Ty Butler, ASGCA, has announced the formation of Brio Golf, a full service golf course design firm. Butler, former Vice President and Senior Project Designer with Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects, has spent 25 years designing, renovating and constructing nationally ranked and renowned golf courses around the world.
Brio Golf focuses on “design with the human spirit in mind,” with the goal of creating golf experiences that engage golfers of all levels.
The foundation of Brio Golf’s philosophy to create courses that inspire and challenge golfers to play their best is achieved through innovative and imaginative strategic design methods. Through years of experience, Butler has established a collaborative approach to designing and renovating courses embodying these principles. The results are courses which are engaging, fun to play and invigorate the human spirit.
“I am very excited to start Brio Golf, and look forward to working with existing clients, as well as establishing new relationships, and working in a collaborative manner to continue creating special courses” Butler said. “The foundation of Brio Golf’s philosophy is to create courses, whether new or renovated, that invigorate the human spirit, and inspire golfers of all ages. Truly inspirational golf courses challenge you at every turn. These challenges, coupled with the unique beauty of the setting, are the greatest aspects of the game. I strive to design courses with an array of strategic options and a high degree of aesthetics to create this inspiration and equally challenge players of all levels. I believe when this is achieved the experience can lift your spirit and inspire to you play your best golf.”
Many of Ty’s courses have been recognized in state and national rankings for their design excellence. The Kalúhyat Course at Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, New York, was honored by Golf Digest as one of the “Best New Upscale Public Courses” of 2004. Shortly after opening, Kalúhyat entered Golf Digest’s “Americas 100 Greatest Public Courses” and is currently ranked 82nd in the U.S.
Also grabbing national attention is the rugged and picturesque Sunday River Golf Club in Newry, Maine. Situated in the Mahoosuc Mountain range overlooking the spectacular Sunday River Valley, the course has garnered a reputation as one of the most playable mountain courses in the country and is recognized by Golf Magazine in their “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” ranking 92nd.
Other notable designs include the recently opened Sewailo Golf Club. A collaboration with Notah Begay III, Sewailo is a beautiful desert oasis style course in Tucson, Arizona. Also, Sequoyah National Golf Club in Whittier, North Carolina, Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina and Seneca Hickory Stick, in Lewiston, New York. All are ranked Top 20 golf courses in their respective states by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek.
International designs included Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Butler transformed an existing ordinary course into one of the “Best Golf Courses of the Caribbean and Mexico” as reflected by Golfweek’s ranking of the course at 31st in the region. Also, Royal Golf La Bagnaia, in the beautiful Tuscany Region of Italy at the luxurious Borgo la Bagnaia Spa and Conference Resort; the Terre dei Consoli Golf Course in Monterosi outside of Rome, Italy; and the Silver Cloud Golf Club in Fuzhou, China.