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Golf Course Architect
John F. Harbottle III was a Tacoma, Washington–based golf course architect active primarily from the 1980s until his passing in 2012.
He trained under Pete Dye before founding his own firm, John Harbottle Design in 1991, and became a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1992, achieving full membership in 1996. His design philosophy was shaped by study trips to Scotland and Ireland as well as the foundational work of architects such as Ross, Mackenzie, and Macdonald—favoring natural links-style layouts that integrate with existing terrain and preserve environmental features.
Harbottle's firm led the top‑to‑bottom renovation of the former San Leandro municipal courses in 2001, transforming them into the Monarch Bay Golf Club’s Tony Lema Course (18‑hole championship layout) and the Marina executive 9‑hole course. His renovation retained natural routing while introducing strategic bunkering, shifted greens, and full‑site reconstruction, creating a seaside links experience along San Francisco Bay.
He passed away in 2012, leaving a legacy of environmentally sensitive, playable coastal and natural‑style courses across the western United States.
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