About David:

Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1960

Golf Course Superintendent in Lacombe, Alberta 1980-85

Assistant to Robert Trent Jones Senior 1986-1990

Design Assistant for Trajectory (Seve Ballesteros Design) 1991-92

Krause Golf Design established in Germany in 1993

Responsible for the design and renovation of more than 50 golf courses throughout Europe

Trusted with more than 85 million Euros in development costs

10 Krause Golf Design Projects are in the Top 50 Golf Courses in Germany (GolfMagazin 2026)

David Krause has been a member of the EIGCA since its inception in the year 2000 and served as its president from 2009-11.

"Past Presidents, still friends" with ASGCA Member Doug Carrick during our 2026 Stanley Thompson Study Tour in Toronto

Duncan Weir (left) accepting the Harry S Colt Award on behalf of the R&A from President David Krause during the EIGCA Annual Meeting and Conference, St. Andrews 2010

Valderrama Golf Club With Robert Trent Jones Senior and Jaime Ortiz-Patiño

"My Real Education"

I have a college degree in Turfgrass Management, but my real education took place over the five years that I spent at the Valderrama Golf Club. Not only did I get the chance to work with Robert Trent Jones Sr., but I personally assisted Jaime Ortiz-Patiño in turning "Las Aves" (the second course in Sotogrande) into his dream of Valderrama.

While there, we rebuilt every green, tee, and bunker on the golf course, and with leading consultants raised the standard of maintenance beyond comparison. During our improvements there, Valderrama became the Number One course in Continental Europe, host of the season-finale Volvo Masters, and eventually, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup.

What an experience!

Jaime Ortiz-Patiño and Robert Trent Jones 1986

Marking bunkers with the "Master" 1988

Short Course Site Visit 1987

Construction of the new green and waterfall on number 4

The now famous 4th hole at Valderrama "La Cascada"... I think one of the greatest par 5s in the world

Pont Royal en Provence with Trajectory, Seve Ballesteros Design

The 16th tee at Pont Royal en Provence

David and Seve at the French Open 1993

In 1990, after I had finished my work at Valderrama, I had the opportunity to work with the great Seve Ballesteros. My role was to co-ordinate the design, from his Spanish firm, Trajectory, for an English client, London & Metropolitan with a French contractor, Desmartis, on a 180-hectare ambitious golf and real estate project, built on pure limestone! My language skills were a great help at that time, and after the bankrupcy of the contractor, we finished the project with the maintenance team at Pont Royal.

Following the grand opening in September 1992, I was asked by the client L&M, to remain at Pont Royal to set up the entire club operations for the new golf course. Again, through this experience, I learned a lot about club operations and have the greatest respect for the patient, talented people who do this job well.

Pont Royal en Provence joined with Pierre et Vacance to develop all of its permitted buildable area and has become a high purpose built tourist village with prestigious, high-value private residential estate. and and been named France's Best Golf Course by the World Golf Awards four consecutive times for the years 2021-24.

The 9th green and Village at Pont Royal en Provence

Page updated

Report abuse

About David:

Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1960

Golf Course Superintendent in Lacombe, Alberta 1980-85

Assistant to Robert Trent Jones Senior 1986-1990

Design Assistant for Trajectory (Seve Ballesteros Design) 1991-92

Krause Golf Design established in Germany in 1993

Responsible for the design and renovation of more than 50 golf courses throughout Europe

Trusted with more than 85 million Euros in development costs

10 Krause Golf Design Projects are in the Top 50 Golf Courses in Germany (GolfMagazin 2026)

David Krause has been a member of the EIGCA since its inception in the year 2000 and served as its president from 2009-11.

"Past Presidents, still friends" with ASGCA Member Doug Carrick during our 2026 Stanley Thompson Study Tour in Toronto

Duncan Weir (left) accepting the Harry S Colt Award on behalf of the R&A from President David Krause during the EIGCA Annual Meeting and Conference, St. Andrews 2010

Valderrama Golf Club With Robert Trent Jones Senior and Jaime Ortiz-Patiño

"My Real Education"

What an experience!

Jaime Ortiz-Patiño and Robert Trent Jones 1986

Marking bunkers with the "Master" 1988

Short Course Site Visit 1987

Construction of the new green and waterfall on number 4

The now famous 4th hole at Valderrama "La Cascada"... I think one of the greatest par 5s in the world

Pont Royal en Provence with Trajectory, Seve Ballesteros Design

The 16th tee at Pont Royal en Provence

David Krause Golf Design

Tel: +49 172 414 1412 info@krausegolfdesign.de