Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses

The English-American golf architect Robert Trent Jones didn't invent golf course architecture, it just seems that way.

During his 70 year career he designed or re-designed more than 500 golf courses in 35 Countries and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987. His golf deisgn philosophy was to make every hole a hard par but an easy bogey.

Robert Trent Jones Facts

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail holds the accolade of the largest golf course construction project ever attempted; a collection of 26 golf courses on 11 different sites across the state of Alabama. This collection of public courses certainly confirms Trent Jones' reputation as one of the finest golf course architects the game of golf has seen.

Featured Courses on the Trail

Other Courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Silver Lakes - (Backbreaker, Heartbreaker, Mindbreaker, Short Course)
Lakewood Club - (Azalea, Dogwood)
Hampton Cove - (Highlands, River, Short Course)
Highland Oaks - (Highland, Magnolia, Marshwood, Short Course)
Cambrian Ridge - (Canyon, Loblolly, Sherling, Short Course)
Magnolia Grove - (Crossings, Falls, Short Course)

Robert Trent Jones was born in England to Welsh parents in 1906 and the family emigrated to America around 1911. The family settled in East Rochester, New York where Robert became the golf professional at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club.

While attending Cornell University, Jones designed his own course of study to become a professional golf course designer. Studying landscape architecture, agronomy, horticulture, hydraulics, surveying, public speaking, and economics. During his time at Cornell he designed the back nine of the course there, returning in 1954 to complete the front nine.

After receiving his college degree, he joined up with Canadian architect Stanley Thompson to design several courses in Canada. In the late 1930s Jones parted company with Thompson to design a few local American courses on his own.

Shortly after the Second World War, Robert collaborated with golf legend Bobby Jones in designing the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. Being impressed with RTJ Bobby Jones requested that he redesign the 11th & 16th holes at Augusta National. With the similarity in names some people confused the two men so Robert began using the middle name "Trent" to avoid confusion.

Robert Trent Jones courses are noted for their artistic landscaping, general use of water hazards, creative use of bunkers and strategic placement of greens encouraging a high level of strategy. Jones philosophy was that golf should be a "hard par, easy bogey" game with his designs encouraging bold play.

During the 1950s, he was said to be earning around $600,000 a year from his golf design business, no one other than Ben Hogan earned more money from golf at that time. His designs range from US masterpieces such as Hazeltine National in Minesota and Spyglass Hill in California to Spannish greats of Sotogrande and the 1997 Ryder Cup course Valderrama.

Jones was married to Ione Davis, who was very business savvy, keeping his design business accounts healthy. They had two sons, Robert Trent Jones Jr and Rees Jones. Ione passed away in 1987, the same year Robert would be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. It was also the same year he received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, GCSAA's highest honor.

Jones continued designing golf courses well past the usual retirement age, often working on several at the same time. Health problems eventually prompted him to retire to his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His final course, the Southern Highlands Golf Club, was completed in 1999.

Robert Trent Jones is one of the world's most acclaimed golf course designers and his work in the UK and Ireland hasn't gone unnoticed. The Roman Road Golf Course at The Celtic Manor has welcomed not just The European Tour but also a host of top amateur and celebrity events since its opening in 1995. The undulating terrain sees the course meander around the Resort Hotel with some stunning views across the Usk Valley and surrounding Welsh countryside. The course is very playable for golfers of all handicaps and is a fair test of golf for those able to keep it on the fairway and avoid the well-placed bunkers and water hazards.

Yorkshire's Moor Allerton Golf Course is a hugely popular option in Leeds, within easy reach of the likes of Moortown and Alwoodley, Robert Trent Jones was able to create a course that rewards boldness off the tee with forced carries over the fast running turf. With views across towards Leeds and the surrounding areas, it is easy to see why so many venture here each year.

Those heading to Ireland can enjoy one of Robert Trent Jones' most underrated designs, The Cashen Course at Ballybunion. Should the course be located anywhere other than next to top-rated Old Course at Ballybunion, it would surely receive many more plaudits than it currently does. Framed by stunning dunes, this windswept links masterpiece has welcomed golfers to this corner of South West Ireland since 1984 and is a highly recommended visit.

Europe is home to some of Robert Trent Jones' most played golf courses. Whether it is the ultra-exclusive and impeccably conditioned Real Club de Sotogrande in Southern Spain, the home of the Molinari brothers and European Tour host, Royal Park I Roveri Golf Club in Italy or the tree-lined Pinhal Golf Course in Vilamoura, golfers enjoying a Jones designed golf course are in for a treat.

While these three golf courses differ in location, the design ethic remains, asking questions on every shot and rewarding those who find the right levels off the fairway and into the green.

Robert Trent Jones has left his mark on American Golf with some stunningly beautiful layouts which are suitably playable for golfers of all abilities. The award-winning Broadmoor Resort in Colorado is arguably the jewel in Jones' crown. The spectacular views offered here are simply incredible, golfers heading here can be assured of a truly memorable stay of a resort that has banked countless awards in the world of travel.

Golfers heading to South Carolina should be sure to experience Jones' course at Palmetto Dunes, while the course looks like a simple proposition off the tee, the use of water is one that that is sure to wreck even the most meticulous of golfers.

The incredible weather on offer in Arizona has created a wealth of amazing golf courses, the challenge offered at The Wigwam Resort is typical of that enjoyed in this area. His Gold Course measures an impressive 7,345 yards off the tee and has welcomed golfers since 1965 with it being considered "Arizona's Monster".

Bermuda
Port Royal Golf Course
Mid Ocean Club

France
Golf de Bondues
Golf de Sperone

Italy
Pevero Golf Club
Castelgandolfo Golf Resort
Castelconturbia Golf Club

Morocco
Palmeraie Golf Club

Portugal
Quinta da Marinha
Santo da Serra Golf Club
Troia Golf Club

Spain
El Bosque Golf Club
La Canada Golf Club
Los Naranjos Golf Club
Real Club De Golf Las Brisas

Switzerland
Geneva Golf Club