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(1959 - 2012)

Born: Washington

Died: May 24, 2012, Los Angeles, California, at age 53

Harbottle, played golf at Seattle University. Recognizing his love for golf-course layouts, he transferred to the University of Washington, and earned a degree in landscape architecture.

In 1984, he went to work for Pete Dye's golf design firm. Eight years later, he established his own firm, John Harbottle Design, which has been based out of Tacoma.

John built nearly 20 new courses, and almost 50 renovations of existing layouts, mostly on the West Coast.

One of his best-known designs - the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain - opened in 1996. It was his third solo project, and was named one of the best municipal courses in the country by a number of golf writers.

Not only had Harbottle established himself as an in-demand designer of nearly 20 new courses, he also was as expert renovator of existing layouts, known as a man with an eye for how to blend a golf course's past and pair it with the modern game.

His ability to restore classic golf courses to their original integrity, while also upgrading outdated infrastructure and adapting the tracks to suit the realities of modern golf, made him a highly sought after designer for old-style courses looking to modernize without losing their intrinsic charm.

Harbottle lent his renovation talents to some of the finest private clubs in California, including the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles and Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. Three other venerable Southern California private tracks Harbottle has renovated include San Gabriel Country Club, which opened in 1919, La Habra's Hacienda Golf Club, which opened in 1920, and Virginia Country Club in Long Beach, which opened in 1909.

COURSES DESIGNED
California
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Brentwood Country Club
590 S Burlingame Ave
-
California
90049
(310) 451-8011
Year Built: 1910
Video
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Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
23600 Mckean Rd
-
California
95141
(408) 323-5200
Year Built: - 1998
1 Rankings / Reviews
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Dairy Creek Golf Course
2990 Dairy Creek Rd
-
California
93405
(805) 782-8060
Year Built: 1997
1 Rankings / Reviews
Video
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Del Rio Country Club
801 Stewart Rd
-
California
95356
(209) 545-0013
Year Built: 1946
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Hacienda Golf Club
718 E Rd
-
California
90631
(562) 697-3610
Year Built: - 1920
1 Rankings / Reviews
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Marin Country Club
500 Country Club Dr
-
California
94949
(415) 382-6700
Year Built: - 1954
Video
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Monarch Bay Golf Club, Tony Lema Golf Course
13800 Neptune Dr
-
California
94577
(510) 895-2162
Year Built:
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Monarch Bay Golf Club, Marina Golf Course
13800 Neptune Dr
-
California
94577
(510) 895-2162
Year Built:
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San Jose Country Club
15651 Alum Rock Ave
-
California
95127
(408) 258-3636
Year Built: 1899
Video
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Stevinson Ranch Golf Course, CLOSED 2015
2700 N Van Clief
-
California
95374
Year Built: 1995
2 Rankings / Reviews
Video
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Schaffers Mill Club
9045 Timilick Dr
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California
96161
(530) 582-6964
Year Built: - 2008
Colorado
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Shining Mountain Golf Club
100 Lucky Lady Dr
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Colorado
80863
719/687-7587
Year Built: 1995
Idaho
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Banbury Golf Club
2626 Merrypost Way
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Idaho
83616
208/939-3600
Year Built: - 1999
1 Rankings / Reviews
Nevada
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Arrow Creek Golf Club, The Challenge Course at Arrow Creek
10391 Tewa Ct
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Nevada
89511
(775) 850-4653
Year Built: - 2000
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Golf Club At Genoa Lakes, Genoa Lakes Golf Course
1 Genoa Lakes Dr
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Nevada
89411
(775) 782-4653
Year Built: 1993
Video
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Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch
2901 Jacks Valley Rd
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Nevada
89411
775/782-7700
Year Built: 1998
Oregon
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Juniper Golf Club
139 Se Sisters Ave
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Oregon
97756
541/548-3121
Year Built:
Washington
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Gold Mountain Golf Course -The Olympic
7263 W Belfair Valley Rd
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Washington
98312
360/415-5432
Year Built: 1996
1 Rankings / Reviews
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Sumner Meadows Golf Links, CLOSED 2013
14802 8th St E
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Washington
98390
(253) 863-8198
Year Built:
1 Rankings / Reviews
Video
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Palouse Ridge Golf Club
1260 Palouse Ridge Dr.
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Washington
99164
(509) 335-4342
Year Built: