Biography
Raymond Hearn, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, is also the president and founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, Inc. With a career that's had a significant influence on golf courses in North and Central America, Hearn emphasizes the role of passion in his work. He's particularly invested in the renovation and restoration of existing courses, overseeing four such projects per year. This selective approach allows him to maintain a high degree of involvement in each endeavor.
Hearn's academic background is skillfully bespoke for his career, with multiple degrees in landscape architecture and agronomy, along with minors in golf course architecture and turfgrass science. He also won the Western Golf Association's esteemed Evans Scholarship in 1979 and earned Rainbird Irrigation's 'Man of the Year Award' in 1986. His mentor, late Robert Trent Jones Sr., advised that a diverse education would benefit his career, leading Hearn to gain his wide-ranging understanding of golf course design by studying with Dr. Keon Payne at Michigan State University.
His career has also been influenced by other celebrated names in the field. Notably, Hearn has studied the works of Dr. Alister MacKenzie and Pete Dye, who were instrumental in his admission into the ASGCA. His efforts have gained industry recognition as well, with accolades such as being named one of the most innovative golf course architects worldwide by Golf Inc. Magazine in 2014, and earning the American Society of Golf Course Architect's prestigious Design Excellence Award four times in a span of six years, from 2013 to 2018.
In addition to his work in architecture, Hearn brings a wide swath of knowledge in related fields. His experiences in land planning, soil science, horticulture, and golf course management have shaped his innovative practices. He also offers a golf course design class on the internet for developers and golf professionals, following the advice of mentors Jones and Dye to study courses overseas. Over 12 trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England have further informed his approach to golf course design.