George W. Cobb was born into a golf family in Savannah, Georgia. Growing up, he worked hard on his game and developed into a scratch golfer. Cobb would later attend University of Georgia, where he studied landscape architecture and was a member on the men’s golf team. After graduation, he was hired by the National Park Service as a landscape architect until 1941.

During World War II, the Marine Corps recognized that Cobb was an avid golfer, so he was assigned to design and build a golf course for Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. With the assistance of Fred Findlay, Cobb designed and built the base their own golf course.

This project for the Marines would then launch him into a career in golf course architecture, as he entered private practice in 1947. Several of Cobb’s designs were used as professional tournament sites, but he prided himself on creating courses that were attractive and playable, over a layout that would not leave the average golfer frustrated.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Cobb spent a considerable amount of time working as a design consultant for Augusta National Golf Club, which during that time developed a strong relationship with Bobby Jones. When Augusta National Golf Club decided to build a nine-hole par-3 course, Jones gave to nod to Cobb. This project allowed Cobb to leave a lasting legacy on one of the most iconic clubs in the world.

George Cobb was elected into ASGCA as a new member in 1962 and moved to Fellow status in 1985. He was a member of ASGCA for 26 years until his death in 1986. He mentored ASGCA Past President John LaFoy in 1968, who later became a full-time partner to Cobb.