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Robin Nelson lost his fight with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in November, cutting short the life of Hawaii’s most prolific golf-course architect.
Nelson, who died at age 61, designed 11 Hawaii courses, including Mauna Lani North and South, Royal Kunia and Dunes at Maui Lani. He remodeled 12 more, ranging from Ala Wai Golf Course to Royal Ka‘anapali, Kapalua Bay, Mauna Kea and Mid Pacific, Oahu and Waialae Country Clubs.
Nelson lived in Hawaii nearly 17 years before returning to his hometown of Mill Valley, Calif., in 2000. He played baseball and football at Tamalpais High School and started his design career after graduating from Cal in 1973.
Ten years later, he joined Belt Collins and established Nelson & Wright Golf Course Architects, now known as Nelson & Haworth. The company portfolio includes courses all over the world.
Hawaii pro Ed Kageyama first worked with Nelson on Puakea in 1996. The two also collaborated at Ka‘anapali, Bay View, Coral Creek and a practice facility in China.
"His lack of ego made Robin unique as a golf architect," Kageyama said. "He was great to work with, open to new ideas and really understood the cost to maintain his designs. He would design a course that matched the economics of the course. He appropriately designed courses based on the green fees charge and player type. He would never over-design a course just to make his ego bigger."
Nelson is survived by wife Aniko, daughters Taylour and Briana, and brothers Bill and Peter. A memorial service was held last month in Mill Valley.
Donations can be made at RobinNelsonFund.com. They will be directed to children in need participating in Little League and junior golf associations.
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