Which great players did NOT get involved with course design?

[David_Tepper]

Sam Morrow -

I don't know if Billy Casper ever designed a course from scratch, but his golf course management company (or at least the company with his name on it) is one of the largest in the business. It is hard to imagine he did not get his hands in the dirt at some point along the way.

DT

[Sam Morrow]

Sam Morrow -

I don't know if Billy Casper ever designed a course from scratch, but his golf course management company (or at least the company with his name on it) is one of the largest in the business. It is hard to imagine he did not get his hands in the dirt at some point along the way.

DT

I know about his company but just never heard his name mentioned in doing any work.

[Steve_Lovett]

Sam Morrow -

I don't know if Billy Casper ever designed a course from scratch, but his golf course management company (or at least the company with his name on it) is one of the largest in the business. It is hard to imagine he did not get his hands in the dirt at some point along the way.

DT

I know about his company but just never heard his name mentioned in doing any work.

Billy Casper was paired with Greg Nash. They had a presence in Phoenix for many years and did numerous residential subdivision golf courses - many for the Del Webb Company's retirement communities in Arizona and Nevada.  Not sure of Billy Casper's design role - but the company was known as "Casper | Nash"

[Sam Morrow]

Sam Morrow -

I don't know if Billy Casper ever designed a course from scratch, but his golf course management company (or at least the company with his name on it) is one of the largest in the business. It is hard to imagine he did not get his hands in the dirt at some point along the way.

DT

I know about his company but just never heard his name mentioned in doing any work.

Billy Casper was paired with Greg Nash. They had a presence in Phoenix for many years and did numerous residential subdivision golf courses - many for the Del Webb Company's retirement communities in Arizona and Nevada.  Not sure of Billy Casper's design role - but the company was known as "Casper | Nash"

Thanks!

[Howard Riefs]

Sam Morrow -

I don't know if Billy Casper ever designed a course from scratch, but his golf course management company (or at least the company with his name on it) is one of the largest in the business. It is hard to imagine he did not get his hands in the dirt at some point along the way.

DT

I know about his company but just never heard his name mentioned in doing any work.

A list of courses that Casper designed. Primarily in Arizona, Calif and Nevada. :

http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/billy-casper.html

[Sam Morrow]

Is Nash the guy working with Mickelson?

[Sam Morrow]

Did Tommy Armour do any design work?

[astavrides]

arnold palmer

[Duncan Cheslett]

I know about his company but just never heard his name mentioned in doing any work.

I'm sure my employees would say much the same about me!

 

[Tim Leahy]

Byron Nelson?
Lee Trevino?
Ben Hogan?

I played a course in Mazatlan in Mexico associated with the El Cid hotel that was supposedly designed by Trevino. It was lined with palm trees and every par 4/5 was a dogleg right.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Young Tom Morris?

[Philip Caccamise]

Nelson also designed the very good Avocet at Wild Wing Plantation (the only 18 holer they kept) with our own Jeff Brauer.

[Matthew Rose]

Jimmy Demaret was involved with Onion Creek, birthplace of The Champions Tour. I don't know about Craig Wood though. How about 2 of the most underrated golfers over, did Larry Nelson or Billy Casper ever design a course?

Larry Nelson did the Opryland hotel course in Nashville which briefly had a Champions Tour event. My dad played it once.

[Mike_Young]

With the exception of Jack Nicklaus I would say most have been about as involved in golf design ans Eddie Bauer was in the Ford Bronco Designs with his name on them...

[Tom_Doak]

Twenty years ago, Ron Whitten and I used to have a running competition to name the best player who hadn't yet put his name on a course design, and the most unlikely player who had.  It was really crazy how many guys were involved somehow.  My favorite in the latter category was Howard Twitty.

[Jud_T]

Moe Norman?

[Greg Tallman]

Byron Nelson?
Lee Trevino?
Ben Hogan?

I played a course in Mazatlan in Mexico associated with the El Cid hotel that was supposedly designed by Trevino. It was lined with palm trees and every par 4/5 was a dogleg right.

Marina 9 at El Cid... horrific, truly horrific. Lived in Mazatlan for 3 years and glad I got out... alive.

[Dan King]

If you count being involved with course design as hitting the opening drive, then you are going to have a hard time finding any great players not involved. If you count actual design work, the list is long.

Cheers,
Dan King

A big-name winner like Palmer is a modern King Midas. Everything he drinks, smokes, wears or drives can turn to gold. All he has to do is testify, yes, that's what I put on my hair, smoke, drink, wear, drive, swing and hit.
  --Tony Lema

[Jason Topp]

arnold palmer

Best response of the thread!

[Will MacEwen]

Twenty years ago, Ron Whitten and I used to have a running competition to name the best player who hadn't yet put his name on a course design, and the most unlikely player who had.  It was really crazy how many guys were involved somehow.  My favorite in the latter category was Howard Twitty.

I might see your Howard Twitty and raise you a Dave Barr.

[Matthew Petersen]

Is Nash the guy working with Mickelson?

His work at Whisper Rock (Lower) was with Gary Stephenson.

Greg Nash is on his own: http://www.gregnashdesign.com/#!

In looking at it, I've played more Greg Nash courses than any other designer.

[Tim Martin]

Jimmy Demaret was involved with Onion Creek, birthplace of The Champions Tour. I don't know about Craig Wood though. How about 2 of the most underrated golfers over, did Larry Nelson or Billy Casper ever design a course?

Larry Nelson did the Opryland hotel course in Nashville which briefly had a Champions Tour event. My dad played it once.

Nelson also did Centennial in Carmel NY. I can`t say I am a fan of this one.

[David Bartman]

Nearly every very good player is asked at some point to become involved at least a little in a local project.  This doesn't stop at Tour pros, it extends to good local amateurs as well.  Jay Sigel, for example, was involved when we built the first course at Stonewall ... he just didn't want to be listed as a co-designer because he valued his amateur status.

Why would being a golf course designer make you pro?  It seems its just the same as being a caddy?  or someone who works for a golf equipment company.  This is assuming he actually contributed to design of the course and wasn't just using his name recognition to promote the course.