🇺🇸 Jan Beljan — Building Fairness into the Game

Architect | Innovator | Advocate for Playability and Equity

🖋️ Introduction

In the continuing story of women shaping golf’s landscapes, Jan Beljan stands out as both a designer and a reformer — someone who sees golf-course architecture not only as art, but as advocacy in action.

As the founder of Beljan Golf Design and a long-serving leader within the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), she has dedicated her career to creating courses that are strategic, sustainable, and enjoyable for every golfer.

Her designs are modern yet timeless — grounded in strong strategic frameworks, softened by natural form, and guided by empathy for the people who play them.

“Good design challenges the best, but welcomes everyone.”
— Jan Beljan

👩‍💼 Biography

A Florida-based architect with more than three decades of experience, Jan Beljan began her professional journey under the mentorship of the legendary Tom Fazio, one of the most prolific designers of the late 20th century.

Her time at Fazio Designs allowed her to develop technical mastery and a deep understanding of how strategy and aesthetics intersect.

In the early 2000s, she founded Beljan Golf Design, establishing herself as one of the few women globally to own and operate a full-service golf architecture firm.

Her portfolio now spans private clubs, resort developments, and community-oriented courses across the United States — including notable work at Bonita Bay Club, Trump National Golf Club (NJ), and Pelican’s Nest.

Jan’s combination of artistry, communication, and technical insight has made her one of the most respected voices in American golf design.

🌿 Design Philosophy

Jan Beljan’s design philosophy can be described in one word: balance.
She believes great architecture sits at the intersection of strategy, sustainability, and inclusion — where beauty and fairness coexist.

Her work demonstrates that a golf course’s true test isn’t measured by its length, but by the quality of the decisions it invites.

Core design values:

1. Playability for All – Every hole should offer equal enjoyment and challenge to every golfer, regardless of gender, age, or skill.

2. Environmental Harmony – Sustainable routing, water efficiency, and respect for the natural site define her projects.

3. Community Connection – Courses should enrich local environments and foster social connection, not exclusivity.

“A good golf hole is a conversation between land and player — the architect’s role is to listen.”
— Jan Beljan

🏗️ Selected Projects

🌍 Leadership & Influence

• Vice President of the ASGCA — among the highest-ranking women in the organisation’s history.

• Advocate for Playability and Women’s Golf — regularly contributes to industry conferences, publications, and ASGCA research.

• Environmental Stewardship — promotes native landscaping, wetland preservation, and natural water management in design.

• Mentor and Speaker — active supporter of the Women in Golf Charter and advocate for diversity in golf architecture.

“Jan Beljan proves that fairness and imagination are not opposites — they are the foundation of great design.”
— Women’s Golf History Project

🪶 Legacy

Jan Beljan occupies a vital place in golf’s design lineage.
Where Alice Dye advanced inclusion through empathy and vision, Beljan has carried that legacy forward through leadership and technical innovation.

Her influence extends beyond the fairway: she has reshaped how the profession views equity — not as an afterthought, but as a design principle.

She belongs to the generation that turned progress into practice, showing that beautiful golf and better golf can be the same thing.

“Jan Beljan’s courses don’t just play fairly — they play beautifully.”
— Women’s Golf History Project

Jan Beljan — architect, leader, and advocate for playability and design equity in golf.