Don Placek did most of his growing up in Nebraska and eventually Colorado.  Once back in the Denver area he caddied his way to college. Earning an Eisenhower-Evans caddie scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he studied Environmental Design – Landscape Architecture. After graduating, he spent five years with Dye Designs, Inc. before joining Renaissance Golf Design in 1997. 

Hired to run the RGD office it didn’t take long for him to become a lead associate in the field, too. Don is the best graphic artist in the group and still does drawings, routing plans, course guides and even logos for most of our new designs.  He’s typically the first person new clients speak with, so he’s often quite involved in the early stages of planning and design. 

“Caddying shaped how I see the game. It taught me how different every golfer’s swing and temperament can be, and that a good caddie guides each player around the course in a way that suits their game.”  Don shares, “We take this very seriously at RGD, a ball in play off the tee makes the game infinitely more enjoyable and keeps golfers engaged, our courses tend to focus contours of influence closer to the green, on the second half of the hole, as the strategic balance.”  

Don also shares, “I wrestle a lot with what courses cost to build today. Needless earthmoving, and the drainage and irrigation needed to repair the damage drives up construction budgets! Often leaving golfers left with the bill.  Higher initial green fees, dues and assessments over the life of the courses they play. But when the holes are fitted to the land from the start, more money and resources can be focused or simply saved altogether.  Increasing affordability and hopefully accessibility as well!”