Robert C. Weed Jr. (born April 13, 1955), known as Bobby Weed, president of Bobby Weed Golf Design ("BWGD"), is an award-winning [1] golf course architect, designer and builder. His firm specializes in design, renovations and repurposing. A protégé of Pete Dye, he resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Weed is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Florida Turfgrass Association.
Bobby Weed | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert C. Weed Jr. April 13, 1955 Irmo, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Presbyterian College, 1974-75 Lake City Community College, 1976-77 |
| Occupation | Golf course designer |
| Notable work | |
| Spouse | Leslie Weed |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www.bobbyweed.com |
Education and professional career
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2023) |
During his junior year at Irmo High School, Weed convinced his father to convert their family-owned bean fields into Weed Hill Driving Range. Dustin Johnson, Wesley Bryan, Lauren Stephenson and 70 others who made their careers by playing professionally, becoming superintendents or golf course architects credit Weed Hill Driving Range for their introductions to golf.
Weed was a member of the Presbyterian College men's golf team for two seasons (1974–75). He then transferred to Lake City Community College (now Florida Gateway College) to focus on their Golf Course Operations and Landscape Technology program.
Weed began his professional career in an extended apprenticeship with Pete Dye. Dye would become Weed's mentor, confidant and best friend.
Ahead of the inaugural 1982 Tournament Players Championship (now The Players Championship) at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (TPC Sawgrass), Dye and Weed designed and constructed the Stadium Course, which became the permanent home of The Players Championship.
Following significant renovations to the Stadium Course by Dye and Weed as directed by PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman, Weed was hired in 1983 by the PGA TOUR as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent at TPC Sawgrass.
From 1987 to 1996, Weed served as the PGA TOUR's Chief Designer. He was responsible for many of today’s best-known TPC venues, which continue to host prominent professional events.
From 1985 to 1995, Weed held certification through the GCSAA as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent.
In 1994, Weed formed Bobby Weed Golf Design. His firm's new and renovated courses are consistently ranked at the top of their respective design categories. Notable original designs and renovations include Grove XXIII (Hobe Sound, Fla.) for Michael Jordan,[2] The Olde Farm (Bristol, Va.), Spanish Oaks Golf Club (Bee Cave, TX), TPC River Highlands (Cromwell, CT), Medalist Golf Club (Jupiter, Fla.), Timuquana Country Club (Jacksonville, Fla.), Grandfather Golf & Country Club (Linville, NC), New Orleans Country Club (New Orleans, La.) and the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.).
Along with his wife, Weed is a co-founder and board member of HEAL! (Healing Every Autistic Life). The HEAL Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, serving individuals and families living with autism spectrum disorders. Weed has a nonverbal autistic daughter. She has experienced much growth and success with the support of HEAL.[3]
Selected course portfolio for Bobby Weed Golf Design
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2023) |
Weed started his own company in 1994 — Bobby Weed Golf Design — and has designed or redesigned an impressive list of highly regarded courses. A partial list of his work follows:
Original
edit- Grove XXIII – Hobe Sound, Florida
- Spanish Oaks Golf Club – Bee Cave, Texas
- StoneRidge Golf Club – Stillwater, Minnesota
- The Olde Farm – Bristol, Virginia
Original, Weed/Dye
edit- Amelia Island Plantation – Ocean Links – Fernandina Beach, Florida
- Country Club of Landfall – Dye Course – Wilmington, North Carolina
- Dye Preserve Golf Club – Jupiter, Florida
- Long Cove Club – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Tournament
edit- TPC Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
- TPC Mito (now Mito Kourakuen Country Club) – Mito, Japan
- TPC Sawgrass – Valley Course – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- TPC Summerlin – Las Vegas, Nevada
- TPC Tampa Bay – Lutz, Florida
- TPC River Highlands – Cromwell, Connecticut
- World Golf Village – The Slammer & Squire – St. Augustine, Florida
Renovation
edit- Culver Academies Golf Course – Culver, Indiana
- Grandfather Golf and Country Club – Linville, North Carolina
- Linville Golf Club – Linville, North Carolina
- Linville Ridge – Linville, North Carolina
- Medalist Golf Club – Hobe Sound, Florida[4]
- New Orleans Country Club – New Orleans, Louisiana
- Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club – Tampa, Florida
- Pleasant Valley Country Club – Little Rock, Arkansas
- Ponte Vedra Inn and Club – Ocean Course – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- Timuquana Country Club – Jacksonville, Florida
- White Manor Country Club – Malvern, Pennsylvania
Renovation, Weed/Dye
edit- The Club at Quail Ridge – South Course – Boynton Beach, Florida
- TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Selected honors and awards
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2023) |
- 2000 – Golfdom Magazine, one of its People of the Year, Bobby Weed
- 2003 – The South Carolina General Assembly issued a resolution on April 23, 2003, recognizing Bobby Weed, a South Carolina native, for being named the 2003 South Carolina Golf Association Golfweek honoree in recognition of his long and distinguished career in golf course design.
- 2004 – Golf Inc. Development of the Year – Spanish Oaks Golf Club
- 2010 – Golf Inc. Renovation of the Year – Linville Ridge Golf Club
- 2012 – Golf Inc. Renovation of the Year – Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club
- 2012 – David Hueber Golf Community Sustainability Award at Clemson University was presented to Bobby Weed
- 2021 – Golf Digest Best Golf Courses in Virginia, No. 1 – The Olde Farm
- 2021 – Golf Inc. Renovation of the Year – Runner Up – Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ocean Course
- 2022 – Sports Illustrated Most Innovative Course Design [5] – Stillwater Golf & Country Club
References
edit- ^ Kahler, Kevin (2012-07-17). "Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club from ASGCA's Weed awarded Renovation of the Year from Golf Inc". American Society of Golf Course Architects. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ "Why Michael Jordan's Grove XXIII practice facility is one of the coolest spots in golf". Golf. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ Bantock, Jack (2024-03-21). "This golf course architect's daughter was diagnosed non-verbal autistic. Now he's helping families facing similar challenges". CNN. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
- ^ Rosaforte, Tim (2 November 2015). "Redesigned Medalist Golf Club to feature new "Tiger Tees"". Golf Digest. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Dishing Out Awards for Best Renovations, Restorations and New Golf Courses From 2022". SI. 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2024-10-18.