1. The 9th Par 3 Hole at the Hawk’s Eye Golf Club, Bellaire, Michigan
JOHN F. ROBINSON, B.L.A.
BACKGROUND
John F. Robinson is the President of John F. Robinson – Golf Course Design, Inc.,
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. John began his career working part time for a local golf
course architect/contractor (a former design associate of Pete Dye) in Ann Arbor while
attending the University of Michigan. After finishing his undergraduate degree at
Michigan in Landscape Architecture, Robinson stayed on with the local GCA for three
and a half more years. He then decided to return to Canada to assist his brother William
1

2. G. Robinson, then a partner with recently deceased Geoffrey S. Cornish of Amherst,
Massachusetts, designing golf courses throughout oil rich western Canada. In the next
decade John and his brother designed and renovated over 80 golf courses. During that
decade John worked exclusively with his brother for only four years, the rest of the time
spent building up his own practice in Ontario. Since John’s roots in design began in the
USA, notably Ohio and Michigan, John concentrated on those states occasionally doing
work in other states as well. Recently he has been doing more work in eastern Canada as
the economy heated up in his home province of Ontario.
John brings to each project 43 years of golf course design experience. Robinson
established his golf course design firm in 1977 and since that time has completed designs
for over 120 new courses in the United States, Canada, South America and the Caribbean
as well as renovations on scores of others.
All designs are personally created by Robinson, and his approach is environmentally
oriented. He especially takes pride in the detail and accuracy of his construction
drawings and specifications, along with reliable cost estimates. Robinson believes the
success of the finished course is a direct result of the architect’s personal on-site
involvement, and he is known for his hands on approach to design. Once the designs are
in place, computer renderings can be generated of a typical hole in movie format to test
each hole and give the client a real feeling of what the golf course will look like before
construction begins allowing changes to be made to totally satisfy the client’s wishes.
2

3. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
John F. Robinson is a graduate of the University of Michigan in 1970 with a Bachelor of
Landscape Architecture degree.
AWARDS AND OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
2006—2ND PLACE - GOLF DIGEST’S Best New Public Golf Course under $75
Green Fee in the USA - Blue Heron Golf Club, Medina, Ohio. *Robinson is only
Canadian Architect to have achieved as high a rating on a course in the USA since Golf
Digest began rating courses in 1983.
2002—3RD Place—GOLF DIGEST’S Best New Course in Canada—WhistleBear
Golf Club, Cambridge, Ontario. Hosted the Nationwide Tour for two years before the
tournament was cancelled for lack of sponsorship.
2000—4.5 Star Rated - by GOLF DIGEST—and rated in the top 201 courses in the
USA open to the public—The Legends of Massillon—Municipal Golf Course,
3

4. Massillon, Ohio
1996—1ST PLACE—GOLF DIGEST’S Inaugural Environmental Leaders in Golf
Award—for Prineville Lakes Golf Club, Prineville, Oregon —a course that handles
600,000 gallons of primary treated effluent every day for the City of Prineville, Oregon.
1996—8th PLACE - GOLF DIGEST’S—Best New Affordable Up-Scale Public Golf
Course in the USA—Tukwila Golf Club—Oregon Golf Association’s Home Course,
Woodburn, Oregon.
1996—Featured Golf Course—CRITTENDON’S GOLF INC. magazine - The
Legends of Massillon Golf Course—a municipal golf course for the City of Massillon,
Ohio.
PROJECT HISTORY
Courses by: John F. Robinson
Alaska: Douglas Point G.C., Juneau (1992) with William G. Robinson, Moose Run Golf
Course - Fort Richardson, Anchorage, (1996) solo.
Alberta: Douglasdale Estates G.C., Calgary (1982) with Cornish and Robinson; Lewis
Estates G.C. Edmonton (1989) with Cornish & Robinson; The Links at Spruce Grove,
Spruce Grove (1984) with Cornish & Robinson; The Ranch G. & C.C., Winterburn
(1989) with Cornish & Robinson.
British Columbia: Beaverly Estates Golf Club, Prince George (1996); Brentwood Lakes
G.C., Vancouver Island (1990) with Cornish & Robinson; Matticks Golf Course, Victoria
(1990) with Cornish & Robinson; Moberly Lakes G.C., Chetwynd (1982) with Cornish &
Robinson; Royal Oaks Par 3 G.C. , Richmond (1992) with William G. Robinson; Royal
Pines Golf Club, Prince George (1996); Surrey G. & C.C., Surrey (1989) with Cornish &
Robinson; Golden Eagle G. & C.C., Pitt Meadows (1993) with William G. Robinson;
Kentucky: Greenbrier G.C., Lexington (1971) with Wm. Newcomb; Woodson Bend
Resort G.C., Somerset (1975) with Dave Bennett and Lee Trevino.
Illinois: The Big Stick Golf Club (John Daly Signature/John Robinson Design),
Bolingbrook (2006-2008)
Louisiana: The Links at Stonebridge Golf Club, Gretna – a 27 Hole Championship
facility (2005) solo.
Michigan: Birch Falls Golf Club, Atlanta (2005-2006); Grand Traverse Resort G.C.,
Acme (1994) with William G. Robinson; Great Oaks G.C., Rochester (1970) with Wm.
Newcomb; Greenhills G.C., Linwood (1970) with Wm. Newcomb; Linden Dunes Golf
4

5. Club, Lake Linden, (2006-8); Oasis Par 3 G.C., Plymouth (1969) with Wm. Newcomb;
Prairie Creek G.C., Dewitt (1972) with Wm. Newcomb; The Chief at Sky Lodge, Bellaire
(1996) solo; Fire Stick Precision G.C., Bellaire (2006-2007); Hawk's Eye G.C., Bellaire
(2001) ; Hawk Ridge Golf and Ski Club, Grayling (2001)
Montana: Glacier View G.C., Kalispell (1989 & 92) with Cornish & Robinson.
New Brunswick: Covered Bridge G.C., Hartland (1989) solo; Mount Carleton Provincial
Park G.C., Mount Carleton (1972), Royal Elgin Golf & Ski Club, Petitcodiac (1989) with
William G. Robinson.
Ohio: Auman Timbers Golf Course – Dover, Ohio (2002-3) solo; Apple Valley G.C.,
Mt. Vernon (1972) with Wm. Newcomb; Blackmoor G.C., Wintersville (1993) solo;
Blue Heron Golf Club, Medina, (2003-4); Carroll Meadows G.C., Carrollton (1988) solo;
Oak Shadows Golf Club, New Philadelphia (1994) solo; Pin Oaks National G.C.,
Burbank (2005-7) solo; The Legends of Massillon, Massillon (1993) solo; Turkana
Farms Golf Course, Calcutta (1998) solo; Union Country Club, Dover (1969) with Wm.
Newcomb.
Ontario: Branchton Meadows G.C., Branchton (1990) solo; The Chute Golf Course,
Nippising (2007-8); Grey Wolf Golf Club, Huntsville (2011-12); Lion's Bay (John
Daly/John Robinson Design) Golf Club, Brechin (2007-9); Oak Gables G.C., Ancaster
(1989) solo; Pine Knot G. & C.C., Dorchester (1990) solo; Mill Race G.C., Wellesley
(1992) solo; RiverEdge Golf Course, Kitchener (1998) solo; Rock Chapel Golf Centre,
Burlington (1994) solo; Sally Creek Golf Club, Woodstock (2007-8); Settler's Ghost
G.C., Barrie (2004); Springfield G. & C.C., Guelph (1988) solo; Victoria Heath G. &
C.C., Lindsay (1997) solo; Whistlebear G.C. , Cambridge (2001).
Oregon: Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, Newberg (2002) with Willaim G. Robinson;
Grand Oaks 54 Hole Golf Complex, Dallas (1992) with William G. Robinson; Meadow
Lakes G.C., Prineville (1991) with William G. Robinson; Tukwila Golf Club the new
home of the Oregon Golf Association, Woodburn (1993) with William G. Robinson.
Saskatchewan: Emerald Park G. & C.C., White City (1989) with Cornish & Robinson;
Mainprize Park G.C., Midale (1990) solo; Prince Albert Par 3 G.C., Prince Albert
(1982) with Cornish & Robinson; Saskatoon G. & C.C., Saskatoon (1989) with Cornish
& Robinson; Silverwood Par 3 G.C., Saskatoon (1984) with Cornish & Robinson.
Washington: Tri Mountain G.C., Port of Ridgefield (1993) with William G. Robinson;
Sea Links at Birch Bay, Birch Bay (1983) with William G. Robinson; The Creek at
Qualchan, Spokane (1991) with William G. Robinson.
Antigua, West Indies: Laurie Bay Club G.C., Laurie Bay, Antigua (1975) designed but
not built.
Venezuela: Ciudad Balearnio Higuerote G.C., Caracas (1979) with Dave Bennett.
5

