Cabell B. Robinson (b. 1941) is an American-born golf course architect who established a distinguished career in Europe, designing many of the continent’s acclaimed modern courses. A graduate of Princeton who then studied at Harvard’s design school, Robinson moved to Europe in the 1960s to work under Robert Trent Jones Sr. He spent 20 years as RTJ’s right-hand man in Europe, contributing to projects like Valderrama and Sotogrande in Spain . In 1987, Robinson set up his own firm in southern Spain and went on to create a legacy of exceptional resort courses around the Mediterranean. Among his best-known designs: Royal Palm (Palmeraie) in Morocco (1993), La Reserva de Sotogrande in Spain (2003), Praia D’El Rey in Portugal (1997), and Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo (Monte Carlo Golf Club) re-design. However, the course that perhaps defines his portfolio is Les Bordes in France (1986), which Robinson finished after RTJ Sr. departed – Les Bordes is perennially rated Europe’s toughest and one of its very best layouts, carved through Sologne forest with 12 lakes in play . Robinson later added a second course at Les Bordes (the New Course, opened 2021) following his original style.

Robinson’s designs are noted for their polished strategy and immaculate routing. Fluent in French and Spanish, he had an intuitive grasp of European terrain and culture, often selecting spectacular sites: e.g. Costa Navarino (Bay Course) in Greece (2011) hugs a seaside cliff line, and Carya in Turkey (2008) evokes classic English heathland in a pine forest. Robinson favors bold bunkering and large undulating greens, hallmarks of his RTJ schooling, but he tempers those with generous landing areas and optional lines of play. Many of his courses became tournament hosts – Finca Cortesin (Spain) hosted the Volvo World Match Play, Royal Golf de Marrakech (Morocco) became a premier club, etc. Cabell’s ability to work harmoniously with varied landscapes – from Spanish “desert” (he built Desert Springs in Almería) to lush Portuguese coast – made him a sought-after architect for upscale developments. After 50+ years in Europe, he retired in the late 2010s, leaving behind a rich legacy.

Cabell Robinson’s influence is especially strong in Spain and France, where he arguably picked up the mantle from RTJ Sr. and continued raising the bar for design. His courses seamlessly blend challenge and beauty, attracting both resort golfers and scratch players. Known as a gentleman architect, Robinson also mentored a generation of European designers. In an era when American architects dominated globally, Cabell Robinson stood out as an American who became a “local” in Europe – understanding its soils, climates, and golfing ethos to produce courses that feel both world-class and regionally authentic. His body of work significantly enhanced Europe’s modern golf landscape, from the Algarve to the Aegean.