Cupp leaves legacy in state

Noted Atlanta architect had hand in some of area’s best courses.

He is often referred to a “Renaissance Man,” but that phrase shortchanges the brilliance of Atlanta’s Bob Cupp.

Cupp died on Aug. 19 at 76 due to pancreatic cancer. He was a published author, artist, musician, furniture maker and model railroad enthusiast. He was also one of the nation’s top golf architects, whose courses have hosted more than 50 national and international championships.

Cupp’s prominent national designs include Liberty National in New Jersey, Old Waverly in Mississippi and Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon.

Some of his best work in Georgia can be found at Hawk’s Ridge, Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek, Marietta Country Club, Jennings Mill and The Landing at Reynolds. He rebuilt Druid Hills and the Capital City’s Brookhaven Course and did renovations at Augusta National, Augusta Country Club and Peachtree Golf Club.

“We were truly blessed to have picked Bob Cupp to design our golf course,” said Hawk’s Ridge co-owner Joe Jillson.

Cupp worked pro bono to renovate the John A. White Golf Course for the First Tee of Atlanta. He recently designed a new reversible nine-hole course that will soon be built on the existing Bobby Jones Golf Course.

Cupp was a failed professional golfer who began his design career under Jack Nicklaus — and did a killer voice impersonation of the Golden Bear. That may be why he was willing to help aspiring young architects like Marietta’s Bill Bergin get started.

“I worked for him for three years,” Bergin said. “He basically paid me to go to school. He taught me the design business and I still use most of it today.”

Cupp was a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and in 2014 was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.

AJC FILE Nationally recognized course designer Bob Cupp, here at Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek, died Aug. 19 at 76.