Golf Architect Ted Robinson Dies

Theodore (Ted) G. Robinson, a Past President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, died Sunday March 2 at his home in Laguna Beach, Calif., after a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 84.

With an architectural career spanning over five decades, Robinson is credited with over 160 projects that bear his influence, including courses in the Western United States, Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. In 1954, Robinson established his own practice concentrated in golf course design, land planning, subdivision and park design. Robinson spent the majority of his career working independently, while wife Bobbi managed the office until 1991 when son, Ted Jr., joined the practice.

Robinson served as ASGCA President from 1983-84. He joined ASGCA in 1973, and ascended to Fellow in 1995. "ASGCA is saddened by Ted's passing," said ASGCA President Steve Forrest. "His work over the past 50 years represents some of the best in the industry and he was a true pioneer in golf course architecture. His integrated design concepts set the standard for many of today's architects. As both a colleague and a friend, he will be missed."

Dubbed the "King of Waterscapes," Robinson endorsed the use of water as a defining hazard for course designs. He believed waterscapes gave putting greens maximum character and provided players with an appealing challenge. Robinson was also widely recognized for his golf-oriented master planned community, Mesa Verde, in Costa Mesa, as well as 26 separate golf course architecture projects in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area alone, including Sunrise, Monterey, Palm Valley, The Lakes, Indian Wells, Ironwood, Tahquitz Creek and Desert Springs.

As Robinson's career blossomed, Golf Digest listed his courses among the top five in Washington, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Hawaii. One of Robinson's most beloved projects was Sahalee Country Club, long regarded as one of the top-100 courses in the world. Located in Redmond, Wash., Sahalee hosted the PGA Championship in 1998. Other notable Robinson courses include Tijeras Creek and Tustin Ranch in Orange County (California), the Experience in Koele on the island of Lanai in Hawaii, and Robinson Ranch in Santa Clarita, Calif., a project designed and developed jointly with his son and named in his honor. Some of Robinson's most prestigious international courses include Lakewood Golf Club in Japan and Pinx Golf Club in Korea.

Robinson was born May 17, 1923, in Long Beach, Calif. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his Master's degree in Planning from the University of Southern California in 1948.

Ted Robinson is survived by his wife Bobbi, son Ted Jr., daughters Kris and Leigha and his 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Desert Horizons Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif., on March 13. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Ted Robinson Cancer research Fund, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, RM 8302 MC 9181, University of Southern California, PO Box 77902, Los Angeles, CA 90099-5334.

More information on Robinson's career as well as video clips of him discussing his work can be found at www.asgca.org. Click on "Inside ASGCA" and then "Architects Gallery."