6. Courses Remodeled & Added to by: John F. Robinson:
Alberta: Banff Springs G.C. , Banff (A.9, 1983) with Cornish & Robinson; Belvedere
G.C., Edmonton (R., 1982) with Cornish & Robinson; Cardiff Community G.C., Cardiff
(A. 9, 1983) with Cornish & Robinson; Cardston Golf Course, Cardston (A. 9, 1992)
with William G. Robinson; Edmonton C.C. Edmonton (R., 1981) with Cornish &
Robinson; Elks Lodge G.C., Calgary (R., 1981) with Cornish & Robinson; Enock Hills
G. & C.C., Edmonton (A. 18 1989 & 1991) with Cornish & Robinson; Innisfail G.C.,
Innisfail (A.9, 1984, A.9, 2005) with Cornish & Robinson and (9 Hole Renovation 2012)
John F. Robinson Golf Course Design; Lacombe G.C., Lacombe (A.9, 1984) with
Cornish & Robinson; Sturgeon Valley G.C., St. Albert (A.9, 1983) with Cornish &
Robinson; Windemere G.C., Edmonton (R., 1983) with Cornish & Robinson.
British Columbia: Arbutus Ridge G. & C.C., Vancouver Island (A.9, 1989) with
Cornish & Robinson; Cherry Grove G. & C.C., Oliver (R. 9, A.9, 1993) solo; Cowichan
G. & C.C., Duncan (R., 1989) with Cornish & Robinson; Point Grey G.C., Vancouver
C.C. R., 1982) with Cornish & Robinson; Quilchena G. & C.C., Richmond (R. 1989 &
1992) with William G. Robinson; Victoria G.C., Victoria (R., 1984) with Cornish &
Robinson.
Manitoba: Elmhurst G. & C.C., Winnipeg (R., & A. 9, 1992) solo; Glendale G.C.,
Winnipeg (R., 1983) with Cornish & Robinson; Royal Colwood G.C., Winnipeg (R.,
1983) with Cornish & Robinson; St. Charles G.C., Winnipeg (R., 1983) with Cornish &
Robinson.
Montana: Buffalo Hill G. & C.C., Kalispell (R..1989) with William G. Robinson.
Michigan: Barton Hills C.C., Ann Arbor (R., 1972) with Wm. Newcomb; Boyne
Highlands G.C., Boyne Falls (A.18, 1971) with Wm. Newcomb; Grand Traverse Resort
G.C., Acme (R. 18, Spruce Run 1995); Pine Lake C.C., Pine Lake (R., 1970) with Wm.
Newcomb; West Branch G.C., West Branch 9A.9, 1971) with Wm. Newcomb.
New Brunswick: Miramichi G.C., Newcastle (R., 1990) solo; Moncton G. & C.C.,
Moncton (R., 1989) solo; Rockwood Park G.C., St. John (A.3, 1983) with Cornish &
Robinson; The Algonquin G.C., St. Andrews-by -the -Sea (R. 1993) with William G.
Robinson; Westfield G. & C.C., Westfield (R., 1990) solo; Woodstock G. & C.C.,
Woodstock (R., 1990) solo
Nova Scotia: Northumberland Seaside Golf Links, Pugwash (A.9, 1984) with Cornish &
Robinson.
Ohio: Alliance G.C., Alliance (R., 1994) solo; Arrowhead Park G.C., Minster (A.9,
1991 & R. 1997) solo; Diamond Back G. C., Canfield (A. 9, R. 9 1996); The Legends of
Massillon, Massillon (A. 9, 2001); Wooster C.C., Wooster (A. 9, 1974) with Wm.
Newcomb.
6

7. Ontario: Blairhampton Golf Club, Minden (A. 9 R. 9, 1996) solo; Blue Mountain Golf
Course, Collingwood (A. 9, 1980) solo; Cedar Green G.C., Garson (A. 9, 1982) solo;
Conestoga C.C., Conestogo (A.9, R., 1982) solo; Hollinger Golf Club, Timmins (A. 18,
R. 9, 1997); Huntsville Downs G.C., Huntsville (R., & A.9, 1996) solo; Ironwood G.C.,
Exeter (A .9, 1987) solo; Mississauga C.C., Mississauga (R., 1989) with Cornish &
Robinson; Pine Grove G.C., Sudbury (A.9, 1988) solo.
Oregon: Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, Newberg (A. 9, 2006) with William G.
Robinson; Michelbook C.C., McMinnville (R., 1993) with William G. Robinson;
Oswego Lake Country Club, Portland (R., 1992) with William G. Robinson; Salishan
Golf Club, Gleneden Beach (R., 1993) with William G. Robinson; Pineway Golf Course,
Lebanon (R. 1993) with William G. Robinson; Roseburg Country Club, Roseburg (R.,
1993) with William G. Robinson; Williamette Valley C.C., Canby (R., 1989) with
William G. Robinson.
Saskatchewan: Long Creek G. & C.C., Avonlea (A.9, 1991) solo; Wascana G.C.,
Regina (R., 1982) with Cornish & Robinson.
Golf Courses Presently in Design, Under Construction or Recently Completed
1. Blue Heron Golf Club – Medina, Ohio – This is an award winning 27 hole
championship length golf course and residential development. Opened for
play Spring 2005. Ranked 2nd in the USA by Golf Digest Best New Courses
2006. Contact: Greg Happ Attorney for Owner – (330) 723-7000 –
www.golfblueheron.com
7

