A Life in Golf
– Jay Blasi –
Jay Blasi’s path in golf course architecture started before most kids learn to ride a bike. By the age of 2, he was putting on a backyard green built by his father. At 4, he was sketching golf holes; in high school, he declared his goal was to design a U.S. Open course.
After earning a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin in 2000, Jay joined Robert Trent Jones II in California. Over 11 years, he contributed to projects around the globe and served as lead architect for Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington—the site of the 2015 U.S. Open—as well as The Patriot in Oklahoma and Stanford University’s Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex.
In 2012, Jay founded Jay Blasi Design, based in Los Gatos, California. Since then, he’s led acclaimed transformations at SentryWorld in his home state of Wisconsin, Santa Ana Country Club in California, and Poppy Ridge in Northern California, among others.
Known for his on-site, land-first approach, Blasi favors natural contours, strategic variety and fun, walkable golf. All of his courses have garnered major awards and rank in the top 2% nationwide, and many have hosted USGA Championships.
Jay was named to Golf Channel’s Top 5 Architects Under 40 in 2017 and received the University of Wisconsin’s Forward Under 40 Award in 2015. In 2025, Today’s Golfer named him among the “Next Superstar Architects.”
He is currently working on projects in California, Texas, Wisconsin, Washington and Minnesota, and contributes to Golfweek as a writer.
Course Locations
From the board
room to the dirt
In a day and age when most designers are either comfortable in a boardroom or in the dirt, Blasi is the rare talent who thrives in both arenas.
Jay is an accomplished public speaker who is known to captivate audiences and educate memberships in a welcoming manner. He is also well versed in preparing detailed plan sets, budgets, schedules and working as part of a team to execute large projects. As such, every one of Jay’s projects has been delivered on time and on budget. Where Jay differs from many “plan set” architects is his dedication to getting the details right in the dirt. Jay is committed to being on-site more than just about any other designer around.
He made 83 visits to Chambers Bay, moved to Orange County to work on Santa Ana CC and he flew back and forth weekly to SentryWorld and Lakeside CC.
Jay’s hands-on approach is what makes his courses feel so natural and timeless. He doesn’t impose a signature style; he works with the team to pull the best out of what is there. By being present, discoveries are made and subtle design modifications can be done in real time. These minor refinements may seem insignificant to most but they are the difference between good and great.
Site specific
Jay has a rare gift for designing golf courses that feel as if they’ve always belonged to the land. His site-specific approach means no two projects look alike—because no two landscapes are the same.
Instead of imposing a predetermined vision, Blasi listens to the land, walking it extensively to understand its contours, textures, and natural movement. Whether it’s a bold, windswept site such as Chambers Bay or the compact charm of a historic course like Santa Ana, he draws out each location’s unique character. His courses blend seamlessly with their surroundings, celebrating native vegetation, elevation changes, and natural drainage patterns.
The result is golf that feels organic and inevitable—strategic, beautiful, and fun to play. Jay’s work isn’t about leaving his mark; it’s about uncovering the story the site wants to tell. That sensitivity to place is what sets him apart, and why his designs feel timeless, not manufactured.