After years of contemplating a design career, Faxon’s first project was the Bay Club, a lay-of-the-land private course that he co-designed with Brad Booth 30 minutes from his Rhode Island home. “I’m so glad I started with a guy like Brad, who’s been in the business for a while,” Faxon says. “He let me throw out suggestions, no matter how stupid.”

That kind of partnership is crucial for the success of any player-architect. Just as Crenshaw and Coore are a package, Love pairs up with his brother, who went from caddying for Davis to become the head of Love Golf Design, and is assisted by veteran architects Bob Spence, Paul Cowley and (on a part-time basis) Forrest Fezler, formerly a partner of the late Mike Strantz. Faldo, whose Faldo Design projects take him around the world, employs his own architectural staff in London and works with select “like-minded” partners, notably Americans Steve Smyers and Brian Curley, and Australian Tony Cashmore. Lehman briefly worked with former tour player John Fought before launching the Lehman Design Group, where he is aided by former Fought associates Chris Brands and Josh Taylor. Mickelson also teams with an architect partner, Gary Stephenson.

At Ricefields, Love, his brother and the rest of the team approach the third green, where they are contemplating the subtle shaping of the putting surface. Love envisions it as a punch bowl—a rarity in modern architecture and a reflection of his increasing propensity for classical design features.

After some discussion and a lot of pointing and arm waving, a crew member hops onto a backhoe and starts moving dirt like a kid in an oversize sandbox during recess. Love sees his vision take shape, smiles and nods. School was never this fun.