Like Father, Like Son

The Architect – William Francis Bell

Legendary Golf Course Architect William Francis Bell designed the serene and challenging Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in 1965. Bell, an extremely talented and prolific golf course designer, built nearly 200 golf courses during his lifetime. Most of Bell's courses are located throughout the western United States, and also on some islands in the Pacific Ocean.

William Francis Bell was the son of William Park Bell. The two of them were often called Billy Bell, Jr. and Billy Bell, Sr., respectively. Both were noted golf course architects who designed almost a dozen projects together. Even after his father died in 1953, Bell Jr. retained the company name of William P. Bell and Son. The Bells are considered by many to be California's First Family of Golf Course Design.

During the 1950s and 1960s, William F. Bell's course design work was concentrated in Northern California. It was during this time that Bell designed Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael, Valley Hi Country Club in Elk Grove, and North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks.

Perhaps the most famous golf course designed by William F. Bell is the Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course in La Jolla, California. Long recognized as one the country's foremost municipal golf facilities, the South Course at Torrey Pines has been selected by the USGA as the site of the 2008 U.S. Open.

Although Mr. Bell passed away in 1984, his courses continue to inspire golfers of every ability level.

Some of the other notable courses designed by William Francis Bell include:

•  Bermuda Dunes Country Club – Bermuda Dunes, California (1960)

•  Papago Golf Course – Phoenix, Arizona (1963)

•  Saticoy Country Club – Somis, California (1964)

•  Kona Country Club – The Big Island, Hawaii (1966)

•  Makaha Golf Club – Oahu, Hawaii (1969)

•  Idaho Falls Country Club – Idaho Falls, Idaho (1970)

•  Sandpiper Golf Course – Santa Barbara, California (1972)

•  Industry Hills (Babe Didrikson Zaharias Course) – Industry Hills, California (1979)

•  Industry Hills (Dwight D. Eisenhower Course) – Industry Hills, California (1979)