Golf course architecture’s “renaissance man” recognized for six decades of course design and contributions as creative writer and journalist
BROOKFIELD, Wis. – ASGCA Past President Robert Trent Jones, Jr., founder of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects based in Palo Alto, California, has been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the ASGCA Donald Ross Award.
The award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Jones at the American Society of Golf Course Architects Annual Meeting in San Francisco, on Nov. 11
Jones learned about golf at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York from the legendary Tommy Armour, who taught him the techniques of good golf form and captured his imagination with the game’s history. After studying geology and majoring in history and American studies at Yale University – where he played golf – and attending a year of law school at Stanford University, Jones joined the family business.
His earliest experience was working alongside his father, ASGCA Founding Member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., on Spyglass Hill Golf Club in Pebble Beach, California, and other projects in the 1960s. After apprenticeship with his father and running west coast operations, Jones expanded into Asia with solo international efforts.
In 1972, he formed his own firm. Known as an early advocate of environmentally sensitive golf course design, Jones continues to respect and embrace nature. His mantra is to, “listen to the land.” Jones has designed more than 300 golf courses in more than 50 countries on six continents, including: Chambers Bay Golf Course, University Place, Washington (host to the 2015 U.S. Open); The Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, California; and Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii.
In 2024, Jones’ long-time efforts to secure copyright protection for the creative work of golf course architects advanced with the introduction of a bill in the U.S. Congress, the Bolstering Intellectual Rights against Digital Infringement Enhancement Act (BIRDIE Act).
The bill would update the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990, which provided copyright protection for buildings, to now extend the protections to include golf courses. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 7228, continues to be discussed by the Judiciary committee.
“Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is a living history of ASGCA and the profession of golf course architecture,” said ASGCA President Mike Benkusky. “The courses he continues to design around the world will be played for generations to come, and his commitment to the environment and securing for golf course architects the copyright protection of their work will have a lasting positive impact on the golf industry. He has come a long way from his first ASGCA Annual Meeting, when his father brought him along to serve as bartender.”
Jones becomes the third member of his family to be named Ross Award recipient. His father, ASGCA founding member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was honored with the inaugural award in 1976 and his brother, ASGCA Past President Rees Jones, received the 2013 award.
The Donald Ross Award is presented by the ASGCA Awards Committee, co-chaired by ASGCA Past Presidents Steve Smyers, ASGCA, and Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow.
Past Donald Ross Award Recipients
2023 Frank Jemsek, Jemsek Golf
2022 John Lawrence, The Toro Company
2021 Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, ASGCA, golf course architects
2020 Renee Powell, golf pioneer/player/course owner
2019 Joe Passov, golf writer
2018 President George Herbert Walker Bush, U.S. President
2017 Alice Dye, ASGCA Fellow, golf course architect
2016 Michael Bamberger, golf writer
2015 Bradley S. Klein, golf writer
2014 Maj. Dan Rooney, founder, Folds of Honor Foundation
2013 Rees Jones, ASGCA, golf course architect
2012 Bill Kubly, golf course builder
2011 James Dodson, golf writer/editor
2010 Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner
2009 Ron Dodson, sustainable golf advocate
2008 George Peper, golf writer
2007 Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, golf course architect
2006 Jim Awtrey, chief executive officer, PGA of America
2005 John Singleton, irrigation pioneer
2004 Thomas Cousins, philanthropist, urban golf developer
2003 Bill Campbell, president, USGA, captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
2002 Byron Nelson, professional golfer
2001 Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA, professional golfer, golf course architect
2000 Jaime Ortiz-Patino, owner and president, Valderrama Golf Club
1999 Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
1998 Judy Bell, president, USGA
1997 Gene Sarazen, professional golfer
1996 Ron Whitten, golf writer
1995 Pete Dye, ASGCA, golf course architect
1994 James R. Watson, agronomist
1993 Brent Wadsworth, golf course builder
1992 Paul Fullmer, ASGCA executive secretary
1991 Michael Bonallack, secretary, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
1990 John Zoller, executive director, Northern California Golf Association
1989 Dick Taylor, editor, “Golf World” magazine
1988 Frank Hannigan, executive director, USGA
1987 Charles Price, writer, “Golf World” magazine
1986 Deane Beman, commissioner, PGA Tour
1985 Peter Dobereiner, “London Observer” columnist, author
1984 Dinah Shore, sponsor of women’s golf tournaments
1983 Al Radko, director, USGA Green Section
1982 Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA, golf course architect, historian
1981 James Rhodes, governor of Ohio
1980 Gerald Micklem, captain, Royal & Ancient
1979 Joe Dey, executive director, USGA
1978 Herb and Joe Graffis, founders, National Golf Foundation
1977 Herbert Warren Wind, “The New Yorker” columnist, author
1976 Robert Trent Jones, ASGCA, ASGCA founding membe
