By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Established in 2004, The Robert Trent Jones Society promotes the many stellar courses designed by the legendary golf course architect and brings together the members clubs themselves.
The Robert Trent Jones Society was formed by Pauma Valley (California) Country Club members Bob Giere and Jack Borchelt, who assembled in Pebble Beach, California, a founding group of RJT-designed courses. Together, their organization would promote the design philosophies of Mr. Jones among the society’s member clubs and throughout the golf industry.
Those founding member clubs include:
- Birnam Wood Golf Club of Santa Barbara, California
- Greenville Country Club of Greenville, South Carolina
- Spyglass Hill Golf Club of Pebble Beach, California
- Old Warson Country Club of St. Louis, Missouri
- Pauma Valley Country Club of Pauma Valley, California
- Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club of Benton Harbor, Michigan
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Club of Gainesville, Virginia
According to its website, “The mission of the Robert Trent Jones Society is to honor Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his work, to preserve the historical information and documents pertinent to the golf courses he designed and to encourage and support the education of member clubs on the design principles of his courses.”
These objectives have stood for two decades, and now with 38 member courses, the objectives of the society are being honored at facilities worldwide. These five initiatives, though individual in their own right, collectively strive to honor the man, create awareness of his philosophies and develop a community of courses that not only appreciate the impact Jones had on their club but share that appreciation across other member clubs.
Today, there are four categories of member clubs within the Robert Jones Society – Charter Members (7), International Members (5), Regular Members (20) and University Members (6).
According to David Leigh, Marketing Director for the Robert Trent Jones Society, “Some clubs have their own Jones Trophy that’s internal to their facility. But we also recently started conducting regional events because we’ve reached a size of member clubs that’s allowed us to do so.”
At Wiltwyck Gofl Club
In 2023, four teams competed in a regional competition in Southern California and in June of this year, one of its newest member clubs, Wiltwyck Golf Club, in Kingston, New York, will host a Northeast Regional Competition for a Jones Cup involving seven clubs – West Point Golf Club, The Tuxedo Club, Anglebrook Golf Club, Upper Montclair Country Club, Metedeconk National Golf Club, North Hills Country Club and Wiltwyck Golf Club.
“Love for the game of golf starts with a love of its history,” according to Trevor Alexander PGA of America Head Golf Professional at Wiltwyck Golf Club. “Whether it’s Hogan, Nicklaus, Watson, Woods or Scheffler, the game has always been a historian’s dream, ever-changing. You’re unable to have today’s champions without yesterday’s legends. It’s the same with golf courses – today’s great architects learned from those who came before them. There would be no Hanse or Fazio without predecessors like Tillinghast, Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr. The RTJ Society keeps alive one of the greatest golf minds that ever lived, and being a part of the RTJ Society is a privilege and an honor for Wiltwyck, its members and anyone who gets to enjoy the rolling fairways, stunning views and perfectly constructed Trent Jones Sr. greens.”
In addition to hosting the inaugural Northeast Regional competition this June, Wiltwyck renamed its annual Member-Member Championship “The Jones” in honor of its great course architect a couple of years ago.
One of the most storied clubs in the United States is a RJT Society member. Hazeltine National Golf Club, a Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Private Facility every year since 2012 when the awards began, has hosted a bevy of USGA National Championships, PGA Championships, NCAA Championships and in 2029, its second Ryder Cup. Hazeltine will host the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship in August.
“Hazeltine National Golf Club has been very fortunate to be guided over the past sixty years by the Jones family,” says Phil Anderson, PGA of America General Manager. “Our rich history and heritage would not have been accomplished without the outstanding partnership. We appreciate the efforts of the society in continuing to nurture and build on the history that has been made.”
According to Leigh, there is an international competition scheduled this summer for the society’s overseas clubs. This growth in member clubs and interaction between them will help its members further the mission and initiatives set forth 20 years ago.
However, there’s a vetting process that ensures the integrity of the volunteer-driven society and the clubs that are proud to be called members. After all, with more than 350 courses designed or redesigned by Mr. Jones, there is plenty of room for growth in the Robert Trent Jones Society.
For more information, log on to the Robert Trent Jones Society website today, and check out the brochure The Design Genius of Robert Trent Jones Sr. – A Course Appreciation Guide.
