Robert Trent Jones facts for kids

Robert Trent Jones Sr. was a very famous golf course designer. He was born in England on June 20, 1906, and later became an American citizen. He designed or updated over 500 golf courses! These courses are in 45 U.S. states and 35 different countries.

He was proud to say, "The sun never sets on a Robert Trent Jones golf course." This meant his courses were all over the world. People sometimes confused him with another famous golfer named Bobby Jones. Robert Trent Jones Sr. even worked with Bobby Jones sometimes. In 1987, he received the Old Tom Morris Award. This is a very high honor for people in golf. He was also added to the World Golf Hall of Fame that same year.

Early Life and Education

Robert Trent Jones was born in Ince-in-Makerfield, England. This was on June 20, 1906. When he was about five or six, his family moved to the United States. They settled in East Rochester, New York.

Young Robert worked as a caddie at a local golf club. A caddie helps golfers by carrying their clubs. He also got a job as a golf professional. He met a famous golf course designer, Donald Ross, when he was young. Robert started playing golf himself. He even had the best score among amateur golfers at the 1927 Canadian Open. He also set a course record in Rochester.

While working, Jones went to Cornell University. He created his own study plan there. This plan focused on learning how to design golf courses. He designed nine holes of the university's golf course. Later, in 1954, he designed the other nine holes. Today, it's called the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University.

Designing Golf Courses

After college, Jones started a business with Canadian architect Stanley Thompson. They designed courses together in Canada. Later, Jones started his own design company. In the 1930s, he began designing courses in the United States. Many of these early courses were built with help from the Works Progress Administration. This was a program that created jobs during tough economic times. An example is the course at Green Lakes State Park, which opened in 1936.

The golf course at Green Lakes State Park in upstate New York was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1936.

After World War II, Jones got a big job. He helped design the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. He worked with the golf legend Bobby Jones on this project. Bobby Jones also asked him to redesign two holes at the famous Augusta National Golf Club. Even though their names were similar, Robert and Bobby were not related. To avoid confusion, Robert started using his middle name, "Trent."

In 1955, another designer named Gene Hamm helped Jones. They built the Duke University Golf Course. Jones was very successful in the 1950s. Reports said he earned a lot of money from golf.

Famous Clients and Legacy

Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed courses for many important people. He worked for U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He designed a putting green at the White House for him. He also designed a single golf hole at Camp David. Other famous clients included the Rockefeller family, the Aga Khan, and Hassan II of Morocco. They hired him to build private golf courses.

In 1990, he received a huge project. He was asked to design 18 courses in Alabama. This project is known as the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It was the biggest golf design contract ever.

Jones was married to Ione Jones, who passed away in 1987. They had two sons, Robert Jr. and Rees. Both of his sons also became golf course designers, following in their father's footsteps.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. kept designing golf courses even when he was older. He retired due to health issues. He moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He passed away there on June 14, 2000. This was just six days before his 94th birthday. His very last course, the Southern Highlands Golf Club, was finished in 1999.

Awards and Honors

• 1987 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
• 1987 World Golf Hall of Fame
• 1972 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement