Rees Jones Receives Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award

The ASGCA Foundation honored the legendary architect during its recent annual meeting in Nashville.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Golf

Rees Jones Receives Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award

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The ASGCA Foundation presented architect Rees Jones with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor recognizes Jones for his decades of service and contributions to the organization.

Why it matters

The foundation established this new award to formally recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication and service to the golf design profession. Jones is the inaugural recipient following his long tenure as a leader in the industry.

Rees Jones has designed or renovated more than 300 golf courses since founding his firm in 1974. He also previously managed the organization's Donald Ross Award for a total of 50 years.

The players

Rees Jones

He is a prominent golf course architect who has overseen the design and renovation of over 300 courses throughout his career.

ASGCA Foundation

This organization promotes the golf course architecture profession and supports initiatives related to course design and maintenance.

Jeff Blume

He currently serves as the president of the ASGCA Foundation and presided over the inaugural award ceremony.

The details

ASGCA Foundation president Jeff Blume presented the award to Jones at the group's annual meeting. Jones, a former president of the organization, is credited with originating the Donald Ross Award program.

Rees Jones founded his design firm in 1974.
The ASGCA held its annual meeting in Nashville in early October 2026.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rees Jones in October 2026.

Season Trajectory

The creation of this new honor marks a significant shift in how the ASGCA recognizes veteran members within the golf design industry. This move signals a broader trend toward expanding institutional legacy programs to match the evolving history of the sport.

This award highlights the career impact of an architect whose work spans hundreds of courses frequently played by the public. Readers who frequent local courses may find their home club was designed or renovated by Jones.

The takeaway

This inaugural award sets a new benchmark for recognizing long-term service within the professional golf community. It serves as a reminder of the decades-long commitment required to shape the landscape of modern golf architecture.