Lester George

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Lester George, born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1955, is an internationally renowned golf course architect.

George, the son of air force personnel, who settled in Richmond, Virginia after attending The University of Richmond, where he founded the school’s orienteering team. Following college graduation in 1977, he spent four years in the army as an artillery officer, subsequently received his Master’s Degree from US Army Command & General Staff College and remained in the Army Reserves until retiring a Lieutenant Colonel in 2003. This military career coincided with the development of his career as a golf course architect.

Serving as a Design Coordinator for Golf Services International from 1987 to 1991, George studied with other golf course architects learning all aspects of golf course design and construction. In 1991, George opened his own golf course architecture firm, Colonial Golf Design, Inc.. He attended the Harvard Design School, Golf Course Architecture in 1992, which launched his solo career. Colonial Golf Design has since evolved into George Golf Design, Inc. and is located in Richmond, Virginia.

Over the past 15 years, George has developed a niche in renovating and restoring classic golf courses designed by some of the most revered golden age architects and has worked with many of the most historic and well-regarded golf facilities on the East Coast.

Lester George donated much time and effort to the First Tee Program designing and overseeing construction of The First Tee Chesterfield, the premiere 18-hole First Tee course in the United States.

Trendsetting architecture is a mainstay of George Golf Design. Uusing abandoned landfills as a canvass and successfully transforming two brownfields into golf courses -- converting overgrown hazardous areas into plush, green recreational turf -- won Lamberts Point Golf Course environmental affinity awards.

George’s projects have won numerous awards. Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia was awarded the honor of Best New Private Golf Course of 2001 by Golf Digest Magazine. Kinloch is also rated the Number 1 Golf Course in Virginia. Lester’s flagship course, The Colonial Golf Course, in Williamsburg, VA, was honored as one of The Top Ten Daily Fee Golf Courses in America, by The Golfer Magazine.