About
Ellis Maples supervised the construction of Raleigh Country Club, the last course designed by Donald Ross before Ross's death, cementing his legacy as a key link between Ross and modern golf course design.
Ellis Maples was a prominent American golf course architect born in Pinehurst, North Carolina in 1909. Growing up, he worked summers with his father Frank, a lead construction superintendent for Donald Ross, one of golf course architecture's greats. After college, Maples gained hands-on experience managing and maintaining courses before overseeing the construction of Raleigh Country Club—Ross’s final design—in 1948. By 1953, Maples established his own firm, shaping the golfing landscape across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with over 70 course projects to his name. He was especially noted for his subtle, timeless designs that reflected a "less is more" philosophy, emphasizing natural features, simplicity, and playability, which minimized maintenance and construction costs. His work includes celebrated courses like Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina, Pinehurst No. 5, and Forest Oaks Country Club. Maples was inducted into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame and served as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
