Rees Jones (born September 16, 1941) is an American golf course architect.

Life and career

Born and raised in

Montclair, New Jersey Montclair is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains, Montclair is a commercial and cultural hub of North Jersey and a diverse ...

, the son of legendary golf course designer Robert Trent Jones and the younger brother of golf course designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr., he attended Montclair High School. His first exposure to golf course design came as a boy when he would accompany his father surveying courses. After attending

Yale Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...

and graduate studies at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, he joined his father and older brother at Robert Trent Jones Incorporated. He helped his father on numerous courses until forming his own firm in 1974. He has designed, renovated, or restored over 260 golf courses in his career. Jones continues to design courses and currently lives in Juno Beach, Florida and has his offices in Montclair, New Jersey. Jones has earned the moniker "The Open Doctor" for his work in preparation for numerous major championships. He has also served as the president of the

American Society of Golf Course Architects The American Society of Golf Course Architects (abbreviated as ASGCA) is a professional organization of golf course designers in America. Founded in 1946, its members are actively involved in the design of new courses and the renovation of existi ...

. A noted environmentalist, he has been a vocal champion for the cause of

environmentally friendly Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that c ...

golf courses. Jones received the 2004 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, GCSAA's highest honor.

Golf Course Design

Rees Jones founded the golf course design firm of Rees Jones, Inc., located in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey in 1974. He was later joined by golf course architect Keith Evans. In 1984 Greg Muirhead (ASGCA) joined the team followed by Steve Weisser (ASGCA) in 1991 and Bryce Swanson (ASGCA) in 2000.

Courses designed

With Robert Trent Jones Incorporated

* Montauk Downs,

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

(1968) *Ocean Pines,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

(1971) * Turnberry Isle, Florida (1972)

With Rees Jones Incorporated

• Dacotah Ridge 2000 Morton Mn * El Caballero Country Club, Tarzana, California (2021 Redesign) Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1964 °Shoreline Golf Course, 1100 Pelican Road, New Bern, NC (1972)-Treasure Cove *Arcadian Shores,

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the "Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. Its ...

(1974)
Graysburg Hills
Golf Course huckey, Tennessee(1978) * Bear Creek, Hilton Head Island, SC (1980) * Black Hawk Country Club, Richmond, TX (1999) * Marriott's Griffin Gate,

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...

(1981) * Haig Point Club, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina (1986) * Pinehurst #7,

Pinehurst, North Carolina Pinehurst, officially The Village of Pinehurst, is a village in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 17,581, up from 13,124 in 2010 United States census, 2010. "Pinehur ...

(1986) *Carmel Country Club, South Course

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

(1988, 2009) – redesign *

The Country Club The Country Club, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the oldest golf-oriented country club in the United States. (The Philadelphia Cricket Club, founded in 1854, was the first country club for any sport.) It holds an important place in ...

Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline () is an affluent town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and part of the Greater Boston, Boston metropolitan area. An exclave of Norfolk County, Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Boston, Brighton ...

(1988) – restoration
Cherry Valley Country Club
Skillman, New Jersey (1991)
Duke University Golf Course
Durham, North Carolina (1993, 2021) – renovation *Talamore Golf Resort, Southern Pines, North Carolina (1991) *Gleneagles at the Equinox,

Manchester, Vermont Manchester is a New England town, town in, and one of two shire towns (county seats) of, Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,484 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Manchester (village), Vermont, Mancheste ...

(1992) – reconstruction *Atlantic,

Bridgehampton, New York Bridgehampton is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) on the South Fork of Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,756 at the 2010 census. Bridgehampton is in the town of Southampton, on Long Island. Shortly aft ...

(1992) * Sandpines,

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

, Oregon (1992) * The Oxfordshire Golf Club, Thame,

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

(1993) *Huntsville,

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre ( , alternatively or ) is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It ...

(1994) * LPGA International Champions,

Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona Beach is a coastal Resort town, resort city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. Located on the East Coast of the United States, its population was 72,647 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Deltona� ...

(1994) *Legend Trail,

Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale is a city in eastern Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Named Scottsdale in 1894 after its founder Winfield Scott (chaplain), Winfield Scott, a retired Chaplain Corps (United States ...

(1995) *Ocean Forest, Sea Island, Georgia (1995) * Atlanta Athletic Club – Highlands Course,

Duluth, Georgia Duluth ( ) is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. Located north of Interstate 85, it is approximately northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Duluth had a population of 31,873, and the United Stat ...

