The Design Team
The Nicklaus Design Team
Nicklaus Design takes pride in its team of world-class executives and designers.
Every team member has trained under Jack Nicklaus, some for as many as three decades. The design business is managed by industry leader, Paul Stringer, a 35-year veteran in the golf business, directing a team of specialists in agronomy and landscape architecture. With representation in over 14 countries—including the United States, Mexico, China, Korea, Vietnam, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa—Nicklaus Design counts its executives and designers as its strongest asset.
Founder
Jack Nicklaus
Founder
Jack Nicklaus
Founder
Like his legendary golf career, Jack’s golf course design career also begun in Columbus, Ohio. In the mid-1960’s, golf course architect Pete Dye invited the young Nicklaus out to The Golf Club and asked Jack for his recommendation during construction A few years later, Jack and Pete teamed up to design famed Top 100 Habour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, SC. Since the course opening in 1969, Nicklaus Design has elevated the standards of golf course design, developing over 425 courses in 45 countries and 40 states. In 2015, GOLF Magazine named Jack Architect of the Year, the same year he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest honor bestowed on a U.S. civilian. From 2004 to 2007, Golf Inc. Magazine named Jack as the Most Powerful Person in Golf for his impact on the industry through his designs, marketing and licensing business, and ongoing involvement with various charitable causes.
Design Team Executives
President, Nicklaus Design
Paul Stringer
President, Nicklaus Design
Paul Stringer
Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Paul oversees global design business as President, Asia Pacific. Additionally, as Executive Vice President of Business Development, he introduces developers to Nicklaus Design both domestically and internationally. He then works through business and membership plans, pro formas financial statements, and various strategies with the client to provide support during the development of the golf course.
With over 25 years of experience in the golf business, Paul is considered one of the leading experts in the industry. He started his career as a golf professional and general manager at various clubs in the Southwestern United States. He has been a two-term board member of the Southwest Section of the PGA of America and is currently a PGA, CMAA, and was a former ULI member. Prior to joining Nicklaus Design, Paul was a Senior Vice President at Troon Golf and was responsible for establishing and operating new facilities.
Senior Vice President
Ray Ball
Senior Vice President
Ray Ball
As Senior Vice President of Nicklaus Design, Ray is responsible for the daily oversight of design operations for Nicklaus Design as well as project and relationship management. From the headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he focuses on operations, contracts, administration, as well as business development through prospecting for new design clients.
Having started his career with Nicklaus Design in 1992 as a Marketing Assistant, Ray was quickly promoted to the position of Design Coordinator, working with projects in Florida, Australia, and the Philippines. As a Design Coordinator, Ray oversaw the construction of golf courses, ensuring that the integrity of the design was executed in accordance with Nicklaus Design’s quality standards and specifications. Ray brings vast knowledge, experience and contacts to his leadership position at Nicklaus Design.
Director of Design Production
Bobby Root
Director of Design Production
Bobby Root
Working with the company for over 25 years, Bobby is the Director of Design Production at Nicklaus Design. He is responsible for the development of proprietary software that integrates mapping and 3D applications for real-time simulation and game play. Bobby has also developed software that automates course design construction drawings, bill of materials, earthworks calculations, 3D renderings and videos, as well as photorealistic animations that can be used with golf simulators.
Business Development Manager
Tommy Hearden
Business Development Manager
Tommy Hearden
As part of Nicklaus Design’s Business Development Team, Tommy is charged with expanding Nicklaus Design’s North American footprint to influence and grow the company’s domestic portfolio. Further, he is primarily responsible for national market research and lead generation, championing the firm’s unique capabilities in renovation, redesign, new course design and marketing support for Nicklaus Design Clients.
Nicklaus Designers
In order to best serve our clients, Nicklaus Design features an extensive roster of talented designers across the world. Acting as the lead designer on each Nicklaus Design project, their aim is to ensure the Nicklaus philosophy, vision and high standards are implemented and maintained in every design. Their expertise and leadership create the world’s finest golf courses—all of which carry the most respected brand in the industry.
To date, 20 Nicklaus Designers have earned membership into the esteemed American Society of Golf Course Architects. The team at Nicklaus Design is incomparable, providing course designs and services worthy of the Nicklaus name.
Nicklaus Designers
Senior Designer
Dirk Bouts
Senior Designer
Dirk Bouts
Dirk joined the Nicklaus Design team in 1991 as a Design Coordinator. After working on several Nicklaus projects in various countries, Dirk later became a Designer and returned to Europe where he served as the lead designer on projects across the continent. Dirk has been serving as a Senior Designer since 2002 and today, he oversees the European office for Nicklaus Design.
Senior Designer
Chris Cochran
Senior Designer
Chris Cochran
With over 30 years of experience in golf course design, Chris has worked as the lead designer on projects around the world including the recent renovations of Via Mizner Golf and City Club in Boca Raton, Florida and Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club in Auckland, New Zealand. With over 100 completed golf course design projects, he has worked at the Nicklaus Design offices in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Senior Designer
Chad Goetz
Senior Designer
Chad Goetz
Chad brings over 19 years of experience of learning from and working with the best in business. He has served as the lead design on projects throughout the United States, including the great renovation of Great Waters Course in Greensboro, Georgia and Lost Lake Resort in Forestburgh, New York. Chad works out of the Florida office after returning from Spain.
Senior Designer
Sean Quinn
Senior Designer
Sean Quinn
Sean has over 20 years of experience in golf course design, including his work on Forest City in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and Kings Island “Kings Course” in Vietnam. Based in the office in South Africa, Sean brings the vision and passion of Nicklaus Design to golf courses around the world including the extensive projects underway in Vietnam.
Senior Designer
Jim Wagner
Senior Designer
Jim Wagner
With over 20 years of experience at Nicklaus Design, Jim has been a valuable part of our team at every level of design. After relocating to our Hong Kong office in 2004 and later establishing our office in Manila, Philippines in 2012, Jim was the lead designer on numerous projects in Asia including Ocean West International Golf Club in Xiamen, China and the Ocean Course at FLC Quy Nhon Golf Links in Vietnam. In 2021 Jim relocated back to the US, rejoining the team in our Palm Beach Gardens office where he will lead the design effort on several new course projects and renovation projects in the US while continuing to service projects in Asia.
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