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Robert Trent Jones, Jr. to receive ASGCA Donald Ross Award
02 Aug 2024
by AmateurGolf.com Staff

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Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.

ASGCA Past President Robert Trent Jones, Jr., founder of Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects based in Palo Alto, California, has been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the ASGCA Donald Ross Award. The award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Jones at the American Society of Golf Course Architects Annual Meeting in San Francisco, on Nov. 11.

Jones learned about golf at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York from the legendary Tommy Armour, who taught him the techniques of good golf form and captured his imagination with the game’s history. After studying geology and majoring in history and American studies at Yale University – where he played golf – and attending a year of law school at Stanford University, Jones joined the family business.

His earliest experience was working alongside his father, ASGCA Founding Member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., on Spyglass Hill Golf Club in Pebble Beach, California, and other projects in the 1960s. After apprenticeship with his father and running west coast operations, Jones expanded into Asia with solo international efforts.



In 1972, he formed his own firm. Known as an early advocate of environmentally sensitive golf course design, Jones continues to respect and embrace nature. His mantra is to, “listen to the land.” Jones has designed more than 300 golf courses in more than 50 countries on six continents, including: Chambers Bay Golf Course, University Place, Washington (host to the 2015 U.S. Open); The Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, California; and Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii.

In 2024, Jones’ long-time efforts to secure copyright protection for the creative work of golf course architects advanced with the introduction of a bill in the U.S. Congress, the Bolstering Intellectual Rights against Digital Infringement Enhancement Act (BIRDIE Act). The bill would update the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990, which provided copyright protection for buildings, to now extend the protections to include golf courses. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 7228, continues to be discussed by the Judiciary committee.

“Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is a living history of ASGCA and the profession of golf course architecture,” said ASGCA President Mike Benkusky. “The courses he continues to design around the world will be played for generations to come, and his commitment to the environment and securing for golf course architects the copyright protection of their work will have a lasting positive impact on the golf industry. He has come a long way from his first ASGCA Annual Meeting, when his father brought him along to serve as bartender.”

Jones becomes the third member of his family to be named Ross Award recipient. His father, ASGCA founding member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was honored with the inaugural award in 1976 and his brother, ASGCA Past President Rees Jones, received the 2013 award.

The Donald Ross Award is presented by the ASGCA Awards Committee, co-chaired by ASGCA Past Presidents Steve Smyers, ASGCA, and Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow.

Past Donald Ross Award Recipients

2023      Frank Jemsek, Jemsek Golf
2022      John Lawrence, The Toro Company
2021      Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, ASGCA, golf course architects
2020      Renee Powell, golf pioneer/player/course owner
2019      Joe Passov, golf writer
2018      President George Herbert Walker Bush, U.S. President
2017      Alice Dye, ASGCA Fellow, golf course architect
2016      Michael Bamberger, golf writer
2015      Bradley S. Klein, golf writer
2014      Maj. Dan Rooney, founder, Folds of Honor Foundation
2013      Rees Jones, ASGCA, golf course architect
2012      Bill Kubly, golf course builder
2011      James Dodson, golf writer/editor
2010      Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner
2009      Ron Dodson, sustainable golf advocate
2008      George Peper, golf writer
2007      Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, golf course architect
2006      Jim Awtrey, chief executive officer, PGA of America
2005      John Singleton, irrigation pioneer
2004      Thomas Cousins, philanthropist, urban golf developer    
2003      Bill Campbell, president, USGA, captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
2002      Byron Nelson, professional golfer
2001      Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA, professional golfer, golf course architect
2000      Jaime Ortiz-Patino, owner and president, Valderrama Golf Club
1999      Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
1998      Judy Bell, president, USGA
1997      Gene Sarazen, professional golfer
1996      Ron Whitten, golf writer
1995      Pete Dye, ASGCA, golf course architect
1994      James R. Watson, agronomist
1993      Brent Wadsworth, golf course builder
1992      Paul Fullmer, ASGCA executive secretary
1991      Michael Bonallack, secretary, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
1990      John Zoller, executive director, Northern California Golf Association
1989      Dick Taylor, editor, “Golf World” magazine
1988      Frank Hannigan, executive director, USGA
1987      Charles Price, writer, “Golf World” magazine
1986      Deane Beman, commissioner, PGA Tour
1985      Peter Dobereiner, “London Observer” columnist, author
1984      Dinah Shore, sponsor of women’s golf tournaments
1983      Al Radko, director, USGA Green Section
1982      Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA, golf course architect, historian
1981      James Rhodes, governor of Ohio
1980      Gerald Micklem, captain, Royal & Ancient
1979      Joe Dey, executive director, USGA
1978      Herb and Joe Graffis, founders, National Golf Foundation
1977      Herbert Warren Wind, “The New Yorker” columnist, author
1976      Robert Trent Jones, ASGCA, ASGCA founding member

ASGCA Background

Founded in 1946 by Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones and 12 other leading architects, the American Society of Golf Course Architects is a non-profit organization comprised of experienced golf course designers located throughout North America. Members have completed a rigorous application process that includes the peer review of representative golf courses. ASGCA members are able to counsel in all aspects of golf course design and remodeling and comprise many of the great talents throughout the golf industry.

Press release courtesy of the American Society of Golf Course Architects

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