Gene Bates has served as president of Gene Bates Golf Design since 1988 and Vice President of Couples Bates Golf Design since 1992. As a golf course designer with over 25 years of experience in the industry, he has provided professional services for the design and construction of golf courses around the world. He works closely with PGA Tour professionals Fred Couples and Johnny Miller on many of his designs in the United States (including Hawaii ), Europe and Asia.  Mr. Bates' experience in the golf course design industry has allowed him to develop expertise in the areas of design, engineering, construction management, and landscape architecture while gaining a vast knowledge of agronomy and golf course maintenance. His past experience in a broad range of more than ninety construction projects has provided him a thorough understanding of project budgeting, scheduling, coordination, administration and employee relations.

From 1983 to 1988 Gene served as Vice President of Design & Construction Services for Jack Nicklaus Golf Services in North Palm Beach, Florida. In that position, he was responsible for the administration of design and construction projects; project coordination and customer relations; project and administrative staff supervision, including project designers and construction coordinators. These projects ranged between $2 million and $10 million and were located in the United States, England, Austria, Japan, Switzerland, and the Caribbean.  From 1978 to 1983 Gene was a project administrator for Ron Kirby and Gary Player in Atlanta, Georgia. He coordinated design and supervised the construction of golf course projects in Hong Kong, the Philippines, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United States.