BROOKFIELD, Wisconsin – Neil Haworth, ASGCA, died June 17, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was age 63.
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Haworth earned a bachelor of Landscape Architecture from University of Guelph in Ontario. In 1985 he joined the firm of Graham Cooke and Associates. Haworth moved to Singapore in 1990, where he established the Asian office of what was then Nelson & Wright, ultimately becoming chairman of the renamed Nelson & Haworth Golf Course Architects in 2000.
Nelson & Haworth – with business partner Robin Nelson, ASGCA – became known for designing award-winning, challenging and enjoyable golf courses that sit lightly on the land and incorporate elements of local cultural significance.
The company designed golf courses around the world, including in Australia, Canada, China, France, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.
At one point, Nelson & Haworth had designed nearly 10% of all courses in China.
Haworth himself was responsible for many of Asia’s top courses, including Shenzhen Golf Club in Guagzhou, China, and Shesha International Golf Club near Shanghai, home of the HSBC Champions tournament.
Following Nelson’s death in 2013, Haworth and Brett Mogg chose to retain the firm’s name of Nelson & Haworth in their partner’s honor.
Other Haworth-designed courses include: Royal Hills Golf Club, Bangkok, Thailand; Sun Island Golf & Country Club, Shanghai, China; TPC Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club, Malacca, Malaysia.
Haworth became an ASGCA member in 1996. He is survived by his wife Masha, and daughters Vivienne and Sophia.