About Ernie Els Design
Explore a world of sublime golf course destinations.
The international scope of Ernie’s 80 professional career victories is mirrored in the increasingly global reach of his designs, with signature courses and renovations making an impact in emerging and established golf markets alike.
Ernie Els Design enjoys unique relationships with the world’s finest developers who share the company’s ambitions, creating attractive destinations that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and sound environmental practice. The company employs the most experienced staff – including leading architect Greg Letsche as its senior design associate – and the latest technology from its two offices in Florida and South Africa. With additional field offices in Malaysia and Dubai, the company provides a near 24-hour service and applies the latest technologies and expertise to service our development partners and clients.
Since its formation in 2000, the company has received global recognition with an ever-growing number of prestigious accolades. Click here for the full list.
Click here to see the full list of Ernie Els Design courses that are either open for play or in various stages of planning and construction. Many more are still in the pipeline, awaiting further announcement. The company’s portfolio also extends beyond the golf course to feature the exclusive Els Club Collection, featuring the Els Performance Golf Academy, Els Club Estates, Big Easy Winebar & Grill, along with an award winning wine portfolio created by Ernie Els Wines in the heart of South Africa’s wine country, Stellenbosch.
For more information telephone the Ernie Els Design offices +1.561.625.8676 or email Piet.Pieters@ernieels.com.
Take a look at our Course Portfolio
Meet The Team
“"The people we have at Ernie Els Design have been with me almost since the start of our firm's history. We're a proper team; everything we've achieved is a truly collaborative effort and I'm grateful to have them on board."”
Ernie Els
Greg Letsche has been a professional golf course architect for more than 20 years. He joined Ernie Els Design full-time as its Senior Design Associate on December 1, 2005. Greg spent the previous 15 years in the same capacity with Jack Nicklaus and began his career with the legendary Pete Dye. Greg has been instrumental in the design of numerous courses worldwide, including more than 22 courses open for play. Greg received his Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from The Ohio State University in 1980. He is an active member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America and has lectured at numerous PGA education seminars. He has also had the privilege of playing 75 of the world’s top 100 golf courses.
Thad Bell has been part of the design team at Ernie Els Design since May 2006, when he directed the implementation of the stunning and award winning Anahita Four Seasons golf course on the island of Mauritius. Prior to that, Thad worked with Nicklaus Design and Nugent Golf Associates and has worked on courses in the United States, South Africa, Middle East and China. Thad graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture and has over 17 years of experience in the golf course design industry. Thad is leading the company’s expansion into Asian golf as the Regional Director of Ernie Els Design’s Asia-Pacific office.
Ernie Els
Ernie Els is golf’s true international ambassador.
Ernie Els is golf’s true international ambassador, with a Hall of Fame playing career that includes four major championships (2002 & 2012 Open Championship, 1994 & 1997 US Open), two World Golf Championship events and a record seven World Matchplay titles. In his capacity as one of the game’s leading player architects, he has created award winning golf courses all over the world, too. Ernie has probably more experience of the countless different type golf courses found around the world than any other contemporary top player in the game. This worldly experience gives Ernie a broad vision of the various elements of golf course design and how they are best brought together to produce a golf course which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also challenging and enjoyable for golfers of all standards. Ernie Els Design formulates unique relationships with the world’s finest developers in the creation of new golf courses and the renovation and modernisation of existing classics. These courses will be as much Ernie’s legacy as the numerous tournament wins in the record books. “The golf courses that we create will be here long after I’ve gone,” says Ernie. “That means something and it makes me feel very proud.”
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