(1995) – redesign *

East Lake Golf Club East Lake Golf Club is a private golf club 5 miles east of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1904, it is the oldest golf course in the city. East Lake was the home course of golfer Bobby Jones (golfer), Bobby Jones and much of its clubh ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, Georgia (1995) – reconstruction *Ballantyne Country Club, Charlotte, North Carolina (1995) *Poppy Ridge,

Livermore, California Livermore is a city in Alameda County, California. With a 2020 population of 87,955, Livermore is the most populous city in the Tri-Valley, giving its name to the Livermore Valley. It is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisc ...

(1996) *Lake Merced Golf Club,

Daly City, California Daly City () is the second-most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and immediately south of San Francisco (sharing its northern border with almost all of San Francisco's southern ...

(1996) – reconstruction
The Currituck Club
Corolla, North Carolina (1996) * Charlie Yates Golf Course,

, Georgia (1998) *Greenville Country Club (Chanticleer), Greenville, SC (2002) – redesign * Royal Oaks Golf Club,

Moncton Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. Th ...

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

, Canada (2000) *Old Chatham Golf Club,

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

(2001) *

Torrey Pines Golf Course Torrey Pines Golf Course is a 36-hole municipal golf facility in University City, a community of San Diego, California. The course sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, just south of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Opened ...

La Jolla, California La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...

(2001) – reconstruction
The Golf Club at Briar's Creek

Johns Island, South Carolina Johns Island is an island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, and is the largest island in the state of South Carolina. Johns Island is bordered by the Wadmalaw, Seabrook, Kiawah, Edisto, Folly, and James islands; the St ...

(2002) – Golf Digest's voted Best New Private Course in America *Quintero Golf Club(Founders Course)

Peoria, Arizona Peoria ( ) is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a portion of it in the north is in Yavapai County. It is a major suburb of Phoenix. As of the 2020 cens ...

(2002) *The Oconee, Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia (2002) *Baker Hill, Newbury, New Hampshire (2003) – Golf Digest's voted Best Course in New Hampshire * Breakers Hotel Rees Jones Course,

West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lag ...

(2004) – reconstruction * Royal Montreal Golf Course, Blue Course (2004) * Bellerive Country Club,

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

(2006) – reconstruction * Cog Hill Golf & Country Club Dubsdread Course No. 4

Lemont, Illinois Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is a south-west suburb of Chicago. The population was 17,629 as of the 2020 census. The village is situated on a hillside along the south banks ...

– restoration * Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, South Course *Baton Rouge Country Club,

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...

– reconstruction *Stoney Creek Golf Course, Nellysford, Virginia – 27 holes * Broad Run Golfer's Club, West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania *Grand Niagara Rees Jones Course,

Niagara Falls, Ontario Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada, adjacent to, and named after, Niagara Falls. As of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census, the city had a population of 94,415. The city is located on the Niagara Peninsula along the western bank of the ...

, Canada *Lakewood Country Club,

Rockville, Maryland Rockville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, and is part of the Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fourth ...

*Golden Horseshoe Golf Club – Green Course,

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It had a population of 15,425 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern par ...

*Red Stick,

Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach is a city in and the county seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,354. Nicknamed "The Hibiscus City", Vero is situated about south ...

* The Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada * Piedmont Driving Club,

, Georgia (2000) *Santaluz, San Diego, California *Golden Hills Golf Club, Ocala, Florida – redesign * Waldorf Astoria Golf Club,

Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

(2009) *Falcon's Fire Golf Club, Kissimmee, Fl *Blackstone National Golf Club, Sutton, MA
Hell's Point Golf Club
Virginia Beach, VA (1982) *Greenbrier Country Club, Chesapeake, VA (1987) *Honey Bee Golf Club, Virginia Beach, VA (1988) *Bethpage State Park, Black Course, Farmingdale, NY (2015) – design changes *Charleston National Golf Club, Mount Pleasant, SC *Club at Viniterra, New Kent, VA (2009) * Carolina Country Club, Raleigh, NC (2016)

References

External links

ASGCA Architect's Gallery – Rees Jones entryRees Jones Golf Course DesignRees Jones BiographySan Diego Golf Course designed by Rees JonesAmerican Society of Golf Course Architects profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Rees American golf course architects American environmentalists Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni 1941 births Living people Montclair High School (New Jersey) alumni People from Montclair, New Jersey Yale University alumni