in history. The trail consists of 468 holes of championship golf on 26 courses at 11 sites across Alabama.
Jones was known for his innovative design techniques and his ability to create challenging yet beautiful courses. He was the first to consistently push layouts past the 7,000-yard barrier and introduced the use of earth-moving equipment to build artificial bodies of water and create severely penal hazards. Jones was also a pioneer in the field, helping to open up the game to the public and move away from the old school of golf, which had been for the social and sporting elite.
Some of Jones' most famous designs include the redesigns of the U.S. Open venues at Oakland Hills in Michigan, Baltusrol in New Jersey, and the Olympic Club in California. He also collaborated with Bobby Jones on the design of the Augusta National Golf Club, where he famously suggested damming Rae's Creek to create the spectacular beauty of the pond in front of the par-3 16th hole.
Throughout his career, Jones received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame and the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. His legacy is carried on by his sons, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees Jones, who are also renowned golf course architects.
List of Robert Trent Jones Sr. Designs
Adare Golf Club, Limerick, Ireland, 1995
Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course, Amsterdam (city), New York, 1938
Alpine Bay Golf Club, Alpine Bay, AL, 1972
Augusta National Golf Club (11th and 16th holes), Augusta, Georgia, 1947, 1950
Baltusrol Golf Club Lower Course, Springfield, New Jersey, 1952
Bellerive Country Club, Town and Country, Missouri, 1960[3]
Birnam Wood Golf Club, Montecito, California, 1967
Clube de Golfe de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil, 1960
Broadmoor Golf Club West Course (7th–14th holes), Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1964[4]
Cacapon Resort State Park, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia[5]
Carambola Beach Golf Course, St. Croix,[6] 1967
Centre Hills Country Club, State College, PA, 1965
Congressional Country Club Blue Course, Bethesda, Maryland, 1959, 1964
Country Club of North Carolina Cardinal Course, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 1981[7]
Country Club of North Carolina Dogwood Course, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 1980
Crag Burn Golf Club, East Aurora, New York, 1971
Durand Eastman Golf Club, Irondequoit, New York, 1933[8]
El Bosque Golf Club, Valencia, Spain, 1975[9]
Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1969
Firestone Country Club North Course, Akron, Ohio, 1969[10]
Firestone Country Club South Course, Akron, Ohio, 1960[11]
Firestone-South, Akron, Ohio, 1969
Gordon Lakes Golf Club, Fort Gordon, Georgia 1976
Golf de La Grande Motte (Les Flamants Roses), France, 1985
Greenville Country Club-Chanticleer Course, Greenville, SC, 1970
Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1963
Hancock Golf Course, Hancock NY, 1941
Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota, 1962[12]
Hominy Hill Golf Course, Colts Neck, New Jersey, 1964[13]
Ipswich Country Club, Ipswich, Massachusetts 1988
Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada 1983
Lido Golf Course, Lido Beach, New York 1949[14]
Luisita Golf and Country Club, Tarlac City, Philippines
Las Brisas Golf Club, Marbella, Spain 1968
Lyman Meadow Golf Course, Middlefield, Connecticut 1969
Madeline Island Golf Club, La Pointe, Wisconsin 1967
Marshes Golf Club, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Masterpiece at Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan, 1987
Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, New Jersey, 1987
MetroWest Golf Club, Orlando, Florida, 1987
Midvale Country Club, Penfield, New York, 1931[15]
Mission Viejo Country Club, Mission Viejo, California, 1967[16]
Montauk Downs, Montauk, New York, 1968
North Hills Country Club, Manhasset, New York, 1963[17]
Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri, 1955
Olympic Club Lake Course, San Francisco, California, 1954
Oak Hill-East, Rochester, New York, 1955, 1967
Panther Valley Country Club, Allamuchy, New Jersey
Pauma Valley Country Club, Pauma Valley, CA, 1961
Peachtree, 1949
Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 1958[18]
Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda, 1970[19]
Portsmouth Country Club, Portsmouth, NH, 1957[20]
Pottawatomie Golf Course, St Charles, IL, 1939[21]
Quinta da Marinha Golf Resorts, Cascais, Portugal, 1984
Punta Borinquen Golf Club, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, 1940
Rancocas Golf Club, Willingboro, New Jersey, 1966[22]
Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, Cadiz, Spain, 1964[23]
River Shore Estates & Golf Links, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia, 1991
Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 1940
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama, 1992-2005
Royal Bercuit Golf Club, Grez-Doiceau, Belgium, 1967
Seven Oaks Golf Course, Hamilton, NY, 1965
Shady Oaks Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas, 1958
Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999
Speidel Golf Club-Jones Course, Wheeling, W.V.
Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach, California, 1966[24]
St George's Golf Course, St George's, Bermuda
The Greens at North Hills, Sherwood, Arkansas
The Golf Course at Half Moon,[25] Jamaica, W.I., 1962[26]
The Legends Country Club, Eureka, MO
The Springs Golf Course, Spring Green, Wisconsin
The Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY
The Wigwam Resort Gold Course, Litchfield Park, Arizona, 1965[27]
West Point Golf Course, West Point, New York, 1946[28]
Valderrama Golf Club, Cadiz, Spain, 1974[29]
Vidauban Golf Club(Le Prince de Provence), France, 1999
Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club, Killen, Alabama. 1961
Valley View Golf Course, Utica, NY, 1939
Yellowstone Country Club, Billings, MT, 1957/1958
Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course, Amsterdam (city), New York, 1938
Alpine Bay Golf Club, Alpine Bay, AL, 1972
Augusta National Golf Club (11th and 16th holes), Augusta, Georgia, 1947, 1950
Baltusrol Golf Club Lower Course, Springfield, New Jersey, 1952
Bellerive Country Club, Town and Country, Missouri, 1960[3]
Birnam Wood Golf Club, Montecito, California, 1967
Clube de Golfe de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil, 1960
Broadmoor Golf Club West Course (7th–14th holes), Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1964[4]
Cacapon Resort State Park, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia[5]
Carambola Beach Golf Course, St. Croix,[6] 1967
Centre Hills Country Club, State College, PA, 1965
Congressional Country Club Blue Course, Bethesda, Maryland, 1959, 1964
Country Club of North Carolina Cardinal Course, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 1981[7]
Country Club of North Carolina Dogwood Course, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 1980
Crag Burn Golf Club, East Aurora, New York, 1971
Durand Eastman Golf Club, Irondequoit, New York, 1933[8]
El Bosque Golf Club, Valencia, Spain, 1975[9]
Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1969
Firestone Country Club North Course, Akron, Ohio, 1969[10]
Firestone Country Club South Course, Akron, Ohio, 1960[11]
Firestone-South, Akron, Ohio, 1969
Gordon Lakes Golf Club, Fort Gordon, Georgia 1976
Golf de La Grande Motte (Les Flamants Roses), France, 1985
Greenville Country Club-Chanticleer Course, Greenville, SC, 1970
Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1963
Hancock Golf Course, Hancock NY, 1941
Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota, 1962[12]
Hominy Hill Golf Course, Colts Neck, New Jersey, 1964[13]
Ipswich Country Club, Ipswich, Massachusetts 1988
Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada 1983
Lido Golf Course, Lido Beach, New York 1949[14]
Luisita Golf and Country Club, Tarlac City, Philippines
Las Brisas Golf Club, Marbella, Spain 1968
Lyman Meadow Golf Course, Middlefield, Connecticut 1969
Madeline Island Golf Club, La Pointe, Wisconsin 1967
Marshes Golf Club, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Masterpiece at Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan, 1987
Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, New Jersey, 1987
MetroWest Golf Club, Orlando, Florida, 1987
Midvale Country Club, Penfield, New York, 1931[15]
Mission Viejo Country Club, Mission Viejo, California, 1967[16]
Montauk Downs, Montauk, New York, 1968
North Hills Country Club, Manhasset, New York, 1963[17]
Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri, 1955
Olympic Club Lake Course, San Francisco, California, 1954
Oak Hill-East, Rochester, New York, 1955, 1967
Panther Valley Country Club, Allamuchy, New Jersey
Pauma Valley Country Club, Pauma Valley, CA, 1961
Peachtree, 1949
Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 1958[18]
Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda, 1970[19]
Portsmouth Country Club, Portsmouth, NH, 1957[20]
Pottawatomie Golf Course, St Charles, IL, 1939[21]
Quinta da Marinha Golf Resorts, Cascais, Portugal, 1984
Punta Borinquen Golf Club, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, 1940
Rancocas Golf Club, Willingboro, New Jersey, 1966[22]
Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, Cadiz, Spain, 1964[23]
River Shore Estates & Golf Links, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia, 1991
Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 1940
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama, 1992-2005
Royal Bercuit Golf Club, Grez-Doiceau, Belgium, 1967
Seven Oaks Golf Course, Hamilton, NY, 1965
Shady Oaks Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas, 1958
Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999
Speidel Golf Club-Jones Course, Wheeling, W.V.
Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach, California, 1966[24]
St George's Golf Course, St George's, Bermuda
The Greens at North Hills, Sherwood, Arkansas
The Golf Course at Half Moon,[25] Jamaica, W.I., 1962[26]
The Legends Country Club, Eureka, MO
The Springs Golf Course, Spring Green, Wisconsin
The Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY
The Wigwam Resort Gold Course, Litchfield Park, Arizona, 1965[27]
West Point Golf Course, West Point, New York, 1946[28]
Valderrama Golf Club, Cadiz, Spain, 1974[29]
Vidauban Golf Club(Le Prince de Provence), France, 1999
Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club, Killen, Alabama. 1961
Valley View Golf Course, Utica, NY, 1939
Yellowstone Country Club, Billings, MT, 1957/1958