Ohio Golf Journal December 2020

R obert Trent Jones Sr. was the premier golf course architect of his generation, having designed 450 courses around the world. Both of his sons, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees, became prominent, and prolific, architects, as well. Rees has worked on over 230 courses world-wide, plus he has become known as ‘The Open Doctor.’’ His expertise has been used to prepare seven U.S. Open courses, nine PGA Championship courses and six Ryder Cup tracks. Given all those high-profile courses, Rees calls his latest work “a lifetime dream,’’ because it has a direct tie-in to his famous father. Rees has tackled his father’s designs 18 times in the past at such places as, Atlanta Athletic Club, Rees Jones Renovates a Family Heirloom -- Coral Ridge By Len Ziehm Bellerive, Congressional, Golden Horseshoe, Hazeltine and The Dunes Golf & Beach Club. This latest redo, though, is more important than the others. Coral Ridge Country Club was emotional for Rees, now 79, because he has been involved with it, since he was a young lad. Jones Senior designed the original 18 holes at Coral Ridge in 1954. He also kept an office near the 17th hole for his architectural business and operated out of the clubhouse at the end of his career. He remained a member of the club until his death in 2000. Rees’ mother Ione, who died in 1987, was also very active in the club. Rees spent most of his formative years growing up in New Jersey but spent a lot of time at Coral Ohio Golf Journal