Architect

William Francis Bell

139 courses on Course Vaults

William Francis Bell was a golf course architect active from the 1960s through the early 1980s. Working primarily across the western United States, Bell built an extensive portfolio of courses that emphasized accessibility and playability for municipal and resort facilities.

Signature work

Bell's portfolio includes Sandpiper in Santa Barbara—a scenic clifftop municipal course—and Papago in Phoenix, both of which remain highly regarded public layouts. His work at Saticoy Country Club in Somis, California, demonstrates his versatility in private club design. Bell's projects frequently balanced strategic interest with accommodating play, as seen in courses like Bakersfield Country Club and Hobble Creek in Utah. He also designed the Ike Eisenhower and Babe Zaharias courses at Industry Hills (now Pacific Palms Resort) in Southern California, showcasing his ability to create contrasting layouts at a single facility.

Over his career, Bell completed dozens of courses throughout California, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Hawaii, including layouts at Olivas Links, Los Verdes, and multiple facilities in the Los Angeles basin. His legacy rests in affordable, enduring designs that continue to serve golfers across the West.

Sources: Wikipedia article on William Francis Bell; course list from Course Vaults.

Also credited as: William F. Bell, William P. Bell Jr., Billy Bell Jr., and legacy imports labeled only "William P. Bell."

Also credited as (imports): Bill Bell.

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