Biography

Robert Trent Jones, Jr., son of the renowned golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in the world of golf course architecture. Having a five-decade-long career, Junior designed or refurbished more than 300 courses on six continents and 40 nations, including nine that featured among Golf Digest's top 100 in 2013-14. Some of his widely known creations in the U.S. include Chambers Bay in Washington, Hawaiian attractions The Prince, Makai, Poipu Bay and Wailea, and the Californian gems Poppy Hills, the Links at Spanish Bay, CordeValle and Silverado. His career took him to different corners of the world which has resulted in him designing 12 of Japan's top 100 courses, four of China's top 10, and according to Golf Digest, the number one course in 10 countries and 10 U.S. states.

Jones was famous for building courses that communicated with their environment and utilized illusion and camouflage, a trait he shared with his father Robert Trent Jones, Sr. However, Jones also admired and sought to emulate A.W. Tillinghast, whose creative shot options provided golfers access to the green either through an easier route or by flying the ball to a tucked pin in a difficult location.

Jones' ambition has always been to differentiate himself as an artist in his field. He stated that his courses were akin to symphonies, characterized by their dominant themes, crescendos and lulls, and varying rhythms, bringing a sense of change for the players. His work in international projects, unhindered by environmental regulations and real estate ventures, enabled Jones to focus on enhancing his creative process.