Golf Course Architect Ed Seay Dies at Age 69

 

ASGCA Past President and Winner of ASGCA Distinguished Service Award

Was Design Partner to Arnold Palmer for 35 Years

 

Ed Seay, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, died August 14, 2007 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., after a long battle with cancer and related health problems.  He was 69.

Born in Dade City, Fla., Seay served as ASGCA president in 1976-1977 and was given the ASGCA Distinguished Service Award during the organization of golf course architects’ 2006 Annual Meeting. During a career that spanned five decades, he was responsible for nearly 300 new golf courses and more than two dozen golf course renovations, including Bay Hill Club. Most of his designs were created in partnership with golf legend and ASGCA Fellow Arnold Palmer, with whom Seay began working in 1972 and formed Palmer Course Design Company in 1979. Designing a golf course in Communist China in 1981, Seay was among the first American golf course architects to work outside the United States.

Among Seay’s representative golf courses are Sawgrass C.C., Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; The Tradition G.C., LaQuinta, Calif.; The K Club, Straffan, Ireland; Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica; Kapalua Village Course, Maui, Hawaii; Aviara, Carlsbad, Calif.; Old Tabby Links, Spring Island, S.C.; Tralee C.C., Tralee, Ireland; and Adios G.C. in Coconut Creek, Fla.

“ASGCA is saddened with the loss of Ed,” said President Steve Forrest, ASGCA.  “He was one of a kind as a person and did so much for the profession of golf course architecture.  For 40 years, he was one of ASGCA’s great leaders and contributed greatly to the growth and recognition of ASGCA.  He will be missed.”
 

A graduate of the University of Florida and a retired Commissioned Officer of the United States Marine Corps, Seay began his work in golf course architecture in 1964 near Pinehurst, N.C., where he worked for ASGCA Past President, Ellis Maples, a noted golf course architect Seay called one of the finest golf course architects he ever knew.

Seay is survived by his wife, Lynn, and adult children Mason Seay and Tracy Raymond.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, at 10 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It will be followed by a reception at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, ASGCA members may make donations to the ASGCA Foundation, 125 N. Executive Dr., Suite 106, Brookfield, WI 53005. Others making donations are encouraged to donate to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046.

More information on Mr. Seay’s career, as well as video clips of him discussing his work, is available at the ASGCA “Architects Gallery” on the internet. Click here for the ASGCA Architects Gallery

###

Editor’s Note: Photos of Mr. Seay are available upon request.

  Ed Seay received the ASGCA Distinguished Service Award
  in 2006 as design partner and golf legend Arnold Palmer

  looked on.