BROOKFIELD, Wis. –The American Society of Golf Course Architects has chose pre-eminent golf architect and their Past President Robert Trent Jones, Jr., as the 2024 recipient of the ASGCA Donald Ross Award. The award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Jones at the American Society of Golf Course Architects Annual Meeting in San Francisco, on Nov. 11.
“I got a call from the President at a moment when I had several balls in the air at once, and I asked him ‘Can I call you back?’ and he said “No! I have some information for you! You won the Donald Ross. award. I got so emotional, we were filming a video for Osprey Meadows in Idaho, and I teared up, ” a deeply moved Jones admitted gratefully. “I’m flattered and honored my peers feel that I’m worthy”
Jones played on the golf team at his alma mater, Yale University. The legendary former touring pro turned head professional at Winged Foot Golf Club, Tommy Armour ministered his swing like a priest with a penitent. After attending a year of law school at Stanford University, Jones joined the family business, working alongside his father, ASGCA Founding Member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., on Spyglass Hill Golf Club in Pebble Beach, California, and other projects in the 1960s.
In 1972, Jones formed his own firm and began expanding into Asia with solo international efforts. Since then he has designed over 300 courses an every continent on Earth except Antarctica, including Chambers Bay Golf Course, University Place, Washington (host to the 2015 U.S. Open); The Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, California; and Princeville in Hawaii.
Currently, Jones and his second-in-command Bruce Charlton are renovating Idaho’s Osprey Meadows.
“We built Osprey Meadows in the early 2000s as a part of a new ski resort [Tamarack],” Jones began, but then the 2008 financial crash hit, and the project ground to a halt. There was even a 2012 bankruptcy case, but recently Jones and team have returned.
“It’s a wilderness course. There are marshlands, and then it turns into deep forests. Then it emerges to terrific views of the mountains and Payette Lake,” Jones beamed energetically. “There really are bald eagles and osprey on the property its stunning.”
Jones mentioned that a good portion of his work there was to soften some of the forced carries. His current projects include updating or building new designs in such far-flung places as Ecuador, Panama, and both Dorado Beach courses in Puerto Rico.
 According to the ASGCA press release, “Known as an early advocate of environmentally sensitive golf course design, Jones continues to respect and embrace nature. In 2024, Jones’ long-time efforts to secure copyright protection for the creative work of golf course architects advanced with the introduction of a bill in the U.S. Congress, the Bolstering Intellectual Rights against Digital Infringement Enhancement Act (BIRDIE Act). The bill would update the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990, which provided copyright protection for buildings, to now extend the protections to include golf courses. The bipartisan bill, H.R. 7228, continues to be discussed by the Judiciary committee.
Jones becomes the third member of his family to be named Ross Award recipient. His father, ASGCA founding member Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was honored with the inaugural award in 1976 and his brother, ASGCA Past President Rees Jones, received the 2013 award.
Past Donald Ross Award Recipients
2023Â Â Â Â Â Frank Jemsek, Jemsek Golf
2022Â Â Â Â Â John Lawrence, The Toro Company
2021Â Â Â Â Â Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, ASGCA, golf course architects
2020Â Â Â Â Â Renee Powell, golf pioneer/player/course owner
2019Â Â Â Â Â Joe Passov, golf writer
2018Â Â Â Â Â President George Herbert Walker Bush, U.S. President
2017Â Â Â Â Â Alice Dye, ASGCA Fellow, golf course architect
2016Â Â Â Â Â Michael Bamberger, golf writer
2015Â Â Â Â Â Bradley S. Klein, golf writer
2014Â Â Â Â Â Maj. Dan Rooney, founder, Folds of Honor Foundation
2013Â Â Â Â Â Rees Jones, ASGCA, golf course architect
2012Â Â Â Â Â Bill Kubly, golf course builder
2011Â Â Â Â Â James Dodson, golf writer/editor
2010Â Â Â Â Â Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner
2009Â Â Â Â Â Ron Dodson, sustainable golf advocate
2008Â Â Â Â Â George Peper, golf writer
2007Â Â Â Â Â Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, golf course architect
2006Â Â Â Â Â Jim Awtrey, chief executive officer, PGA of America
2005Â Â Â Â Â John Singleton, irrigation pioneer
2004Â Â Â Â Â Thomas Cousins, philanthropist, urban golf developer
2003Â Â Â Â Â Bill Campbell, president, USGA, captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
2002Â Â Â Â Â Byron Nelson, professional golfer
2001Â Â Â Â Â Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA, professional golfer, golf course architect
2000Â Â Â Â Â Jaime Ortiz-Patino, owner and president, Valderrama Golf Club
1999Â Â Â Â Â Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
1998Â Â Â Â Â Judy Bell, president, USGA
1997Â Â Â Â Â Gene Sarazen, professional golfer
1996Â Â Â Â Â Ron Whitten, golf writer
1995Â Â Â Â Â Pete Dye, ASGCA, golf course architect
1994Â Â Â Â Â James R. Watson, agronomist
1993Â Â Â Â Â Brent Wadsworth, golf course builder
1992Â Â Â Â Â Paul Fullmer, ASGCA executive secretary
1991Â Â Â Â Â Michael Bonallack, secretary, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
1990Â Â Â Â Â John Zoller, executive director, Northern California Golf Association
1989Â Â Â Â Â Dick Taylor, editor, “Golf World” magazine
1988Â Â Â Â Â Frank Hannigan, executive director, USGA
1987Â Â Â Â Â Charles Price, writer, “Golf World” magazine
1986Â Â Â Â Â Deane Beman, commissioner, PGA Tour
1985Â Â Â Â Â Peter Dobereiner, “London Observer” columnist, author
1984Â Â Â Â Â Dinah Shore, sponsor of women’s golf tournaments
1983Â Â Â Â Â Al Radko, director, USGA Green Section
1982Â Â Â Â Â Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA, golf course architect, historian
1981Â Â Â Â Â James Rhodes, governor of Ohio
1980Â Â Â Â Â Gerald Micklem, captain, Royal & Ancient
1979Â Â Â Â Â Joe Dey, executive director, USGA
1978Â Â Â Â Â Herb and Joe Graffis, founders, National Golf Foundation
1977Â Â Â Â Â Herbert Warren Wind, “The New Yorker” columnist, author
1976Â Â Â Â Â Robert Trent Jones, ASGCA, ASGCA founding member
