Award Winning Course Design
It All Started With Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Rick Smith has won dozens of awards and accolades for his skill as a golf course designer. The list includes his Signature course in Gaylord, Michigan, which has been ranked #4 in 1993 by Golf Digest Best New Resort Courses and ranked #2 for the best of the Midwest by Golf Magazine in 2000. Additionally, his Threetops course was named the “Number One Par 3 Course in America” by Golf & Travel in December 2002, and his Signature course was ranked in the Top 200 Golf Courses in 2021 by Golfweek Magazine.
Other notable courses designed by Rick include Arcadia Bluffs on Lake Michigan and Wuskowhan Player's Club in Mount Olive, Michigan (which was nominated by the Environmental Law Institute for a "1999 National Wetlands Award in the Land Stewardship and Development" category. Wuskowhan was also deemed the fourth best course in Michigan by Golf Digest in its annual "Best in each State" rankings in April. In 1998, it was the runner-up for the Golf Digest "Best New Private Club" award and was honored for having the best conditions of any new course in America. In 1999, Audubon International awarded Signature Sanctuary status to Wuskowhan, making it only the 13th course to receive this designation).
R&S Sharf course at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan (Best in State: Ranked inside the top 15 in 2009, inside the top 20 from 2005-'07, and inside the top 25 in 2003 by Golf Digest), and the Shenandoah course at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York, which has hosted several PGA Tour Events, including the PGA National Club Professional Championship in 2006. Shenandoah offers 18 holes of PGA-level golf in a spectacular natural setting, built and maintained to comply with stringent Audubon International standards for environmental protection and preservation. Rick used the natural landscape to create wooded parkland holes, open pastures with a links feel, and beautifully simple low country-style holes. Designed, constructed, and maintained to TOUR standards at more than 7,000 yards, the course offers conditions normally reserved for TOUR events, earning recognition in GolfPass Golfer's Choice 2024.
The Shenandoah course at Turning Stone Resort has received numerous accolades:
Best Golf Courses in New York by Golfer's Choice (Golf Pass) in 2024, 2023, and 2022
Top 50 Casino Courses by Golfweek in 2022, 2021, and 2020
Best Golf Courses in New York (#2) by Golfer's Choice (Golf Advisor) in 2021
The Best Courses You Can Play in New York by Golfweek in 2020 and 2017
Top 200 Resort Golf Courses in the U.S. by Golfweek in 2020
Platinum Award by the Association of Golf Merchandisers in 2020, 2016, and 2013
Best in New York Golf - Public Courses by Northeast Golf Magazine in 2018
Best Casino Courses by Golfweek in 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012
Best Golf Course in New York by Casino Player Magazine in 2017 and 2016
Best Golf & Casino Resorts by Golf Vacation Insider in 2016
Editors’ Choice Award by Golf Digest in 2016
Gold Medal by Golf Magazine in 2016
Best Public Golf Courses in the Northeast by Golfweek in 2015
Best Courses You Can Play State by State by Golfweek in 2014
Arcadia Bluffs has been recognized in Golf Digest's 100 Greatest rankings since 2005, achieving the following:
2023-'24 ranking: 92nd
Previous ranking: 83rd
Highest ranking: 46th, 2007-'08
In the 100 Greatest Public rankings, Arcadia Bluffs has been featured since the inaugural edition in 2003, with the following achievements:
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 14th
Highest ranking: 10th, 2005-'12
For Best in State, Arcadia Bluffs has ranked third from 2011-'24 and inside the top 5 from 2003-'10, with the current ranking being 3rd.
Additionally, Rick has worked as a lead designer in the Phil Mickelson Design Group. Rick and Phil have completed design work on the Aqua Championship Course in Kunming, China, Mickelson Shanghai International, and Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Canada.
Rick’s most recent project, Bella Verde Golf Club for the City of Montebello, is a uniquely inspired and innovative new design that opened in May of 2024. The project involved rebuilding the existing 18-hole Montebello Golf Course into 9 great holes, a short course that can be played at night, and a TopGolf facility.
