Events
Annual Meetings
ASGCA Annual Meetings have a storied history dating back to the inaugural 1947 gathering of the Founding Fathers at Pinehurst, North Carolina. The signature event for ASGCA members, the meetings include great interaction, innovation and education between fellow architects and invited industry leaders. ASGCA professional development includes study and play at fine golf facilities, and the spirited, friendly competition among ASGCA members.
Annual Meeting Locations
- 2022 Providence, Rhode Island
- 2021 Cleveland, Ohio
- 2020 (virtual)
- 2019 Phoenix-Scottsdale, Arizona
- 2018 Houston, Texas
- 2017 Jupiter, Florida
- 2016 Washington D.C.
- 2015 La Jolla, California
- 2014 Tulsa, Oklahoma
- 2013 Reynolds Plantation, Georgia
- 2012 Chattanooga, Tennessee
- 2011 Denver, Colorado
- 2010 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- 2009 Seattle, Washington
- 2008 Scotland
- 2007 Atlanta, Georgia
- 2006 Pinehurst, North Carolina
- 2005 Pebble Beach California
- 2004 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- 2003 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 2002 Santa Barbara, California
- 2001 Columbus, Ohio
- 2000 Ireland
- 1999 Charleston, South Carolina
- 1998 Los Angeles, California
- 1997 Toronto, Canada
- 1996 Pinehurst, North Carolina
- 1995 Scotland
- 1994 San Francisco, California
- 1993 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1992 Long Island, New York
- 1991 England
- 1990 Pebble Beach, California
- 1989 Pinehurst, North Carolina
- 1988 Hamilton, Bermuda
- 1987 Maui, Hawaii
- 1986 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- 1985 Ireland
- 1984 Indian Wells, California
- 1983 Dallas, Texas
- 1982 Palm Beach, Florida
- 1981 Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 1980 Scotland
- 1979 Pinehurst, North Carolina
- 1978 Carefree, Arizona
- 1977 Hilton Head, South Carolina
- 1976 Pebble Beach, California
- 1975 Tarpon Springs, Florida
- 1974 Montego Bay, Jamaica
- 1973 Rancho Santa Fe, California
- 1972 Naples, Florida
- 1971 Palm Springs, California
- 1970 Acapulco, Mexico
- 1969 Hollywood, Florida
- 1968 Boca Raton, Florida
- 1967 Lahiana, Maui, Hawaii
- 1966 Carefree, Arizona
- 1965 Palm Beach, Florida
- 1964 Palm Springs, California
- 1963 Belleair, Florida
- 1962 Boca Raton, Florida
- 1961 Phoenix, Arizona
- 1960 Palm Beach, Florida
- 1959 Point Clear, Alabama
- 1958 Naples, Florida
- 1957 Boca Raton, Florida
- 1956 Nassau, The Bahamas
- 1955 Belleair, Florida
- 1954 St. Augustine, Florida
- 1953 Ojai, California
- 1952 Belleair, Florida
- 1951 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- 1950 Montego Bay, Jamaica
- 1949 Belleair, Florida
- 1947 Pinehurst, North Carolina
Awards
In addition to the golf, business and educational sessions, ASGCA members also gather at the Annual Meeting for the presentation of the Society’s most elite awards:
Donald Ross Award
The Donald Ross Award, ASGCA’s highest honor, is presented annually to an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to the profession of golf course architecture. First awarded in 1976 to golf architecture pioneer Robert Trent Jones, the honor continues to this day as one of the most prestigious in golf architecture.
