Charlton has worked at the Palo Alto-based golf course architecture firm Robert Trent Jones II, LLC since his graduation in 1981 from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. He currently holds the title of President and Chief Design Officer for the firm. His representative courses include Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nev.; Trans Strait Golf Resort, Fuzhon, China; The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, Stockholm, Sweden and Chambers Bay Golf Course, Pierce County, Wash.

As president, Charlton will concentrate on raising awareness about environmental issues as they relate to golf course design. He is particularly concerned with the issue of responsible and effective water use in golf and plans to educate the golfing public about how golf courses are good stewards of the environment. He also has strong convictions that excellent work is being done by today’s architects on challenging sites and this work rivals any other period of golf architecture.

Other items on Charlton’s agenda include promoting affordable golf; fostering relationships with allied associations and supplier partners; and using science to further enhance innovations in the design of golf courses.

Charlton, a native of Iowa, lives in Los Altos, Calif. with his wife and daughter. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee of ASGCA, he served as long-time Golf Committee Chairman and on the Environmental Committee.