ELMSFORD, N.Y. (November 28, 2012) - Famed golf course architect Rees Jones, who's widely regarded as the "Open Doctor" for his remodeling of seven U.S. Open venues, was honored with the Robert Moses Master Builder Award at the Long Island State Parks 15th Annual Gala hosted by Bethpage State Park on Tuesday, November 27. 

Jones, a current MGA Foundation board member and the 1998 recipient of the MGA Distinguished Service Award, joins a notable list of Master Builder Award winners including Donald Trump, Billy Joel, and Charles Dolan.

Jones got his start in the golf business working for his father, renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones. He would go on to start his own design firm, Rees Jones, Inc., headquartered in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey. 

Jones has had a major influence on the Long Island golf scene. He was responsible for the restoration design of Bethpage Black, which would host two U.S. Opens (2002, 2009) and a PGA Tour event (Barclays in 2012 and again scheduled for 2016). He also did the restoration design for Montauk Downs (which is a NYS owned property), which began in 2002.

In addition, Jones designed Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, N.Y., an award-winning course which hosted the 2012 Ike Championship and 1995 Met Open.

*Homepage Photo: Rees is pictured with (left) Rose Harvey, Commissioner, NYS Office of Parks and Bernadette Castro, former Commissioner NYSOPRHP