Architect's Gallery
Featuring ASGCA Members and their work

Jerry Matthews

Natural Course Design, Inc.
East Lansing, MI

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Biographical Sketch

Jerry Matthews, President of Jerry Matthews Natural Course Design, is a graduate of Michigan State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning. In 1959, Jerry joined his father, W. Bruce Matthews, Sr., to form the golf course architecture firm of W. Bruce Matthews & Son, which would later evolve into the current firm of Jerry Matthews Natural Course Design. Over the past forty-three years, Jerry has designed or been involved with the design of over 100 new golf courses and 200 remodeling projects on private clubs, public daily fee and municipal golf courses. Many of Jerry's courses have received national recognition in recent years, including the Lakes Course at Michaywe in Gaylord, Michigan; Timber Ridge in East Lansing, Michigan; Elk Ridge Golf Course in Atlanta, Michigan; St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan; and Timberstone Golf Club in Iron Mountain, Michigan--all honored by Golf Digest as being among the top five new public courses designed in the United States.

In addition to being Past President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Jerry is a registered landscape architect in Michigan, a member of the National Golf Course Owners Association, Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, USGA Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association, Western Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. Jerry's experience in the golf course industry is not limited to his design endeavors; he is also an investor/owner of serveral golf courses including The Majestic in Hartland, Michigan and Grand Haven Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Jerry has authored various articles on the topic of golf course design and remodeling and has been a guest speaker at the request of numerous organizations, including but not limited to the American Consulting, Engineers Council, MI, Inc.; Golf Association of Michigan; Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America; Golf Course Builders Association; Irrigation Consultants Association; Michigan Association of Real Estate Appraisers; Michigan Parks and Recreation Association; and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation.

Combined with his continued involvement in the field of golf course design, Jerry currently serves as a vistiting instructor at Michigan State University, teaching a class on Golf Course Design and Construction Techniques in the Turfgrass Management Program.