GDS Golf Design Services, Ltd.
GDS Golf Design Services Ltd. is located in Canmore, Alberta, Canada in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
Established in 1980 by partners Les Furber and Jim Eremko (retired). Their design philosophy was influenced in part through their long association with Robert Trent Jones Sr., recognized as the “father” of modern golf course architecture.
GDS/ Les Furber designs can be found from coast to coast across Canada, including more than fifty courses in the western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. GDS also sports a unique international portfolio, including, in 1991, the first modern day course in the Czech Republic (Karlstejn Golf Resort), the first 18 hole course in Cuba (Varadero Golf Club) as well as courses in the USA, Switzerland and Germany.
Les Furber, A.S.G.C.A
President/ Lead Designer
Les Furber is the resident genius-in-charge at GDS and the architect of record for more than sixty-five original golf course designs as well as countless renovation/ re-modelling projects. First as an associate of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and later as the founder and president of GDS, Les can boast more than fifty years experience in golf course design and construction.
Les Furber courses are widely recognized for their creative routings, strategic playability and visual appeal. His philosophy is that a golf course should be fun to design, fun to build, and fun to play for golfers of all abilities, and that the most enjoyable golf experiences are aesthetically pleasing, and well balanced in regards to playability versus challenge - playable but not penal, challenging but not intimidating.
Les is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
Tim Birnie
Design Associate
Tim Birnie has been with GDS since 2007 as a design associate, leveraging a life-long love of golf and an extensive amateur golf career to play and study hundreds of golf courses throughout the world.
His responsibilities have evolved to include meddling in most things at GDS, including conceptual planning, preparation of detailed working drawings, specifications, tender / contract documents, project management and construction supervision. When he isn't working or playing at golf, you can probably find him on the Bow River fly-fishing or making sawdust in his woodshop.