About Us

Portfolio
Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever growing insistency.
- Daniel Burnham -
FEATURED NEW COURSES

Petoskey, MI
Bay Harbor Golf Club
On what was an abandoned shale quarry and cement factory site perched high above Lake Michigan, the Hills & Forrest team created a 27-hole layout with three distinct loops—the Links, the Quarry and the Preserve Nines. Stretching nearly three miles along the shoreline, the three nines offer gorgeous water views, dramatic rock quarry features and a pristine northern Michigan forest landscape in which to enjoy the strategic golf layout as well as the many other amenities of this world-class resort and yacht club.

Cascais, Portugal
Oitavos Dunes Golf Club
The Oitavos Dunes setting is highly dramatic, with magnificent views of the Sintra Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the westernmost point of continental Europe. We disturbed little of the environment as we routed the golf course in harmony with a piece of property sculpted by nature. Umbrella pines planted more than 50 years ago are a feature on many of the outward nine and the sand dunes preserved by the family over generations provide a true links experience. The course design is much like those found in the British Isles. Every hole is influenced by the winds from the Atlantic Ocean. This “Top 100 in the World” course was designed to maintain and preserve the unique characteristics of the land while taking care to protect the local flora and fauna. In so doing, we created Europe's first “Audubon Gold Signature Sanctuary” course.

Half Moon Bay, CA
Half Moon Bay Golf Links
It is not often that one finds two spectacular golf courses with distinguishably different designs in the same fantastic location. With sweeping, 180-degree ocean vistas on the finish and ever-changing natural terrain that stretches from pines to cliff edge, these two celebrated San Francisco area golf courses, combined with the majestic Ritz-Carlton Hotel, form one of the most impressive resorts in the world. From the firm and fast links style of the Ocean Course to the American traditional parkland style of the Old Course, with its iconic cypress trees, dogleg fairways and distinguishing edges all leading to one of the most photographed final holes in golf – golfers are guaranteed a landscape that provides inspiration every time.

Lost Pines, TX
Lost Pines Golf Club
Named one of the “Best Resort Courses” by Golfweek Magazine, Lost Pines Golf Club’s picturesque course takes golfers through rolling prairies, heavily-wooded ridgelines, and river valleys lined with pecan trees. While at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, the home of Lost Pines, guests will find a full-size, 13-acre practice facility equipped with target greens, a short game area and a practice putting green. Players enjoy scenic views of the lower Colorado River as it winds through the course’s finishing holes.

Jönköping, Sweden
Sand Golf Club
Following the completion of the highly-acclaimed Hills Golf Club, with its “rocky and rolling” terrain near the west coast of Sweden, our client, Martin Sternberg, thought it would be fun to create a “rollicking” links-like course on sandy farmland in the central region of Sweden. So, that what’s we did! The physically-demanding and visually-dramatic layout was immediately recognized as one of the “Top 100 Courses Outside the United States” by Golf Digest.

Westchester, IL
Chicago Highlands Golf Club
This expansive, 270-acre “linksland” with impressive views of the Chicago skyline is free of home sites. Chicago Highlands is dedicated to golf! Massive fescue hills, sprawling bentgrass fairways, ever-changing prairie winds and classic golf challenges all give way to the sweeping skyline views. Who would have ever guessed that a waste landfill could be transformed into one of the most surprising and dynamic golf experiences in the entire Midwest.

Temecula, CA
Journey at Pechanga
Few golf courses embody their name as beautifully as Journey at Pechanga. Set amidst the foothills of the Temecula Mountains and tracing the path of Pechanga Creek, Journey offers awe-inspiring views of Temecula Wine Country and the surrounding rolling hills. During the course's creation, great care was taken to preserve the native live oaks and protect culturally sensitive areas, ensuring the land’s integrity and heritage were honored. The result is a truly remarkable golfing experience that not only celebrates the rich history of the Pechanga Tribe but also showcases the beauty of the natural landscape.

Palm Desert, CA
Bighorn Golf Club (Mountains)
The Mountains Course at Bighorn Golf Club is nothing short of spectacular. Nestled within a dramatic desert landscape, it seamlessly combines impeccably maintained golf with breathtaking natural beauty. Renowned for its dramatic elevation changes, striking rock formations, vibrant desert flora, and panoramic views of the Coachella Valley, the course offers an unforgettable experience. As the host of the PGA Skins Game from 1992 to 1995, it has cemented its reputation as one of the premier private golf communities in the desert Southwest.
FEATURED RENOVATIONS

Bloomfield Hills, MI
Oakland Hills C.C. (North)
Very few Clubs have a tradition as rich as Oakland Hills Country Club. Home of two Donald Ross designs, the North Course is a wonderful, more playable, version of its big brother to the South. Having worked with the Club for over thirty years, we were asked to update the North Course in preparation for the 2016 U.S. Amateur. The end result was a resounding success. The course proved to be a great test for the world's best amateurs and at the same time made it even more fun and playable for the members.

Wilmette, MI
Westmoreland Country Club
Originally founded in 1911, Westmoreland Country Club has a storied history that dates back to the Golden Age of Golf. Originally designed by William Watson, the course was later modified in 1920 by William Langford and A.W. Tillinghast. Over the past three decades, we have assisted the Club with various improvements to the course. The most recent work included rebuilding bunkers, squaring tees, expanding fairways and selective tree management. The result has restored a classic ‘old school’ vibe that is unmistakable.

Naperville, IL
Naperville Country Club
Golf Course Architects can be problem-solvers. When we renovated Naperville Country Club, we addressed practice area safety concerns; eliminated seven blind-shot holes with some creative re- alignments; added 200 yards of length; found space for a new maintenance facility with superior access; and created 100 additional parking stalls plus room for a pool and tennis complex. All this, in addition to improved aesthetics, strategy and playability throughout the course, was accomplished on a mere 126 acres in advance of the Club’s 100th anniversary in 2021.

Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Bay Club
One of the preeminent clubs in southwest Florida, the Bonita Bay Club is home to three award winning Hills • Forrest • Smith designs that take full advantage of the natural environment. In 2019, the Club began an ambitious multi-year effort to upgrade each of its five courses, beginning with Bay Island, followed by Marsh the following year. Along with rebuilding the infrastructure of both courses, we were able to recapture much of the original design intent, add more visual interest and make both of the courses a little more playable and fun for the members. In 2025, we’ll begin the renovation of the Creekside Course.

Naples, FL
Collier's Reserve Country Club
Originally designed in the mid 1990’s, Colliers Reserve Country Club was the first Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Signature golf course. With an environmentally sensitive approach, our design team created a golf course that sat softly on the land and preserved the beautiful natural setting. Twenty- five years removed from the opening, the Hills•Forrest•Smith team was brought back in to give the course a fresh coat of paint. The results were nothing short of spectacular, restoring the golf course to its original award-winning level while protecting and enhancing the south Florida environment.

Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach Golf Club
Miami Beach Golf Club is quietly nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, just minutes from South Beach and world-class hotels and restaurants. Originally laid out by Willie Park, the course opened in 1923 as Bayshore Golf Course and was designed to attract wealthy winter residents from New York, Indianapolis, and Detroit. During World War II, the U.S. Army leased the course, transforming it into a training ground for soldiers. After decades of use, the Hills team was brought in to breathe new life into the course. The result was a resounding success, and today, a century after its founding, Miami Beach Golf Club continues to build on its rich golf history.