“A true New Jerseyite,” is how ASGCA Past President Rees Jones (Rees Jones, Inc.) describes himself. And it is appropriate, as Jones joined the 2026 class of inductees in the New Jersey Golf Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held April 22 at Upper Montclair Country Club.
NJGolf.org reports:
For Jones, the recognition is both personal and deeply meaningful.
“To be included with all the people that have already been inducted, many of whom I’ve been associated with or been friends with is really special,” Jones said. “It’s an acknowledgement that I’m part of a significant golf history.”
Once he launched his own firm, Rees Jones, Inc., in 1974, Jones quickly built a reputation that extended far beyond New Jersey. Over time, he became known throughout the golf world as “The Open Doctor,” a nickname earned through his work preparing multiple courses for major championships such as the U.S. Open, as well as the PGA Championship and more.
Despite his global reputation, Jones has always maintained a special connection to the state where he first learned the game.
“If any New Jersey club called, I would do the work for them, even if I was extremely busy,” he said. “Because it’s my home state, I felt a strong sense of responsibility.”
That connection dates back to his junior golf days at Montclair Golf Club, where a strong junior program helped introduce him to the competitive side of the game. Jones credits several influential figures from that era, including Hall of Famers Carolyn Cudone and Billy Dear, for helping shape his development.
“They started the junior golf program,” Jones said, “which helped get a lot of us into the game of golf.”
New Jersey also played an important role in shaping his architectural perspective. The region is home to some of the most influential designs from golf’s Golden Age, including courses created by architects such as A. W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross.
“The beauty of New Jersey golf course architecture is that so many accomplished architects built courses here,” Jones said. “They’re models for future architecture.”
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