Legendary golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., travels the globe creating memorable Courses

GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT Robert Trent Jones, Jr., has designed more than 300 courses in 50 countries on six continents—on earth, only Antarctica lacks an RTJ II layout.

- JEFF WALLACH

And at 85, Jones is still traversing the globe with projects in Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Grenada, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, England, Italy and across the U.S. Jones' living artwork reveals a man who creates on many levels, and who sees his pursuit of golf design as a metaphysical journey. Like the best artists and writers, he employs subtext and symbolism, imagery and illusion, as well as a range of other techniques from the verbal and visual arts to express aspects of philosophy, drama and aesthetics. And his courses tell stories. Jones recently shared with us his own stories—about golf, travel and golf travel.

What is it about this game that travels so well?

Golf originated in Holland in the 13th century when seafaring people took sticks and wooden balls and played while their ships were being provisioned. They played with the Scottish, and eventually the game traveled with the Scots and the British Empire. It came to the U.S. through destinations like Newport, Rhode Island. Unlike other sports with rigid fields—like tennis and football—golf adapted itself to different terrains. In New England golf architects found granite outcroppings and trees and adopted the links game invented where there were no trees. At Winged Foot, in New York, they built greens on top of the rock. In San Francisco, architects like A.W. Tillinghast formed the greens as continuations of the sandy fairways. In Japan they play three or four holes and stop at a teahouse and have a formal meal for 20 minutes, then go play more golf. These kinds of cultural and geographical nuances always give the game a distinctive flavor.