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August 31, 2007
Alumnus Has a Passion for the Game (And the Grass)
Golf course architect links to Texas Tech.
Written by Jon Fox
Dave Bennett has been designing golf courses around the globe for more than 40 years.
With a love for the game of golf, landscape architecture and being self-employed, it seemed almost destiny that Dave Bennett would end up designing golf courses around the globe.
Combining his ability to envision a golf course before it is even completed with his love of golf, Bennett takes pride in personally involving himself in every aspect of the design phase of any project from large real estate developments to resort planning, paying close attention to detail.
“My goal is to provide a quality course known for its playability, fairness and challenge for all skill levels of golfers,” he said.
If you play golf in the state of Texas, there is a good chance that you have played at or heard of one of Dave Bennett’s courses. He has designed golf courses for more than 40 years and worked with many big names in the golf world including PGA tour golfer Lee Trevino.
Bennett has been involved in the master planning and construction management of more than 100 courses in 14 different states, as well as nine countries including Canada, Mexico and Venezuela.
Bennett’s most popular courses include Cimarron Country Club’s course in Mission and Country Hills Golf Club’s Ridge and Links Courses in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. But his proudest achievement is in Plano at Prestonwood Country Club’s Hills Course.
“Prestonwood’s Hills Course, by far, has some of the best greens in Texas,” he said.
Currently, he is working on one of his largest projects, “The Reserve at Westlake,” a public 27-hole golf course with more than 500 home sites in Westlake, La. Bennett is involved with every detail of this project, doing all of the design and direction. This will be Bennett’s second course on the Audubon Golf Trail.
Planting the Seeds of a Dream
Bennett looks forward to visiting Lubbock next spring for his 50th reunion. He received a bachelor’s degree in park administration and landscape design in 1958.
Hole #2 Green: Country Hills Golf Club's "Ridge Course" in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Click for a larger view)
Bennett arrived at Texas Tech in 1954 without any money for tuition, but was able to earn his way through college by working and winning a scholarship his junior and senior years. Taking a full load each semester, he spent numerous hours studying in his dormitory to receive high grades. When he wasn’t studying, he worked for the city’s Planning Department and graded papers for his professors to pay his way through school.
Initially Bennett wanted to become either a florist or a commercial grower. Because of his experience and interest in plants, he was put in charge of the Texas Tech greenhouses. He recalls his time at Texas Tech planting chrysanthemums around campus and living in West Hall when it was a dormitory.
After receiving his degree, he began to work for the Texas Department of Transportation’s landscape division, designing roadside parks, maintenance facilities and district office sites among other duties.
He dreamed of playing competitive golf, but his scores were not quite at the professional level. Bennett spent a lot of time on the golf course in his spare time trying to better his score.
“I decided if the caddies can beat me, it might not be what I am supposed to do,” he said.
The Next Best Thing
Hole #6 Green Prestonwood Country Club's "Hills Course". (Click for a larger view)
Bennett ended up doing the next best thing—designing the courses himself.He designed his first golf course in 1964: Shady Oaks Golf Course in Baird a town east of Abilene.
His design portfolio continued to grow along with his reputation. He employed Trevino in 1970. Bennett/Trevino – Golf Course Architects designed many golf courses, including Arthur Pack Golf Course in Tucson, Ariz.
The same year, Bennett had a large hand in passing the law to license architects in Texas, writing most of the law himself. For his work he was deemed member number 007. His peers jokingly laugh that the membership number gives him the “license to kill…plants.”
“This was a major accomplishment for me, as this was my labor of love,” he said.
Related
Dave Bennett has been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects ASGCA since 1979. He is the only one of 12 members in the state of Texas that has received the status as a fellow.
Top Rankings are Par for This Course
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