Prolific golf course designer
Ted Robinson, a prolific golf course designer with numerous courses that bear his influence in the Western United States, died Sunday at his home in Laguna Beach after a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 84.
Robinson’s designing career spanned five decades and he was credited with more than 160 projects, including his most famous work, Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash., site of the 1998 PGA Championship.
A past president and a fellow of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Robinson was well known for his use of water hazards in his course designs. According to his philosophy, waterscapes give putting greens maximum character and present players with an appealing challenge.
“His work over the past 50 years represents some of the best in the industry and he was a true pioneer in golf course architecture,” said Steve Forrest, president of the society.
In addition to the United States, Robinson designed courses in Mexico, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.
Robinson started his golf course design practice in 1954. Although he spent most of his career working independently while his wife, Bobbi, managed the office, he partnered with his son, Ted Jr., beginning in 1991.
Robinson earned recognition for Mesa Verde in Costa Mesa, his golf-oriented planned community. In the Palm Springs area, Robinson had 26 projects, including Sunrise, Monterey, Palm Valley, the Lakes, Indian Wells, Ironwood, Tahquitz Creek and Desert Horizons.
He designed North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Tustin Ranch in Orange County and Robinson Ranch in Santa Clarita, a projected in cooperation with Ted Jr. He also associated with Greg Norman in a 1991 project called the Experience at Koele in Hawaii on the island of Lanai.
Theodore G. Robinson was born May 17, 1923, in Long Beach. He earned an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in landscape architecture and land planning at USC.
In addition to his wife and son, Robinson is survived by daughters Kris and Leigha, and 10 grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Desert Horizons Country Club in Indian Wells. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Ted Robinson Cancer Research Fund, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, RM 8302 MC 9181, USC, P.O. Box 77902, Los Angeles, CA 90099-5334.
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