Brandon Johnson

Brandon Johnson is a renowned American golf course architect with over 25 years of experience in the industry. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Johnson discovered his passion for golf course design as a young student, ultimately earning a degree in landscape architecture from North Carolina State University in 1997 before completing a master’s at Harvard. Early in his career, he worked with the PGA Tour and First Tee organization, managing the development of hundreds of junior golf facilities. Johnson rose to prominence during his 17 years at the Arnold Palmer Design Company, where he served as a vice president and contributed to many high-profile projects, including the Lonnie Poole Golf Course, Bay Hill renovations, and PGA National Palmer Course. In 2024, he established his own firm, Brandon Johnson Golf Course Design, headquartered in Sanford, Florida. Johnson is one of only two Black members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and is widely recognized for his creative, hands-on, and strategically engaging approach to design.