8. 2. Fire Stick Golf Club – Bellaire, Michigan – 9 hole precision (par 3) golf course
and 321 lot subdivision the 3 golf course for the same client in 6 years. Under
construction at the present time. Contact: Grant Rowe - Owner (231) 533-
8636.
3. ECO Valley Golf Club – Dwight, Ontario - 18 hole championship length golf
course subdivision – first 9 holes under construction summer 2007. Contact:
John Robinson (705) 300-3281.
4. The ’Big Stick’ Golf Club – Bolingbrook, Illinois – A John Daly/John Robinson
Design. This 8367 yard monster is the ‘brain child’ of Bolingbrook Mayor
Roger Claar. The golf course is the centerpiece of an 800 acre exclusive
residential development. Golf course is in the planning phase. Contact:
Mayor Roger Claar (630) 771-9400.
5. The Villages of Sally Creek Golf Club – Woodstock, Ontario – 18 hole regulation
length golf course in a 600 unit development – first 9 holes under construction
Spring 2007. Contact: Cliff Zaluski - (519) 533-6466.
8

9. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
VACATION RENTALS Bl1ILDlNG DIVISION MARKETING DIVISION
REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE
BELLAIRE GOLF CLUB
T-BONES RESTAURANT
THE CHIEF GOLF COURSE
HAWK'S EYE GOLF COURSE
April 25th, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter as my letter of recommendation for John
Robinson's services as a golf course and land development architect.
My company has been in the golf course development business for the
last 25 years. John has designed three golf courses for me over the past
eight years and has been a pleasure to work with.
I would recommend John for several reasons including the quality of
his design, attention to detail, personal attention to projects, taking
our goals and input into consideration and being able to design
within a budget.
In designing The Chief, our first John Robinson Design golf course, John
and our team had lengthy discussions prior to him going to the drawing
board on what we were looking for in our golf course and surrounding
development. John took those suggestions and created a plan that satisfied
our goals. When building The Chief, we told John that we wanted to
create the hardest golf course in Michigan. We missed making the
hardest, but we are in the top 10 most difficult course in the State. The
Chief is probably the most scenic and dramatic courses in the country.
In contrast, when developing Hawk's Eye, we wanted to create a more
player friendly course which optimized home site development. We also
had a limited budget to work with in the construction of the course. Again,
John designed Hawk's Eye with our goals in mind and created what has
been voted as the 4lh greatest public course in Michigan by Michigan
9

10. golfers. Hawk's Eye also cost less that $2.5M to build, while comparable
courses had budgets in excess of 10M. Needless to say we are extremely
ecstatic with John's design and consultations during the Hawk's Eye Golf
Community Project
Last year, we hired John to design ‘Firestick’, which is a championship
par three course and housing development on 262 acres. In designing this
course, we wanted to create the nations most dramatic, yet player
friendly, championship par three, while again, optimizing home site
development. Again, John did not disappoint. As construction progresses,
we are unbelievably happy with the design. John has designed the course
and laid out the development with all of our goals in mind.
Undoubtedly, John is one of the best golf course architects. He actually
takes developers input into consideration when designing a course. His
attention to budgets is something few architects take into consideration.
On every occasion we have used his services, he has surpassed our
expectations. John's flexibility in changing plans and patience is a true
virtue.
If you choose to use his service, you too will not be disappointed. Should you
wish to discuss John personally, please feel free to contact me directly
at (231) 533-3172.
Kind Regards,
VACATION PROPERTIES NETWORK
President, CEO
5820 Shanty Creek Road· Bellaire, Michigan 49615
REAL ESTATE & BUILDING DIVISION
(231)533-8636 Fax (231) 533-6871
10

11. 11