Robert Neil Haworth

A beloved husband and father, Neil is survived by his wife of 20 years, Maryia Kazartsava, daughters Vivienne and Sofia, parents Elizabeth and Brian Haworth, parents-in-law Halina and Boris Kazartsava, sister Alison (Stephen) Woodley, nieces Amanda and Erin, and many friends and colleagues in Canada, Asia, and around the world.

Neil was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up near Montrealin Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec. After his grandfather introduced him to golf at an early age, it quickly became his passion. He spent his teenage years playing and working at the Club de golf St-Hyacinthe where he developed into a talented young player who won provincial and university championships.

After completing a landscape architecture degree at the University of Guelph, Neil launched his successful career as a golf course designer. He worked for Graham Cooke and Associates in Montreal, Nelson and Wright in Singapore and, in2000, established Nelson and Haworth Golf Course Architects with partners and dear friends the late Robin Nelson and Brett Mogg. Over the next two decades Neil designed many of Asia’s top golf courses, including Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club, home of the PGA tour HSBC Champions Tournament, and the world’s longest course, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, at 10,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by spectacular peaks around Li Jiang, China.

Neil met and married the love of his life, Maryia, in 2004 while working in China. They lived in Shanghai and Thailand with their daughters, and in 2015 moved to Canada, settling in Manotick Ontario, south of Ottawa. Neil continued to design award-winning courses in Asia while also working on prestigious courses in Canada, including Golf Saint-Rafaël, Royal Ottawa Golf Club, La Vallée du Richelieu Golf Club near Montreal, and fittingly, his original home club in St. Hyacinthe.

Neil was fun-loving, humble, honest and forthright. He was a talented artist and golf courses were his canvas. More than anything, Neil loved his wife and children - Maryia, Vivienne and Sofia. His passing leaves a great void, and he will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

To honour Neil, the family welcomes donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.