The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) has chosen design duo Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw as the recipients of its ASGCA Donald Ross Award for 2021.
The annual award, given since 1976, is presented to those making a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture.
Crenshaw’s golfing career saw him become a two-time Masters champion. He then served as a player consultant on the design and construction of the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas course in Texas, before joining with Coore in 1985 to form a golf design firm.
Coore began his design career learning from Pete and Alice Dye. After working on numerous golf courses throughout the United States and Canada with them, Coore formed his own design firm in 1982 and completed courses at Rockport CC in Texas, Kings Crossing G&CC in Texas and Golf du Médoc in France.
Together, the pair have designed some of the world’s most highly rated golf courses, including Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska, Sheep Ranch in Oregon, Cabot Cliffs in Canada, Kapalua Plantation course in Hawaii, Streamsong Resort Red in Florida, Friar’s Head in New York and the new Te Arai Links in New Zealand. They have also renovated many courses, including Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.
“Ben Crenshaw embodies everything you could ever ask for in a golf professional,” said Forrest Richardson, ASGCA president. “When you combine his love for golf course architecture and his work with a respected golf course architect on an equal basis – hand-in-hand – there may be no better example of how the tour player can have a positive influence on the design of great golf courses.
“Bill Coore has always taken time to mentor young designers. Generations to come will benefit from his unselfish effort to pass along his philosophy and approach to creating great golf experiences. Together, Ben and Bill demonstrate the great benefit that comes from collaboration in our profession, especially when the work is carried out with balance and respect.”
The Donald Ross Award is presented by the ASGCA awards committee, co-chaired by Steve Smyers and Rees Jones (the 2013 Donald Ross Award recipient).
The award will be presented to Coore and Crenshaw in October as part of the 75th ASGCA Annual Meeting in Cleveland.