Ken Killian

Ken Killian is an American golf course architect who gained prominence through his partnership with Dick Nugent, most notably on Kemper Lakes Golf Club outside Chicago. Founded in 1979, Kemper Lakes became a widely recognized championship venue and was ranked among Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Golf Courses in America during its early years. The expansive 7,345-yard layout exemplified the bold, sprawling style of 1970s design and helped establish Killian's reputation in the Midwest.

Killian's portfolio spans public and private facilities across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and beyond. His work includes the George W. Dunne National in Oak Forest, Illinois, and the three-course complex at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana, as well as renovation projects such as his 2003 update to the historic Midlothian Country Club. Other designs range from Steeple Chase Golf Club in Mundelein to Bristow Manor in Virginia and courses at Santa Ana Golf Club in New Mexico.

His courses are characterized by strategic variety and accessibility, serving both championship-caliber play and everyday golfers across diverse markets.

Sources: Wikipedia articles linked above; course list from Course Vaults.