Kyle Franz

Growing up in Western Oregon, Kyle Franz was an avid golfer and quickly developed an affinity for the architectural side of the game. He studied turfgrass at Oregon State University and landed an internship with Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design well before his graduation in 2003. Alongside Doak, Franz got his feet wet at two of the most acclaimed courses of the early 21st century, Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes (2001) and Barnbougle in Australia (2004). 

Franz soon established himself as a capable shaper and worked several different firms. He assisted with Coore and Crenshaw’s 2010 renovation of Donald Ross’s Pinehurst No. 2, which opened the door for his breakthrough in the industry. He met Kelly Miller, president of the nearby Mid Pines and Pine Needles, and learned of his interest in returning those courses to their Donald Ross roots. Miller hired Franz to restore both Mid Pines and Pine Needles in 2013 and 2017, respectively. 

In the meantime, Franz continued to work as an associate for larger firms, assisting Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner with the construction of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio De Janeiro in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.

Recently, Franz has started to make moves as a new-build architect. His debut as an independent designer came at Cabot Citrus Farms’ Kazoo course in 2024, where he also designed Cabot’s Roost course in collaboration with Mike Nuzzo. Franz’s latest projects include a collaboration with Mike Koprowski at Broomsedge Golf Club (2024) in South Carolina and a solo design at Luling Sport (2025) in Texas.