About
Tad King and his firm King-Collins made a name by transforming the struggling Sequatchie Valley Golf & Country Club into Sweetens Cove Golf Club, now considered one of the world’s top nine-hole courses.
Tad King is an accomplished golf course architect and construction specialist who, alongside partner Rob Collins, co-founded King-Collins Golf Course Design—one of the golf industry’s most innovative contemporary design-build firms. King began his career in golf course construction in 1986, developing deep expertise in all facets of project development, from initial concepts to shaping and grow-in.
He first connected with Collins while both were working in Naples, Florida, on Gary Player Design projects. Sharing a vision for hands-on, collaborative course building, the pair formed their own firm in 2010 and quickly gained attention with their remarkable work at Sweetens Cove, Tennessee. There, King was instrumental in transforming an underfunded, overlooked nine-hole layout into a cult favorite celebrated for its creative green complexes and strategic, playable design.
As Managing Director of Construction, King’s reputation is built on delivering world-class results, attention to detail, and a pragmatic, field-driven approach that blurs the lines between architect and builder. Every King-Collins project bears his touch—from shaping the land to finishing the smallest surface contours—ensuring artistry, function, and fun are at the heart of each course. King’s collaborative leadership and meticulous fieldwork have helped usher in a new era of creativity and critical acclaim for boutique golf design.
