Architect Bio: Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf

SCOTTSDALE, AZ

Perhaps no architect-player tandem in the golf course design business has been as successful as the partnership of Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf. The pair sizzled on 23 designs before Weiskopf formed his own design company in 1994 and Morrish went off to find his own voice.

To be sure, each man has made his own mark. And did it his way.

Morrish has a basic architecture background. He earned a degree Landscape and Nursery Management in 1963 from Colorado State University, before serving a four-year apprenticeship with Robert Trent Jones. He also worked for two years with George Fazio and 10 more for Jack Nicklaus.

In 1983 he left Nicklaus Design to pursue his own design career. In '86 he formed his partnership with Weiskopf, and since 1994 has worked with his son, Carter.

Most of Morrish's best works happen to be collaborations with Weiskopf. Among them is the TPC of Scottsdale, site of the Phoenix Open, which they designed with input from Howard Twitty and Jim Colbert.

Weiskopf, winner of 15 PGA TOUR titles and the 1973 British Open, has basically learned the design business with on-the-job training.

He and Morrish share a penchant for subdued designs that make the best use of available land. Neither is inclined to move large amounts of earth, preferring to create beautiful, challenging and maintainable holes that suit the terrain and the locale. Morrish, a hands-on designer, puts a premium on building courses that are easy to maintain

Weiskopf is a traditionalist who likes false fronts on greens, and flashy, flowing bunkers, both in the style of Alister Mackenzie. He also takes a hands-on approach, creating courses with balance and, where possible, that are easy to walk He is not a fan of mounding or blind tee shots.

Clearly, the two men excelled as partners, sharing the honor of Architect of the Year from Golf World Magazine in 1996.

Additional courses of note for the two: Troon Golf & Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ; The Boulders in Carefree, AZ; Las Colinas Sports Club in Irving, TX; Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, AZ; Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, KS; La Cantera in San Antonio, TX; Double Eagle Club in Galena, OH; and Loch Lomond Club in Luss, Scotland.