Besides working alongside his father at the Latrobe Country Club, Mr. Palmer’s earliest venture into golf course design was in the early 1960’s when he consulted on the design of Indian Lake Lodge with X. G. Hassenplug. During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Arnold Palmer worked with noted golf course architect Francis J. Duane on several designs including Half Moon Bay, The Landings at Skidaway Island, and Myrtle Beach National.

Ed Seay, a U.S. Marine and a golf course architect who had worked for Ellis Maples before going out on his own, had first met Arnold Palmer in Lt Col. Bernie Porter’s club shop in Augusta in 1969. Ed, who is a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, had the distinction on his own of designing Sawgrass Country Club and many other wellknown courses.

One afternoon in the spring of 1971, Bernie Porter called Ed to see if he’d like to drive up to Winston-Salem, have dinner, watch an Arnold Palmer golf exhibit at Bermuda Run, and then drive back home to Augusta together the next day.

During that same exhibit, Arnold Palmer asked the owner, Billy Satterfield, “who had designed the course?” Billy pointed and said, “that guy right over there, Ed Seay.” Arnold Palmer said that he’d like to meet Ed once again. The two met and had an opportunity to talk for a few minutes. A few days later, Ed’s wife, Lynn, told him that Arnold Palmer was on the phone. Though Ed didn’t believe her, he took the call. It was Arnold Palmer. “How would you like to work with me in Tokyo?” Arnold Palmer asked. “Tokyo, Georgia?” “No,” Arnold replied, “No sir, the real one in Japan.”

Ed and Arnold Palmer collaborated on Manago Country Club and they began work on the course in December of 1971. They went on to work together on a second course in Japan, Furano Golf Club, and then The Village Course at Kapalua in Hawaii.

A unique achievement was the awarding of the remodeling contracts to the Palmer-Seay team for both the United States Open Championship at Cherry Hills in Denver and the PGA Championship at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania - both tournaments were in 1978. The duo designed ten courses together and together formed Palmer Course Design Company in January 1979. Since that time, Arnold Palmer has been the company President and Ed Seay is the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President.

Barbara Gonzalez joined Palmer Course Design Company in 1972 and retired as Vice President of Business Development in 1996. Golf Course Architect Robert Walker was hired in 1974 and left the company in 1987.

Harrison Minchew and Erik Larsen were hired in 1982 and 1983 respectively. Minchew is now a Senior Golf Course Architect and Vice President. Larsen, also a Senior Golf Course Architect and Vice President, is also the company’s Managing Director. Throughout the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Palmer Course Design Company’s core design staff grew to eight golf course architects, five of which are members of the prestigious American Society of Golf Course Architects today. ASGCA member Victoria Martz is a Vice President and also serves as the company’s Director of Environmental Design Services. Vicki is one of the few female golf course architects in the world and consults with many of the Palmer projects in her role as environmental design consultant. Golf Course Architect Kevin Benedict is also a member of the ASGCA and is Director of Marketing, over-seeing Palmer Course Design Company’s and their clients marketing efforts. The remaining design staff is comprised of architects Kory Williams, Greg Stang, and Ray Wiltse.

seeing Palmer Course Design Company’s and their clients marketing efforts. The remaining design staff is comprised of architects Kory Williams, Greg Stang, and Ray Wiltse.

During the real estate boom of the early 1990’s. Palmer Course Design Company remained a small but highly motivated and very busy staff. At one time, the staff of 20 had more than 80 active projects and opened more than 50 courses within a five-year period.

The talented group of architects were supported with a small yet dedicated administrative team which included Barbara Gonzalez, Charlotte Stevens, and Deborah Thode. Their expertise in working with contract documents, and specifications, as well as handling a myriad of details and correspondence helped the company stay its busy course.

Since 1991, Eric Wiltse has assembled the company’s information technology network and directed the company’s move from pen & ink drawings to computer aided design technology (CAD). Having the ability to work in both disciplines has allowed the company to remain a leader in the golf design industry.

Keeping a busy design team on track and organized is a daunting task that the administrative staff makes look easy. Deborah Thode, Vice President and Director of Business Administration, leads the busy team comprised of Liz McCarthy, Nancy Ingamells, Virginia Powers, and Christi Boone. Though each team member has specific tasks for which they are responsible, everyone is cross-trained so that the design staff and clients needs are always met immediately. The last ten years have brought many new projects as well as some exceptional additions to the staff. Thad Layton and Ron Howell have joined as Project Coordinators, assisting the architects and clients in every respect of project management. Assisting the designers with the CAD work and IT is Chuck Choiniere. David Couch, a student of University of Florida’s Landscape Architect program, is a studen intern and part-time CAD technician as well.

The Palmer - Seay touch has left its mark on courses located throughout the world. Located in Seay’s hometown of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Palmer Course Design Company has grown to become one of the worlds leading golf course planning and design organization. The foundation of its design and business philosophy is the genuine, traditional and sound standard of excellence that Arnold Palmer has demonstrated throughout his life and career. “The entire staff of the Palmer Course Design Company is driven by the highest degree of professionalism and urgency for our client’s needs and requirements,” says Seay. Arnold and Ed both feel that one of the company’s strongest assets and key to its success is that everyone with Palmer Course Design Company has the freedom of design on all of the courses. “Hopefully all of our courses are different. We do not have a design trademark, nor do we want one. We do, however, strive to design all of our courses so that they are beautiful, constructed soundly within the budget and are fun to play,” says Seay.

The Palmer Course Design Company has more than 250 active projects and open golf courses, covering 37 states and 20 countries.