Karl L. Litten

Karl L. Litten was a prominent American golf course architect noted for his innovative and engineering-driven designs. Born in West Virginia in 1933, Litten started his professional journey in construction before transitioning to golf architecture in Miami. Working first at the firm of Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge, he eventually climbed to vice president before founding his own design firm in 1979. A significant partnership with Gary Player expanded his influence globally, leading to the design of prestigious courses from Florida and New Jersey to Egypt, Japan, and Dubai. His groundbreaking work on Dubai’s Emirates Golf Club and at Dubai Creek helped bring international championship golf to the Middle East, with both courses continuing to feature prominently on the PGA Tour. Litten was recognized by the PGA as one of the 'fab four' golf course designers, alongside the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Fazio. His civil engineering background made him a favorite among developers, especially for challenging or complex terrains.