About
Kris Spence’s passion for golf started in a town without a golf course—he discovered the game at age 10 after finding a set of clubs left behind by a neighbor and learned by pretending to be Jack Nicklaus.
Kris Spence is a prominent American golf course architect, distinguished for his expertise in the restoration and design of classic golf courses. With a career spanning over 25 years, Spence is known for his traditionalist approach, meticulously reviving and reclaiming courses originally designed by legends like Donald Ross and Ellis Maples. Growing up in rural Steele, Missouri, Spence discovered his passion for golf as a child, later formalizing his expertise with a degree in Golf Operations and Landscape from Lake City Community College in 1985. He started his career as a superintendent, gaining invaluable experience in course maintenance and construction before founding Kris Spence Golf Design in 2000. His acclaimed work includes the lauded remodeling of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, acknowledged as one of the best remodeling projects of 2003, and the transformation of Providence Country Club in Charlotte. Spence is celebrated for his ability to blend historical accuracy with modern playability, making him a sought-after figure in classic course restoration.
