About
Jim Urbina’s first day in the golf business was digging a drainage ditch for Pete Dye; he quit after that day, but returned when offered the chance to operate a bulldozer—and that decision launched his design career.
Jim Urbina is a highly respected American golf course architect whose career reflects both an artisan’s devotion and a scholar’s appreciation for the game. Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Urbina graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in education, working initially as a high school drafting teacher. His introduction to the golf industry came through legendary designer Pete Dye, for whom he shaped and supervised projects throughout the 1980s, learning the “design/build” craft firsthand—a philosophy grounded in being on-site and intimately involved in every detail.
Urbina forged his name over 17 years with Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design, emerging as a shaper, collaborator, and lead designer on acclaimed modern classics such as Apache Stronghold, Pacific Dunes, Sebonack, and co-designing Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald, where his grasp of historical influences shines. Recognized as a master of restoration, Urbina has revived masterpieces like Pasatiempo, San Francisco Golf Club, and Yeamans Hall, always honoring each course’s original spirit while adapting it for contemporary play.
Today, through his own Jim Urbina Golf Design, he continues to champion architecture that embraces strategic variety, enjoyment, and minimal disruption, making him a favored consultant for Golden Age restoration and new projects seeking a soulful connection to golf’s traditions.
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