Thomas Walker has designed almost 30 golf courses in nearly 40 years, and one of his crowning jewels is the world-class course at the Founders Club at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, which opened in 2008.

Thomas Walker’s design philosophy can be summed up in one word: Excellence. “Every course we design has to be the best,” he says. “We strive to provide the most enjoyable golfing experience through excellent and exciting design.”

Walker is committed to design improvement throughout the construction process and, he promises, “We are committed to manage each client’s risk and surpass even our own goals.”

Walker served as Vice President of Gary Player Design for six years, during which time he designed six courses. His hands-on approach to his projects, including close supervision of the construction process, has given him mastery of all aspects of golf course architecture.

Walker’s signature style is to make his courses look tough but play fair, and the Founders Club at Pawleys Island certainly embodies this design approach. Walker’s canvas was the former Sea Gull course. He excavated the course and used the dirt to create the sloping fairways, bunkers, elevation changes, and mounding you see today. He also reversed the front and back nines.

His quest to create a visually stunning course echoes Gary Player’s core belief that a course should reflect beauty and harmony and put something back into nature.