A golf course with mountains in the background.

Innovative Golf Course Designs

Ken Kavanaugh Golf Course Design is a distinguished firm specializing in all phases of Golf Course Architecture, ranging from innovative new course designs to the Master Renovation Planning of established courses. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, our founder, Ken, brings his expertise as a trained landscape architect to each project, ensuring meticulous attention to the unique characteristics of every golf course.

Environmental and Technical Expertise

Our firm has extensive experience addressing many environmental and technical site issues, including wetlands preservation, wildlife habitat conservation, stormwater management, and flood control. We approach each project with a thorough understanding of these complexities, delivering solutions that harmonize with the natural surroundings while meeting the highest standards of sustainability and functionality.

“Each project combines a new complement of criteria- I like the challenge of integrating engineering issues and golf course playability - my years in the business keep adding to the reservior of ideas to draw upon. I take pride in projects like Southwyck near Houston and Dell Urich in Tucson. Because of the comprehensive drainage system we built into Southwyck, a typical Texas storm leaves it open for play when other area courses are closed.

-Ken Kavanaugh

A grassy field with water and bushes in the foreground.

Ken Kavanaugh

Ken Kavanaugh was born and raised in the small town of Lawrenceville in southern Illinois. He moved to Arizona from Illinois in 1972, and received his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona in 1976, after undergraduate work in architecture at Arizona State University, and Environmental Science at Southern Illinois University. Ken Kavanaugh Golf Course Design, Inc. was founded in the 1984, by principal and owner, Ken Kavanaugh, as a full-service golf course architecture firm. Ken is a Regular member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and has an unmatched passion for golf and design. Kavanaugh, a scratch golfer, is a former semifinalist in the Arizona State Amateur, and winner of the 1994 Pima County (Tucson) Amateur Championship. Based on a philosophy of strong commitment to client service, the firm has remained small by choice. Mr. Kavanaugh accepts only the number of design commissions that will allow him to play an active, personal role during construction, a strong benefit for both the Project Manager and the golf course contractor.

Lori Kavanaugh

Lori Kavanaugh is a distinguished golf photographer based in Tucson. Lori's remarkable portfolio includes publications in prestigious regional and national magazines such as GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest, LINKS magazine, and GOLF TIPS, among others. Her expertise extends to covering prominent golf tournaments and events, capturing the essence of each course and tournament with unparalleled precision.

Due to her extensive golf background in maintenance, construction, architecture and photography, Lori has a complete understanding of what golf course designers, developers, owners and club members are looking for. Her remarkable golf maintenance background includes on-site experience at Troon Country Club and Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale; The Boulders and Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree and Ventana Canyon in Tucson. Lori is a serious tournament player, former Tour caddie, current First Tee and high school golf coach, and received a B.A. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona in 1988.

A golf course with trees and water in the background.

Professional Affiliations

Kenneth M. Kavanaugh Golf Course Design maintains affiliations with esteemed organizations in the golf and landscape architecture industries, including:

American Society of Golf Course Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
National Golf Foundation (Professional Member)
Donald Ross Society
United States Golf Association
Urban Land Institute

Press Highlights and Other Recognitions

https://arizonasgolf.com/longbow-golf-club

https://scottsdalegolfing.com/scottsdale-arizona-golf-courses/longbow-golf-club

https://www.themesatribune.com/news/legendary-longbow-course-sold-to-gilbert-group-for-8-9m/article_ee93f3f8-48bd-11ed-a21f-0fad5179a5a3.html

https://azgolfwizard.com/best-public-golf-courses-in-mesa-az/

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/golf/2023/06/09/arizona-best-golf-course-ranking-2023/70307075007/

http://www.golfarizona.com/departments/coursereviews/mesa/longbow-golf-club3-588.htm

http://www.golfarizona.com/departments/coursereviews/tucson/arizona-augusta-national.htm

http://www.golfarizona.com/departments/features/east-valley-golf.htm

http://www.golfarizona.com/departments/coursereviews/gold-canyon-golf-resort.htm

http://www.golfarizona.com/departments/coursereviews/mesa/longbow-golf-club.htm

https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/redesign-gives-longbow-a-boost/article_5782ec40-4dc6-512e-a4f2-ab132621b6ca.html

https://tucson.com/sports/golf/greg-hansen-re-brand-el-rio-golf-course/article_e7bc69ec-8339-5810-a95d-3f953abcfb16.html

http://www.golfarizona.com/long1.htm

http://www.golfarizona.com/dinohole.htm

https://trib.com/sports/prairie-links/article_966d723c-6308-5183-bfa1-5f33f4aeb5fe.html

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/murphy-creek

https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/courses/1814-murphy-creek-golf-course?sort=contextdatavalue_year%3Aasc%2Ccontextdatavalue_month%3Aasc%2Ccontextdatavalue_day%3Aasc

https://www.golfscout.net/golf-course/orchard-valley-golf-course-aurora-illinois

Get in Touch

Feel inspired by our passion for excellence in golf course architecture? Contact us today to discuss your project needs and discover how Ken Kavanaugh Golf Course Design can bring your vision to life. Let's create something extraordinary together.

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