Designing golf with
perspective, precision
and legacy.
TRACE Golf Design delivers bespoke golf course design, redesign and strategic consultancy with international vision and decades of experience across the game.
What TRACE stands for
Every great course begins with a vision — a clear trajectory that guides design decisions from the first sketch to the final blade of grass.
We respect the land, the game's history, and the players who will walk the course for generations to come.
Golf architecture is both art and science. We blend strategic design with aesthetic mastery to create courses of lasting beauty.
Exceptional design demands exceptional execution. Our construction oversight ensures every detail is built to the highest standard.
Decades of international experience across five continents inform every decision, from routing to agronomy to player flow.
A legacy built on the fairways of the world.
TRACE Golf Design is formed by a team with deep roots in the game and in golf course construction. Behind TRACE are professionals with extensive experience, linked to the legacy of the greatest golfer Europe has ever produced, alongside technicians and engineers with over 40 years of experience building courses alongside some of the world's finest designers. A unique heritage that shapes a team with its own vision and a very personal way of understanding, designing and transforming golf courses.
With more than three decades of experience in the golf industry, Iván knows this world across a broad spectrum. When it comes to course design, his interpretation is defined by a profound understanding of terrain, a commitment to playability at every level, and an unwavering respect for the natural landscape.
TRACE Golf Design seeks the intersection between tradition and innovation — drawing on the timeless principles of classical architecture while responding to the demands of the modern game.
Ignacio Cid brings over 40 years of hands-on experience in golf course construction and agronomy. Having been responsible for the construction of more than 68 courses across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, his technical mastery and field expertise are unmatched in the industry.
His deep knowledge of earthworks, drainage systems, grass selection, and grow-in management makes him an exceptional partner for any golf development project — from the first cut of earth to the day the course opens for play.
Mountain Creek Golf Club
Mountain Creek Golf Club holds a singular place in golf history: it was the final course design of Severiano Ballesteros, one of the greatest players and most creative minds the game has ever known. Set within the lush highlands of Khao Yai — a UNESCO World Heritage region — the course weaves through ancient forest and dramatic elevation changes to create an experience unlike any other in Southeast Asia.
Iván Ballesteros played a role of the highest collaboration with Seve in bringing this design to life in Thailand, leading the design process and ensuring that Seve's creative intent was faithfully translated into every contour, bunker, and green. It was a project of deep personal significance — and a testament to the design philosophy that now defines TRACE Golf Design.
18
Championship holes
6,850
Yards from the tips
UNESCO
World Heritage region
Aerial view — Mountain Creek Golf Resort
Final design by Seve Ballesteros · 2010
Services
From initial concept to final grow-in, TRACE Golf Design provides a comprehensive range of services tailored to each project's unique requirements.
New Course Design
Full architectural design services for new golf course development, from site analysis and routing to detailed construction drawings.
Course Redesign & Renovation
Strategic redesign of existing courses to improve playability, aesthetics, sustainability, and commercial performance.
Master Planning
Integrated master planning for golf resorts, residential communities, and mixed-use developments with golf as a central amenity.
Construction Oversight
On-site supervision and quality control throughout the construction process to ensure design intent is faithfully executed.
Feasibility Studies
Comprehensive site assessments and feasibility analysis to evaluate the viability and potential of proposed golf developments.
Agronomy Consultancy
Expert agronomic guidance on grass selection, irrigation design, soil management, and grow-in programmes.
Strategic Consultancy
High-level advisory services for investors, developers, and operators seeking to maximise the value of golf assets.
Sustainability Planning
Environmental impact assessment and sustainable design strategies that minimise ecological footprint and enhance natural habitats.
Tournament Preparation
Course setup and conditioning consultancy for professional tournaments and high-profile amateur competitions.
From initial concept to final grow-in, TRACE Golf Design provides a comprehensive range of services tailored to each project's unique requirements.
The Team
TRACE Golf Design is formed by two professionals whose careers span the full spectrum of golf course creation.
Iván Ballesteros
Iván Ballesteros grew up immersed in the culture, the discipline, and the art of golf — a heritage that shapes his understanding of every course he works on. With more than three decades of experience in the golf industry, his approach to design is defined by a profound understanding of terrain, a commitment to playability at every level, and an unwavering respect for the natural landscape.
Ignacio Cid
With over 40 years of experience in golf course construction and agronomy, Ignacio Cid has been responsible for the construction of 68 courses across five continents. His career represents an extraordinary body of work in the field of golf development.
TRACE Golf Design is formed by two professionals whose careers span the full spectrum of golf course creation.
Start a Conversation
Whether you are planning a new course, considering a renovation, or exploring a strategic partnership, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Based in
Marbella, Spain