Arthur L. Davis was born in Georgia in 1939. He attended Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Georgia, and while a student there worked part-time for Southern Turf Nurseries. With Davis working for a turf nursery, he ran into several golf architecture legends, involving Robert Trent Jones, Dick Wilson, George Cobb, and other notables. These experiences convinced him to change from agronomy to landscape architecture and received his BSLA degree from the University of Georgia in 1963.

After Davis’ graduation, he worked for Willard C. Bryd and Associates until 1967. In 1970, he formed a partnership with Ron Kirby, including Gary Player in their firm. Shortly after, he sold his part of the ownership to Kirby and formed his own golf design firm in Rome, Georgia.

Davis was elected into ASGCA as an Associate member in 1975 and promoted to Regular member in 1977. Davis served as a member of the organization for 24 years until his death in 1999.