Past Winners
| Year | Recipient | Occupation |
| 2020 | Renee Powell | Golf Pioneer, Player, Teacher, Course Owner |
| 2019 | Joe Passov | Golf Writer |
| 2018 | George H.W. Bush | U.S. President |
| 2017 | Alice Dye | Golf Course Architect |
| 2016 | Michael Bamberger | Golf Writer |
| 2015 | Brad Klein | Golf Writer |
| 2014 | Major Dan Rooney | Founder, Folds of Honor Foundation |
| 2013 | Rees Jones | Golf Course Architect |
| 2012 | Bill Kubly | Golf Course Builder |
| 2011 | James Dodson | Golf Writer / Editor |
| 2010 | Tim Finchem | PGA TOUR Commissioner |
| 2009 | Ron Dodson | Sustainable Golf Advocate |
| 2008 | George Peper | Golf Writer |
| 2007 | Dr. Michael Hurdzan | Golf Course Architect |
| 2006 | Jim Awtrey | CEO, PGA of America |
| 2005 | John Singleton | Irrigation Pioneer |
| 2004 | Thomas Cousins | Philanthropist; Urban Golf Developer |
| 2003 | Bill Campbell | President, USGA; Captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club |
| 2002 | Byron Nelson | Professional Golfer |
| 2001 | Jack Nicklaus | Professional Golfer; Golf Course Architect |
| 2000 | Jaime Ortiz-Patiño | Owner and President, Valderrama Golf Club |
| 1999 | Arnold Palmer | Professional Golfer |
| 1998 | Judy Bell | President, USGA |
| 1997 | Gene Sarazen | Professional Golfer |
| 1996 | Ron Whitten | Golf Writer |
| 1995 | Pete Dye | Golf Course Architect |
| 1994 | James R. Watson | Agronomist |
| 1993 | Brent Wadsworth | Golf Course Builder |
| 1992 | Paul Fullmer | ASGCA Executive Secretary |
| 1991 | Michael Bonallack | Secretary, Royal and Ancient (St. Andrews) |
| 1990 | John Zoller | Former Executive Director, No. California Golf Association |
| 1989 | Dick Taylor | Editor, Golf World Magazine |
| 1988 | Frank Hannigan | Executive Director, USGA |
| 1987 | Charles Price | Golf World Magazine |
| 1986 | Deane Beman | PGA Tour Commissioner |
| 1985 | Peter Dobereiner | London Observer Columnist; Author |
| 1984 | Dinah Shore | Sponsor of Women’s Golf Tournaments |
| 1983 | Al Radko | Former Director, USGA Green Section |
| 1982 | Geoffrey Cornish | Golf Course Architect; Historian |
| 1981 | James Rhodes | Governor of Ohio |
| 1980 | Gerald Micklem | Former Captain, Royal and Ancient |
| 1979 | Joe Dey | Former Executive Director of the USGA |
| 1978 | Herb and Joe Graffis | Founders, National Golf Foundation |
| 1977 | Herbert Warren | Wind Golf Digest Columnist; Author |
| 1976 | Robert Trent Jones | Founding Member of ASGCA |
ASGCA Distinguished Service Award
The ASGCA Distinguished Service Award is given to an ASGCA member who has contributed exceptional time and effort to benefit both ASGCA members and the organization. The award winner is chosen by the ASGCA Board of Governors and is not necessarily given annually.
Past Winners
| Year | Recipient |
| 2017 | Past President John LaFoy, ASGCA Fellow |
| 2017 | Past President Don Knott, ASGCA Fellow |
| 2011 | Past President Bill Amick, ASGCA Fellow |
| 2006 | Past President Ed Seay, ASGCA |
| 2005 | Past President Larry Packard, ASGCA Fellow |
| 2005 – posthumously | Past President Jack Snyder, ASGCA Fellow |
Study Tours
ASGCA members are the most knowledgeable golf course architects in the industry. Members continue to look for ways to improve their education and increase knowledge to better serve their clients. One way they build upon professional development is by gathering on a tri-annual basis for study tours that explore great golf courses around the world.
Since 2009, these events have not only allowed ASGCA members to continue building their font of knowledge, but also benefits their clients (and golfers) by making sure the work they do positively benefits all aspects of the game – economically, environmentally and socially.