Kris Spence...The Bio

Kris Spence believes the best training for a golf course architect comes from the heart of the business – maintaining golf courses as a superintendent. It was this training that brought Donald Ross to course architecture, and it was this training that brought Kris Spence to course architecture.

A common thread throughout Kris’s early career in golf operations was renovating and restoring courses. No matter where he worked, it seemed the course was either in the midst of, or on the verge of, a restoration project. Kris learned in the trenches, successfully renovating, building or restoring such classic courses as: Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga.; Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.; the Governors Club in Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Greensboro Country Club. Such experiences provided a wealth of first-hand knowledge in producing great golf courses and satisfying the golfers who play them.

Spence has won critical acclaim for his design work, much of it focused on restoring the timeless golf architect of the renowned Ross, as well as Ellis Maples, who studied under Ross at Pinehurst. Spence’s restoration of the Ross-designed Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., was named the country’s best restoration by Golfweek in 2002, and is now in Golfweek’s state-by-state ranking of the best courses you can play. In fact, the head of the Donald Ross Society at the time – Michael Fay – had this to say about Grove Park: “The work that was carried out by Kris Spence … is as good as I have seen, anywhere. All in all, I give the restoration an A+ and I really hope Kris is called to do much more of this type of work.”

Grove Park is not Spence’s only success. He’s been lauded for Ross restorations of Mimosa Hills Country Club in Morganton, N.C.; Roaring Gap Club in Roaring Gap, N.C.; Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, N.C.; and Carolina Golf & Country Club in Charlotte. Equally impressive are Spence’s restorations of such Ellis Maples classic as: Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, N.C.; Chatmoss Country Club in Martinsville, Va.; Cedarwood Country Club in Charlotte and Pinewood Country Club in Asheboro, N.C.

The success of such projects has led to a slew of renovations of other courses, including Cowans Ford Country Club on Lake Norman in North Carolina, and Raintree Country Club in Charlotte.

Spence’s next step is feeding his design passion by creating new courses that wow the senses, yet embody the traditional design elements of classic architecture. He crafted an excellent 18-hole par-3 course near his home in Greensboro and is working on a fabulous redesign of Lake Toxaway Country Club in the scenic mountains of North Carolina.

Whether it’s the golfers who play his courses or the staff that runs them, Spence draws high marks for building fundamentally sound golf courses that are fair, yet challenging, and can be maintained to a high level without busting the maintenance budget. “Kris understands that we have to live with the course once he leaves,” said Lou Biago, head golf professional at Lake Toxaway Country Club.
 

Personal
Married - Wife, Julie and three daughters - Kristin, Hanah, and Sarah

Playing Background
Member of the golf team at Arkansas State, 1981-82; golf team at Lake City Community 1983-84.

Education
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas - Undergraduate Studies Agronomy/Horticulture 1980-1981

Lake City Community College, Lake City, Florida - Graduated in 1985 - Golf Operations and Landscape Program

Golf Course Superintendent
1983-1984: Superintendent Atlanta Athletic Club (Riverside Course) - Duluth, Georgia

1985-1989: Superintendent at Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina.  Set up course for four PGA Tour Greater Greensboro Opens, and redesigned two holes (Nos. 3 & 6) in 1989.

1989-1990: Hired as project superintendent for The Governor’s Club in Chapel Hill.  Implemented the design and build of the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus course.

1990-1999:  Hired as Director of Golf Operations at Greensboro Country Club (36-hole private club) - Greensboro, NC

1998-Present: President, Kris Spence Golf Design

Quote – “I was inspired by Donald Ross after playing several Pinehurst area courses in the mid 1980s. It became my professional passion when I began researching his work for the Irving Park restoration at Greensboro Country Club. Being able to recognize what is original and what has been altered is very valuable to me.

“Donald Ross, as well as Ellis Maples, not only designed their courses but also constructed them, and that’s what I do, so I’m following in their footsteps.”