Who's who: Bill Robinson

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Bill Robinson

  • Name:

    William G. "Bill" Robinson
  • Country:

    Canada
  • Born:

    c.1942 in Ontario.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Collingwood GC, Ont.
  • Occupation:

    Golf course architect and writer.
  • Turned Pro:

Golf course design

Bill Robinson's best known work, sometimes produced with the assistance of his younger brother John F. Robinson and/or design partner Geoff Cornish, includes, but is not limited to:

CANADA:
Arbutus Ridge, BC (1987) / Banff Springs, Alb. (1989, Tunnel-nine, with JF Robinson) / Burnaby Mountain, BC (1969) / Cordova Bay, BC (1991) / Cowichan, BC (1985, expansion to 18 holes, with JF Robinson) / Eagle Ranch, BC (2000) / Gallagher's Canyon, BC (1980, with Les Furber) / Glen Afton, PEI (1973) / Goose Hummock, Alb. (1989) / Grandview, NS (1988) / Innisfail, Alb. (1984, redesign) / Jasper Park Lodge, Alb. (1994, renovation) / Northumberland Links, NS (1988, redesign & expansion to 18-holes) / Olympic View, BC (1990) / Pheasantback, Alb. (1995) / Ponoka, Alb. (1987, redesign & expansion to 18-holes) / River Bend, Alb. (1986) / Sirocco, Alb. (2006).

UNITED STATES:
Chehalem Glenn, OR (2005, with JF Robinson) / Coos GC, OR (1998, expansion to 18 holes; formerly called Watson Ranch) / Cranberry Valley, MA (1974, with Geoff Cornish) / Farm Neck, MA (1978, with Cornish) / Gearhart, OR (2000, renovation) / Leavenworth, WA (1968, expansion to 18-holes and renovation) / Meadow Lakes, OR (1993, with JF Robinson) / Ocean Dunes, OR (1989, redesign and expansion to 18 holes; formerly called Rhodo Dunes) / OGA Golf Course, OR (1993) / Creek at Qualchan, WA (1993, with JF Robinson) / Shadow Hills CC, OR (1995, modifications and renovation) / Stratton Mountain, VT (1969, with Cornish) / Tri Mountain, WA (1994, with JF Robinson) / Willamette Valley CC, OR (1989, modifications).

BEYOND NORTH AMERICA:
Porto Carras, Greece (1973, Olive course, with Cornish).

Did you know?

With the possibility of a career in professional ice hockey cut short by a serious eye injury, Robinson turned to his other great love, golf ( ... he was a scratch golfer in his prime). He found his way into golf course architecture, where a couple of early internships with Robert Trent Jones (Snr) confirmed he was on the right path.

After graduating from Penn State with a degree in landscape architecture in 1964, Robinson went to work for the unconventional mentor who would influence the rest of his career, Geoff Cornish of Amherst, Massachusetts. A full partner with Cornish from 1977 until setting up on his own in 1982, Robinson would work on almost 300 golf course designs, redesigns and renovations until he retired in 2005. Much of his work, with some notable exceptions, was concentrated in western Canada (BC and Alberta) and the northwest USA (Oregon and Washington).

Between 1975 and 1979, Bill's younger brother John F. Robinson, who had previously worked for William Newcomb Associates, came to work as a design associate in Bill's firm. After John left to establish his design firm, the two brothers continued to collaborate on several golf course projects.

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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