Biography

Jerry Matthews, the renowned golf course architect, came into the industry in the 1960s when his father, W. Bruce Matthews, was making the most of a burgeoning market. Rooted in Michigan, Bruce established himself as the state's most prolific course architect. Upon his retirement in 1979, he handed over his Lansing-based firm to Jerry, who was then set up for huge success due to another course-building boom in the 1990s. The majority of Matthews's 81 courses are located in Michigan, with all but three situated in the so-called Mitten State.

Matthews's success soared in the early 1990s; five of the eight newly built courses in Michigan in 1991 were of his design. Between 1995 to 1997, he opened 17 new courses. One of them, Timberstone in Iron Mountain, remains his trademark, ranked third in Michigan by Michigan Golf Magazine. Several other Matthews designs have received recognition, including Elk Ridge in Atlanta (which has closed), The Majestic at Lake Walden, Buck's Run in Mt. Pleasant, Mistwood in Lake Ann, and Hawk Hollow in Bath.

Tracing back his start in the business to the age of 12, Matthews worked on his father's maintenance crew at Green Ridge Country Club. He achieved his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State, followed by a master's degree in urban planning. Despite these qualifications, Matthews returned to work with his father, adopting an architectural style that followed natural contours and rarely involved bulldozing.

In the later stages of his career, Matthews shifted his focus to renovation projects and environmentally-friendly designs, such as Northport Creek, a solar-powered course designed to minimize environmental impact. Matthews, who preferred Michigan to frequent travels, spent his career predominantly in his home state except for some rare ventures. Jerry Matthews passed away on September 15, 2022, at the age of 88.