Robert Simmons
Recognized for creating some of the most beautiful courses in the country, Robert or Bob Simmons's formula is to allow the golf course to take the shape of the land. An excellent golfer who participated in the Indiana PGA events, the American Legion, from 1932 to 1936 and again in 1938, and other circuits thereafter, he developed the keen ability to read the terrain of the land.
Hailing from Indiana, Robert Simmons is one of the prolific course designers emanating from that place. He may not be at par with the likes of Bill Diddel or Pete Dye, but he certainly would rank next followed by Al Humphrey and Tim Liddy.
Simmons designed about 25 golf courses in the United States and abroad. He designed his first course in 1955-56 in a new development called Jersey Village, a former dairy farm. The course is now called Jersey Meadows in Houston.
He also worked for a well-known architect Dick Wilson. The first course he built was the Royal Montreal in Canada. A 45-hole course, the A course, the B or Blue Course, and the Dixie Course, the Blue was recognized as one of the 100 greatest courses in the world. He also built the Bunker Hill Air Force Base now the Leaning Tree Golf Course.
Simmons went on to design other notable golf courses earning him recognition and an illustrious career before passing away in 1986. A number of Courses designed by Bob Simmons are included on golfproperty.com and are shown below.
Image courtesy of: Kokomo Tribune