Content area
Full Text
Ted Sr. Has 170 Courses to His Name, Ted Jr. Now Has 6
When it comes to golf courses, Ted Robinson is legend, and a brand name.
In a prolific 40-year-career, the Laguna Niguel-based golf course architect has designed or redesigned about 170 courses around the world. His projects have ranged from the Experience At Koele on Lanai in Hawaii and the Lakewood Oiso at Kanagawa Ken, Japan, to some of the best-known tracts close to home in Orange County, including Tijeras Creek Golf Club, Tustin Ranch Golf Club, Rancho San Joaquin and Santa Ana Country Club.
This past year, the PGA chose to play its 80th championship at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash., Robinson's favorite course, which he designed 26 years ago for $1.2 million - the cost of a single hole on a top-flight course today.
And if you want to know which designer pioneered Southern California resort and community courses, transforming flat desert into glistening oases of lakes. waterfalls and rolling green hills that meander around homes or hotels, it's Robinson. Among his courses in the Palm Springs area are Marriott Desert Springs, Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells Country Club and Ironwood Country Club.
Until his son joined him six years ago, Robinson was a solo act-a contrast to the design teams employed by most other big-name golf course architects.
"For many years he didn't even have a secretary," marveled Paul Fullmer, executive director of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. "Ted has done more golf courses as an individual than probably any other golf course architect in the country."
At age 75, Robinson is still turning out courses at the rate of four a year. But his company, Robinson Design Inc., is in the midst of both a generational and a corporate transition.
Ted Robinson Jr., 46, Robinson's only son, has gradually been assuming more responsibilities, making adjustments in the way the family business operates.
New Direction
Most noticeably,...