Not every golf course architect achieves the notoriety of a Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, or Jack Nicklaus. One of those you might not have heard of but should, Bob Cupp, died this past Friday at age 76.
Widely described as a “Renaissance man,” Bob Cupp had a brief career as a professional golfer, wrote novels as well as books about course architecture, was an accomplished artist, as well as a blacksmith and musician. He was a senior designer for Nicklaus’s firm for 15 years before going out on his own. Among his more notable designs are Liberty National (N.J., with Tom Kite), Pumpkin Ridge (Ore.), Crosswater (Ore.), Old Waverly (Miss., with Jerry Pate), TPC Starr Pass (Ariz., with Craig Stadler), and both the Plantation (shown) and Landings courses at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Ga.). Cupp also served as the president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 2012-3.