Ron Whitten

Ron Whitten is a renowned golf course architect and writer whose passion for golf architecture began in his youth. Initially fascinated by the layout of courses rather than playing the game, Whitten worked on course maintenance during college in Lincoln, Nebraska, before obtaining a law degree. While working as a prosecuting attorney, he wrote 'The Golf Course,' a seminal book on golf course architecture. His expertise led him to a long career at Golf Digest as an architectural editor, where he influenced opinions about U.S. golf courses for decades. Whitten transitioned to hands-on course design, notably co-designing The Architects Golf Club in New Jersey and Erin Hills in Wisconsin—the latter chosen for the 2017 U.S. Open, a rare honor for such a new course. Throughout his career, Whitten combined scholarship with practical design, leaving a mark both through his writing and the landscapes he helped shape.