Bruce Borland was born in Peoria, Illinois. He had a fascination for golf at an early age and it was said that as a kid he built and maintained a putting green in his parents’ backyard. This passion for golf drove him to the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Landscape Architecture to begin his journey as a golf course architect.

After graduation, he moved to Chicago and began working with Dick Nugent and Ken Killian, both ASGCA members. In 1989, he opened his own design firm ProDesign. In 1999, Borland accepted a position with Nicklaus Design and worked on several projects both domestically and internationally. Borland was elected into ASGCA in 1986 as an Associate member and as a Regular member in 1989. He remained an ASGCA member for 13 years until 1999.

In 1999, Borland died in a tragic plane crash that included golfer Payne Stewart. Though the loss was sudden, Borland has left his legacy in the hearts of those who knew him and his design work.