Rocky Roquemore
William "Rocky" Roquemore born 10 August 1948 is an international golf course designer. He runs a small Summerton, South Carolina United States based design company that has designed a number of popular courses in Portugal, Scotland, France, Venezuela, Columbia and the Caribbean, as well as numerous American links.
Roquemore grew up in Lakeland, Georgia. Graduated Lanier County High School in 1966 where he was an honor student, outstanding athlete and president of the student body. His great grandfather Robert L. Patten founded Patten Seed Company in 1901. The company in the 1950s became the first commercial producer of turf quality hybrid Bermuda grasses. The first users were golf courses in the Deep South. Roquemore moved from the tobacco fields to converting old and planting new golf courses, where he became acquainted with most of the golf course architects of the day.
His family built their first course in 1965 designed by Dick Wilson and Joseph L. Lee. He subsequently interned under their them on several courses.
Roquemore was appointed to the U S Air Force and served (by his own admission) as a very undistinguished cadet, leaving after two years. He then attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, preparing himself for a career in golf design. He was hire in 1969 as an associate of Joe Lee. His first assignment was onsite supervisor for the construction of the first three courses at Walt Disney World. In 1974 Joe Made him a partner in the firm. During the partnership the designed or renovated over 100 golf courses. Two of those were chosen as best new course by Golf Digest Magazine, several other were in the top ten. Others have been highly ranked in the US and abroad.
The Roquemore family including Rocky have designed, built and operated approximately 20 golf courses, most under the umbrella of Canongate Golf Clubs. Canongate proved to be one of the more profitable multi course companies and was sold to larger operator. The Roquemores were chosen by the National Golf Foundation as the Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the year in 1995 and Patten Seed Company the Georgia Family Business of the Century in 2005.
Roquemore was a director of The Georgia State Golf Association and was instrumental in bringing daily fee, municipal courses and women into the association. His sister Lee Burton Roquemore followed as the first female director of the association.
Roquemore has served on the boards of directors of several organizations with a focus on not for profit. He has designed and the family donated public parks in Lakeland, Ga.
a Partial list of courses designed or codesigned
Palm -and Magnolia Courses at Walt Disney World
La Costa, Carlsbad Ca. Long time home of The Tournament of Champions
Pine Meadow, Chicago. Best new course 1986
Stonehenge, Crossville, Tn . Best new course 1987
Dubsdread, Cog Hill, Illinois. Long time home of the Western Open.
San Lorenco Portugal best new course in Europe, ranked as high as #2 in Europe.
Sources: http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/rocky-roquemore.html http://www.planetgolf.com.au/index.php?id=154