Forrest L. Richardson

Forrest L. Richardson (born April 12, 1959) is an American golf course architect and member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).

Professional career Forrest Richardson began his career under the guidance of Arthur Jack Snyder, a golf architect who changed his career from golf course superintendent to designer in the late 1950s. Snyder served as Grounds Superintendent of Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh in the early 1950s. In 1988 Forrest Richardson founded Golf Group Ltd. (now known as Forrest Richardson Golf Course Architects). Forrest Richardson Golf Course Architects is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Forrest Richardson has designed, remodeled and restored more than 20 golf courses and has been involved in the planning of more than 100 golf projects in and outside the US. Forrest Richardson served as President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) in 2020-21.

Other accomplishments and career highlights

Prior to becoming a golf course architect, Richardson had a brief career in market research and then in television art direction. He was Art Director of KPHO Television in Phoenix, Arizona from 1980 to 1981. In 1981 he founded Richardson or Richardson (dba Richardson Design) with his wife, Valerie. The firm, based in Phoenix, Arizona, was a design consultancy serving clients including Hilton Hotels, Disney Development, News Corporation and Coca-Cola. The firm specialized in brand development, packaging and environmental graphics. In 1986 the couple decided to shift away from branding and marketing to allow Forrest to pursue his work as a golf course architect. Richardson has written five books on the subject of golf course architecture and is a contributor to some magazines and publications on golf management and golf development.

Books authored

Year Title Publisher Notes 2002 Routing the Golf Course - The Art & Science That Forms the Golf Journey John Wiley & Sons (Hardcover) 2005 Bunkers, Pits & Other Hazards: A Guide to the Design, Maintenance, and Preservation of Golf's Essential Elements John Wiley & Sons (Hardcover) 2005 On Course - A Dictionary of Words & Terms Used by Golf Course Architects On Course Publishing (Softcover) 2013 Course Brains - 25 Questions To Help Measure the I.Q. of Your Golf Course On Course Publishing (Softcover) 2013 Of Course - Portfolio of Projects of Forrest Richardson & Associates 1994 to Present On Course Publishing (Hardcover)

Representative golf course projects

Course Location Notes Shalimar Golf Club (aka Caddyshack and Cheers! In Tempe) Tempe, Arizona (with Forrest Richardson) 1961 Arizona Grand Resort (aka Phantom Horse and Pointe at South Mountain resort) Phoenix, Arizona (with Arthur Jack Snyder) 1985 Legend Trail Golf Club Scottsdale, Arizona (with Arthur Jack Snyder and Rees Jones) Links at Las Palomas Puerto Peñasco, Mexico (with Arthur Jack Snyder) Olivas Links Ventura, California The Hideout Golf Club Monticello, Utah (with Arthur Jack Snyder) Coyote Lakes Golf Club Surprise, Arizona (with Arthur Jack Snyder) Lookout Mountain Golf Club Phoenix, Arizona Short Course at Mountain Shadows Paradise Valley, Arizona Peacock Gap Golf Club San Rafael, California Coldwater Golf Club Avondale, Arizona Berkeley Country Club El Cerrito, California Original design by Robert Hunter, restored 2011 Wigwam Golf Club - Gold Course Litchfield Park, Arizona Original design by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., remodeled 2005 Arizona Biltmore Golf Club Phoenix, Arizona Original design by William P. Bell, remodeled 2004 Baylands Golf Links Palo Alto, California Reconstruction project 2018