“I will just say this: I have been fortunate enough to know three great men in my life – my father, Pete Dye and Greg Norman” replied Jason McCoy during a 2015 interview when he was asked what he liked the most about working with Greg Norman. Of course, their friendship did not start in 2015. A long time ago, McCoy credited his father’s interest in golf which served as a start for his interest in golf designing. And what a journey it has been.

Having served in the U.S. Air Force and earning a degree in Science & Turf Grass Management, he first worked with the legendary Pete Dye. The two worked on iconic projects like Harbour Town Golf Links and Kiawah Island. But McCoy had yet to meet his soon-to-be friend. And that, too, happened by the time 1992 rolled around. While collaborating with Pete on the Medalist, McCoy met Norman. And their vision seemed to have found a common ground as it led to the founding of Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

This, in turn, was the start of a successful partnership that spanned over three decades. And Jason McCoy did not only serve as GNGCD’s Senior Vice President but also as a great friend to Greg Norman. And, according to the latest news, this special 33-years-long bond seems to come to a stop with the passing away of Jason McCoy. An event that has understandably, and greatly, affected Greg Norman.

Taking up his Instagram account, Norman made a post on McCoy and said this: “@GNGCD has lost one of the greatest people of all time. The golf course design business has equally lost one of the pioneers of golf course construction. His trade honed by Pete Dye. And I have lost a friend of 33 years. We laughed, loved, lead from the front on many issues, attacked life from the mountains to the seas, built some of the great courses of the world together leaving an indelible footprint of over 100 golf courses globally. Every course @GNGCD has built and will build going forward will have your spirit, soul and fingerprint on it. RIP mate. I will truly miss you more than you know. See you upstairs some time in the future my friend!!” 

Similarly, GNGCD’s official account wrote an emotional post for McCoy and added these lines: “Jason… thank you buddy. Until we walk the fairways again. Rest easy, friend.” Importantly, McCoy and Rogelio Abarca took responsibility for The Course at Went Vineyards in California in 2024. Led in two phases, McCoy and Abarca were done with the first phase by the time February rolled around. And the most interesting part? This was a significant update 26 years after Greg Norman and his team worked on it. Undoubtedly, a trusted man by Greg Norman. However, in memory of the late Jason McCoy, let’s take a look at three of his favorite golf designs working for GNGCD.

Jason McCoy’s favorite golf projects with Greg Norman

“With over 100 courses to date, it is hard to pick just one because they are each special for their own reasons, I would have to say Medalist, Doonbeg and Meadow Brook stand out and my all-time favorite would have to be TPC Sugarloaf” replied Jason McCoy in the same 2015 interview. But, let’s take a look at his favorite first.

TPC Sugarloaf in Georgia features three nine-hole courses designed by Norman, marking his first solo project in the U.S. Additionally, The Tournament Course hosted the PGA Tour event At&T Classic from 1997 to 2008! But there’s more charm to it. In 2013, it became the venue for the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA Tour Champions. Additionally, according to McCoy, the television exposure from these events significantly contributed to the growth of Norman’s design business in the United States. Take a look at the others!

The first one is the Medalist. Established in 2015, Medalist in Florida features a course designed by Greg Norman in collaboration with Pete Dye. This is notable as it marked Norman’s first U.S. course built under Greg Norman Course Design. It showcases Dye’s signature S-shaped holes, sand buffers, and small, low-profile greens that blend into short-grass surrounds.

Jason McCoy’s next choice is, of course, Doonbeg. The original course first opened on July 9, 2002. It features a par-72 layout that spans 7,026 yards from the back tees, with views of the Atlantic from 16 of 18 holes. Designed with a philosophy of “least disturbance,” it weaves through sand dunes!

Lastly, another stand-out course is Meadowbrook Farms’ golf course. It offers a flexible playing length from 5,000 to 7,100 yards with multiple tee options. The par-72 layout features sod-wall bunkers filled with white sand and generous, subtle greens. All of these are set among hardwood trees, creeks, lakes, and wetlands. Notable features include GN-1 hybrid Bermudagrass tees, fairways, and roughs by the Greg Norman team.

Looking at these courses, it goes without saying that Jason McCoy had a vision. And with that, we hope that he rests in peace.