Veteran US architect Bill Amick has been awarded the American Society of Golf Course Architects’ Distinguished Service Award.

Amick, who served as ASGCA President in 1977-78, is currently in his 52nd year as a practicing golf architect. He is the fifth to be honored in this way by ASGCA, following previous laureates Robert Trent Jones Jr, Jack Snyder, Larry Packard, and Ed Seay.

Florida-based Amick has devoted his career to designing affordable golf courses. His designs include Killearn Country Club and Halifax Plantation Golf Club in Florida and Gut Heckenhof Golf & Country Club in Germany.

2011 is the 52nd year for Amick’s architectural practice in Florida. His courses attract 

“ASGCA founder Bill Diddel first hired me as his assistant and allowed me to design bunkers and tees,” Amick said. “I watched him and saw he designed a golf course for people who would actually play it. He thought there should be smaller courses.

“Even today we need more smaller courses,” he continued. “They are easier to maintain, faster, less expensive and easier to play for beginners and families. This idea came home to me when I designed in Europe and watched people beginning on these small courses.”