George Cobb

George W. Cobb (1914-1986) ASGCA

Designer of Cabarrus Country Club, George Cobb played golf his entire life. His passion for golf and landscape architecture led him to design over 100 original courses as well as many re-designs. Through his work, George Cobb's name has become widely recognized throughout the United States especially in the Southeast. Never heard of him? If you are an avid golfer, most likely, you have played on one or more of his courses.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, George Cobb stayed close to home and attended the University of Georgia. He joined the University's golf team continuing his childhood love of golf while studying for a Landscape Architecture degree. After graduation in 1937, George Cobb was hired on by the National Park Service as a Landscape Architect until 1941 when Cobb served as an engineering officer in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII.

His first golf course design was at Camp LeJeune, a military base in North Carolina. The purpose of the golf course was to be a physical rehabilitation facility for wounded GIs. With no prior golf course experience, Cobb hired experience course designer Fred Findlay to provide guidence. After completing his first golf course, Cobb continued to design and build the course at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on his own before being discharged in 1947.

Using the knowledge and experience gainned from the military, Cobb started his own golf design business and designed six courses before being recalled to active duty in 1951 for the Korean War. By 1956, Cobb and his family settled into Greenville, South Carolina and took advantage of the booming golf development in the Southeast to create over 100 original golf course designs.

George Cobb's Par 3 Course at Augusta National Golf Club may be his most prominent design albeit his shortest course. The 1,060 yard "little course" opened in 1959 with design input from Clifford Roberts, chairman of Augusta National. Since 1960, the Par-3 Contest has been held on Wednesday of Masters Week. Today, the Wednesday Par-3 Contest is pure fun for players and patrons alike. Cobb also retouched Augusta National's "big course" in 1967 and again in 1977 molding the Augusta National golf course into what it is today.

Cobb passed away in 1986. While his golf course building came to a stop, his legacy lives on through his courses and the joy many feel playing to this day.
Geoge Cobb's More Known Courses
Facility Name
City State Built
Fort Mill Golf Club Fort Mill SC 1948
Fort Jackson Golf Course Columbia SC 1949
Wildcat at Fort Jackson Golf Club Fort Jackson SC 1949
Carmel Country Club (North course) Charlotte NC 1950
Lake/Cedar at Greenwood Country Club Greenwood SC 1950
Jacksonville Country Club Jacksonville NC 1951
University of North Carolina Finley Golf Course Chapel Hill NC 1951
Country Club of Sapphire Valley Cashiers NC 1956
High Hampton Inn & Country Club Cashiers NC 1956
University of Maryland Golf Course College Park MD 1956
Vestavia Country Club Birmingham AL 1958
Surf Golf & Beach Club North Myrtle Beach SC 1960
The Nine Hole at Augusta National Golf Club Augusta GA 1960
Berkeley Country Club Moncks Corner SC 1961
Quail Hollow Club Charlotte NC 1961
Sea Pines Resort (Sea Marsh course, renamed Heron Point) Hilton Head Island SC 1961
Oak Island Golf Club Caswell Beach NC 1962
Wildcat Cliffs Country Club Highlands NC 1962
Windsor Forest Country Club Savannah GA 1962
Dublin Country Club Dublin GA 1963
Gainesville Golf & Country Club Gainesville FL 1963
Hound Ears Club Boone NC 1963
Milledgeville Country Club Milledgeville GA 1963
Barony at Port Royal Golf Club Hilton Head Island SC 1964
High Meadows Golf & Country Club Roaring Gap NC 1964
Adventure Inn Golf Club Hilton Head Island SC 1965
Burningtree Country Club Decatur AL 1966
Cabarrus Country Club Concord NC 1966
       
North Ridge Country Club (Lakes course) Raleigh NC 1967
Robber's Row at Port Royal Golf Club Hilton Head Island SC 1967
Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort (Great Oaks course) Saint Simons Island GA 1967
Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort (Tall Pines course) Saint Simons Island GA 1967
Sea Pines Resort (Ocean course) Hilton Head Island SC 1967
Santee Cooper Country Club Santee SC 1968
Country Club of Charleston Charleston WV 1969
Clipper/Galleon at Shipyard Golf Club Hilton Head Island SC 1970
Galleon/Brigantine at Shipyard Golf Club Hilton Head Island SC 1970
Spanish Wells Club Hilton Head Island SC 1970
Red Wing Lake Golf Course Virginia Beach VA 1971
Bald Head Island Country Club Southport NC 1972
Cleghorn Plantation Golf & Country Club Rutherfordton NC 1972
Connestee Falls Golf Course Brevard NC 1972
Inverness Country Club Birmingham AL 1973
Stonebridge Golf Course Memphis TN 1974
Linville Ridge Country Club Linville NC 1983
Cat Island Country Club Fripp Island SC 1985
North/East at Athens Country Club Athens GA 1985
Sanctuary Golf Club Beaufort SC 1985