Robert Trent Jones Jr. was 11 when he attended his first U.S. Open, the 1951 championship at Oakland Hills. There, Jones Jr. learned about the perils of being a renowned golf architect, as players, including the winner, Ben Hogan, complained about the difficulty of the course, which Jones Sr. had renovated prior to the Open.
Still, the criticisms didn’t dissuade Jones Jr. from joining the family business. And although he has yet to build as many courses as his father, who has 500 design credits, Jones Jr. has managed to escape his father’s considerable shadow with a number of stellar layouts, including his defining work, Chambers Bay, the host of the 2015 U.S. Open.
One of Jones Jr.’s hallmarks is the lack of a particular style, and the variety of his best courses, from the links-like Chambers Bay to the tropical Four Seasons Nevis to the rolling CordeValle, site of the Frys.com Open, is indicative of his design skills.
Those layouts are three of the 18 best public courses designed by Jones Jr., who has continued the legacy of great, accessible golf started by his father. Just start the slideshow below to see how many you’ve played.
>> First Trent Jones Course: Chambers Bay










