Lester's designs have a reputation for being fair and playable for all skill levels while being visually striking and incorporating the best terrain into course design. The blending of this terrain reading ability, his lively interest in the history of golf and his love for the game led him to pursue golf course architecture as a career.
His golf courses continue to receive praise and accolades. Kinloch Golf Club is the highest ranked golf course in the history of Virginia, and was awarded Golf Digest's Best New Private Course Award. His first golf course, The Colonial Golf Course in Williamsburg was rated one of The Best New Courses in America by Golf Digest and The Golfer Magazine.
Lester's renovations and restorations are also award-winning. The Old White Course at The Greenbrier was honored as Golf Digest's Best New Remodel, the James River Course at The Country Club of Virginia was the #5 Best New Remodel.
Never one to turn down a challenge, Lester has worked on some interesting sites. Lamberts Point Golf Course in Norfork, Virginia was built on the land fill site and won an Affinity Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Builders Association of America.
Believing that everyone should have an opportunity to play golf, he has donated much time and effort to the First Tee Program designing and overseeing construction of The First Tee Chesterfield, the premiere 18 - hole First Tee course in the United States.
Lester, a member of the esteemed American Society of Golf Course Architects, has built a strong reputation for creativity in his golf course designs throughout his more then 20 years as a Golf Course Architect.