Golf course design practice King-Collins Golf Course Design has added a third partner, Canadian designer Trevor Dormer, to form a new firm, King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design.
Dormer, based in Kimberley in southeastern British Columbia, has spent the last ten years primarily working as an associate of the firm of Coore and Crenshaw, playing a key role in projects such as Cabot Cliffs in Cape Breton, the regeneration of Yokohama. Club of Japan, and, more recently, the Point Hardy course in Cabot St Lucia in the Caribbean, where he spent two years on site.
“King-Collins is very excited to grow to include Trevor,” said Rob Collins. “My first encounter with him was on the eighth hole at Wildstone in the spring of 2007 when I was working for Gary Player. We became quick and fast friends on that project and have kept in touch ever since.
“He’s incredibly talented in terms of architecture and building – I think he’s as good as anyone out there. He has a good sense of design and is highly skilled in materials. He is young – he will add a long time to our work – and he has a complete knowledge of our company, as we are a design firm. “
Dormer first worked with King-Collins on the design of the Landmand course in Nebraska. He was only on site for two weeks, but he made a big impression on course engineer Will Andersen.
“I’ve been with Trevor for two weeks, and I’ve been a fan ever since,” Andersen said. “Even in that short period of time, it was evident how talented he is, as a potter and as a person. He was a real showman behind Landmand’s fourth hole – he created a great green that really opened up the hole.” He also worked with the firm on the redevelopment of the Overton Park municipality in Memphis.
Dormer recently began the reconstruction of the nine-hole Old Dane course a few miles from Landmand, for the Andersen family, his first solo design project. He will complete this project under his own name.
“Trevor had agreed to the Old Dane job with Will Andersen before we agreed to work together, so it’s still his game,” Collins said. “But given the relationship we have with the Andersen family, it’s good to think that our people will be responsible for both of their courses.”
“Rob and I have been really good friends for a long time, so when he asked me if I’d like to be a partner, I couldn’t say no,” Dormer said. “It’s hard to leave Bill and Ben, but Rob and Tad are busy, and I’m having a great time with them, so it made perfect sense. First and foremost it’s fun to be out there with those guys. Rob pushes the limits. He’s not afraid to take risks, and nobody’s breathing down your neck when you’re trying to make art.”
Dormer explains that his relationship with Tad King is equally strong. “Tad is a very special person,” she says. “I have discussed with him in detail about the way he makes construction materials. When I put together cost estimates, he’s the guy I talk to. If Tad didn’t suit me, or me with him, I’d say ‘Rob, I can’t do it’. I think what I can bring to King-Collins Dormer is a different kind of experience. Rob has done a lot, Tad has been all over the world. I have worked with Bill and Ben for over ten years, and I have learned a lot from them.
“I’m very excited to take the knowledge I’ve gained from working with people of their caliber for so long and combine it with Rob and Tad’s skills – I hope and believe we’ll do a great job together. I think one of my talents is that I have a way of managing the construction team and the work teams, of putting them at ease – a rich producer or a man who digs holes all have talents, and it’s about being able to find the best place.”
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