Golf is a sport that demands not only professional skills but also great strategy and understanding of the course. Over the years, several golfers have used their skills to do something for the improvement of the golf industry in their unique ways, and one that tops the chart is designing impeccable golf courses.

Golfers like Tiger Woods and Greg Norman, among many others, have opened their golf design firms and are doing some amazing work all around the world. Let’s explore some of them, shall we?

Nicklaus Design: Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus used his honed skills to make a timeless legacy: Nicklaus Design. Founded by the 18-time major champion, this golf design firm is doing some pretty great work in making challenging golf courses and enjoyable golf hotels. You might be wondering how many golf courses they have designed. Well, a lot! Nicklaus Design has designed over 425 courses in more than 45 countries under the supervision of Executive Chairman Howard Milstein and CEO Phil Cotton. 

The design firm has received several awards, like the 2005 Old Tom Morris Awards and the 2014 Architect of the Year, for its incredible designs. Having won a total of 16 awards at the World Golf Awards, 2017 was the best year for Nicklaus Designs. Some of the top golf courses and hotels that won awards at the 2017 event were Castle Pines Golf Course in Colorado, Muirfield Village Golf Course in Ohio, and Kalhaar Blues and Greens in India. 

Not only that, but many golf tournaments and events like the Ryder Cup, PGA Tour, and European Tour events have been hosted at golf courses designed by the Golden Bear. One of the best courses produced by this design firm has to be the Gleneagles in Scotland, known for hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup. 

Gary Player Design: Gary Player

“The harder I practice, the luckier I get” is the motto that Gary Player lived by, and it’s been proved right for him indeed. The Black Knight, known for being one of the only five golfers to complete the Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors, founded his golf design firm in the 1980s. 

Some of the top golf courses and hotels designed by golfers are Links at Fancourt, South Africa, which is considered the best resort in the country and has hosted the Presidents Cup and South African Open. Another is the Thracian Cliffs, Bulgaria, known for its finest resorts and premium golfing experiences. Not only that, the 2020 South African Open was hosted at the Sun City Golf Club in South Africa. After designing more than 135 courses on five continents, Gary Player announced that his design firm will be collaborating with Nicklaus Designs in 2021 to create more unique designs in the future. Only the best can be expected when two legends come together to produce something.

As if he already hadn’t stolen our hearts with his gameplay and great designs, Gary Player also runs a foundation with his wife, Vivienne Player, to help support and uplift underprivileged children in South Africa and the USA.

Greg Norman Golf Course Designs: Greg Norman

The Great White Shark, Greg Norman, established his design firm, GNGCD, in 1987. In its three decades in the game, the firm has designed over one hundred courses in more than 34 countries on six continents. Most of the GNGCD’s designs were created by Bob Harrison and are considered exceptional. One commenter had described this design industry as “one of the most prominent ‘celebrity’ design firms in the game,”  and they couldn’t be more right. 

The National Moonah in Australia, Litibu in Mexico, and the Jade Palace Golf Club in Korea are some of the best works done by GNGCD. We can’t forget the Tiburon Golf Club, which hosted the 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational. The design firm has received some well-deserved awards over the years, like 2023 and 2022 World’s Best Golf Course for AL Mouj Golf, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, and The Bluffs, VIETNAM, for 2021 Golf Digest’s Best Golf Resorts in Asia. 

Faldo Design: Sir Nick Faldo

As a former World No. 1 player, six-time major winner, and World Golf Hall of Famer, Faldo has proved his expertise in the game of golf and is now keeping his legacy through his design firm, Faldo Design. Founded in 1991, the design firm has done quite a bit of work over the years. One of his first designs was Chart Hills in England; he designed it with Steve Smyers. After that, his design firm took off.

He started working with Stan Eby, an architect from European Golf Design and designed the Faldo Berlin course, formerly known as the Faldo course at Sporting Club Berlin. Faldo Design courses are known for hosting important tournaments and events on the European Tour, Asian Tour, and LPGA Tour. It received ‘Golf Course Designer of the Year’ at the 2016 World Golf Awards. 

TGR Designs, Tiger Woods

Last but not least, TGR Designs, owned by the GOAT, Tiger Woods, is one of the best golf design firms out there. TGR-designed courses have been the proud host of several prestigious events and tournaments such as the Nexus Cup, and the Hero World Challenge. El Cardonal at Diamante in Mexico became the first Woods design to host a PGA Tour event in 2016. 

Some of the best golf courses designed by TGR Design are Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, Jack’s Bay, Bahanams, and Payne’s Valley, Missouri. Another of Woods’s best works is the TGR Foundation. By empowering countless students to pursue what they love, the 15-time major champion is proving himself not only as a legendary athlete but also as an incredible human being.

Transitioning from professional golfer to golf course designer is a piece of cake for many golfers, and we’ve listed some of the best in this article. Their deep understanding of the game has allowed them to create some of the world’s most celebrated and challenging courses, and these golf courses will surely continue their legacy for future golfers. Share with us your favorite golf course and the event you enjoyed there!