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WILL SMITH

Will digs a bunker at the Prairie Club

Will Smith came fairly late to the game of golf. While he played sporadically growing up in Washington D.C., it wasn’t till he attended Yale and had access to the Yale Golf Course that his love for the game truly began.

Will’s interest in golf course design was sparked by a round at the National Golf Links of America, C.B. Macdonald’s masterpiece in Southampton, NY. After reading all that he could on the subject, Will contemplated trying to become a golf curse architect but decided his history degree would be better suited for a job working for T & L Golf as an editor.

After a a few years Will grew restless and searched for a new carer path. At this time, Will and Colin made a trip to Bandon Dunes and were shown the first eleven holes of Pacific Dunes as it lay under hydro-seed. The setting sun highlighted the course’s spectacular rolling terrain. At that instant, Will knew that he wanted to pursue a career in golf course design.

Will hitting out of Hell Bunker

Will hitting out of Hell Bunker

Tom Doak gave Will his first construction job as a laborer at the Sheep Ranch and Will continued to work with Renaissance Golf as he completed his Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. After graduation Will worked at Sebonack and Ballyneal, two modern gems. He oversaw bunker renovation projects at Barrington Hills and Holston Hills.

In the summer of 2007 Will helped shaped Princess Anne Country Club with Kye Goalby for architect Tim Liddy and finished off the year shaping bunkers during the last phase of the restoration of Makenzie’s Pasatiempo.

This past winter Will completed a Master Plan for Frankfort Country Club in Kentucky. The course is currently in the planning stages with hopes to begin bunker renovation in the near future.  Will helped build the Lehman course at the Prairie Club in Valentine, NE. He shaped both bunkers and greens, working closely with Tom and Chris Brands.

The seveth hole at the Prairie Club

The seveth hole at the Prairie Club

COURSES WORKED ON:

Bunker renovation at Holston Hills

Bunker renovation at Holston Hills

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