Gary Panks, ASGCA Fellow, died March 19, 2024, in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He was age 82.
Born and raised in Michigan, Panks was interested in golf from an early age. He was captain of the golf team at Michigan State University, where he graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture.
Upon graduation, Panks held successive positions as a landscape architect or planning consultant for the New York Roadside Development, the Maricopa County (Arizona) Parks Department; the Department of the Interior and the City of Phoenix Parks Department.
He entered private practice as a landscape architect in 1971, and in 1978, began designing golf courses exclusively under Gary Panks Associates. He partnered with PGA Tour player David Graham from 1988-1997 to produce 10 well-reviewed courses under the Graham & Panks International name.
A member of the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame, Panks’ experience and ability as a player impacted his golf design and allowed him to create courses that are both memorable and enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels.
A list of Pank’s-designed courses includes: The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain, Phoenix; Grayhawk Golf Club (Talon Course), Scottsdale, Arizona; The Golf Club at Chaparral Pines, Payson, Arizona; Whirlwind Golf Club, Chandler, Arizona; and Twin Warriors Golf Club, Bernalillo, New Mexico.
Panks became an ASGCA member in 1995 and earned Fellow status in 2012.
