Architects who operate the courses they have designed

[Matt Schoolfield]

In another thread, it was mentioned that there are a lot of architects who operate courses. I'm curious which ones do and where those courses are?

[Sam Morrow]

Mike Young owns The Fields

[Tom_Doak]

I don’t believe it’s that common and it is usually a bad idea.  The clients who offer us a chance to g become part owners are generally uncertain and hedging their possibility of success, and there are lots of examples of architects losing their savings trying to save a favorite place.  For every Sweetens Cove (where Rob nearly lost his shirt before new investors helped him get over the hump), there are three places like The Pit or The Links of North Dakota.


Mike is not sentimental about his courses, just smarter at operating them than his original client, with less capital tied up in the place. 


For me, part ownership in St Patrick’s was riskier, and I got involved mainly to ensure it would happen, but also because the economics of operating a links course in Ireland are much better than in the USA.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Adrian Stiff designed and operates The Players. Pat Ruddy at The European.

[Tom_Doak]

Adrian Stiff designed and operates The Players.

And our friend Pat Ruddy, The European Club.

[Sean_A]

The guy who designed Covesea owns and operates it with his wife.

Ciao

[Kyle Harris]

I made the statement having grown up around (and playing) a few golf courses in Eastern PA which were designed, built, and operated by the landowners, usually a farmer with a golf itch. The green fees, to this day, rarely exceed $40 per throw.

Neshaminy Valley. Butter Valley Golf Port. Twin Woods. Macoby Run.

In Florida we have Mount Dora.

They serve their markets well.

[Greg Hohman]

Although Arnie was not the original designer at Bay Hill, do his ownership and design work there place him in the conversation? He owned Latrobe CC too. Did he do any design work there too?

Nicklaus = Muirfield Village.

[A.G._Crockett]

Denis Griffiths purchased Old Union in Blairsville, GA while it was under construction, and continued to own it for at least a few years.  I have no idea whether or not he still owns the course.

[Adam Lawrence]

As Tom says, Rob Collins is part of the ownership group of Sweetens Cove. The original owners, for whom he and Tad did the rebuild, decided before the course opened that they did not want to be in the golf business, and Rob took on its management under lease, going perilously close to bankruptcy on a number of occasions. Some years, and many scrapes later, Sweetens was bought by a consortium of real estate investors Mark Rivers and Skip Bronson, Tom Nolan, who is best known for previously running Ralph Lauren's golf apparel business, former tennis star Andy Roddick, and ex-footballer (and Tennessee legend) Peyton Manning.

[Ian Mackenzie]

In another thread, it was mentioned that there are a lot of architects who operate courses. I'm curious which ones do and where those courses are?

David Esler runs Black Sheep in the way west Chicago suburbs


https://blacksheepgolfclub.com/

[Bill Swenson]

I just joined Darmor Club in Columbus, Tx.  Hal Sutton designed the course and he is the GM.  Hal is on property almost every day. He seems really happy and content.  I think the course is fantastic and the club itself is special.  Simple and understated. Nothing but golf, a small lockeroom patterned after Cypress Point and a small clubhouse and dining facility. 

[David Cronan]

Fuzzy Zoeller designed and owned both Covered Bridge and Champions Pointe golf courses in Southern Indiana and during my handful of plays at each, was a presence at both. I remember one time doing a double take to confirm seeing him taking out and replacing the spikes in the shoes of a paying customer.


I think he sold his interests in both a couple of years ago.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Eric Bergstol Bayonne GC

[Doug Bolls]

Windswept Dunes in Freeport, FL was designed by Doug "Dozer" O'Rourke and is managed by his wife, Diann O'Rourke.
A very enjoyable course layout with a plethora of bunkers.

[Mike Worth]

I think Archie Struthers designed and then operated Twisted Dunes in Egg Harbor Twp NJ for around 10 years.

[Kyle Harris]

Eric Bergstol Bayonne GC

Forgot about this one. Pine Barrens in Lakewood is also in his portfolio, I think?

[Simon Barrington]

If I recall correctly, Willie Park Jnr. owned over 50% of Huntercombe GC on its founding, lost his shirt (partly due to costs of finding a suitable acquifer for the required water, as well as the locals pinching large amounts of sand!).
The course was then sold, by the Norwich Union Insurance Company, on to Lord Nuffield (founder of the Morris Motor Car Company) as a present for his wife.

[Stewart Abramson]

Eric Bergstol Bayonne GC

Forgot about this one. Pine Barrens in Lakewood is also. [size=78%] in his portfolio, I think?[/size]

And the NLE Minnesceongo which eas his first design

[Bruce Katona]

Stewart, Mike N & Kyle: Spot on regarding Eric.


Mikw W- Spot on regarding Archie.

[Joe Bausch]

Pines at Clermont (Clermont, NJ), a 9-hole course (it might surprise you!) by Vince Orlando.

[Paul Stephenson]

Brian Magee was a real estate developer turned architect who designed Black Bear Ridge and operated it until he passed away.  I think he may have gotten some help, but he is the architect of record.


It's his one and only course, and it's ranked in ScoreGolf's Top 100 courses in Canada.

[Simon Barrington]

JF Abercromby ruled the roost at The Addington


Herbert Fowler was a shareholder, Board Member, Managing Director and Secretary at Walton Heath


Possibly consider OTM at Prestwick (course not Club)?

[Edward Glidewell]

I'm pretty sure Ken Tomlinson was at least the partial owner of Tidewater in Myrtle Beach, although I know he doesn't now (don't know if he's even still alive).

[Dave Esler]

In another thread, it was mentioned that there are a lot of architects who operate courses. I'm curious which ones do and where those courses are?

David Esler runs Black Sheep in the way west Chicago suburbs


https://blacksheepgolfclub.com/

Dave Esler can confirm that Dave Esler does NOT run Black Sheep.

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