Robert “Red” Lawrence’s first golf design experience came in 1919, when he worked for Walter Travis on two courses at Westchester Country Club in New York. After completing the project, Lawrence was employed at the firm of Toomey and Flynn as a construction superintendent for 12 years. When the design firm folded during the Depression, Lawrence returned to golf course maintenance in Boca Raton, Florida, where he stayed for the next 20 years.

After World War II, Lawrence committed himself to golf course architecture full-time. He initially worked in the Miami area, but later moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1958. He then continued his practice in the Southwest, designing and working on several projects.

Lawrence was one of the 14 founding members of ASGCA in 1947. He would serve two terms as ASGCA President; once from 1956-1957 and the next from 1964-1965. He served as an ASGCA member for 29 years until his death in 1976.