John Jacobs designed several courses in Europe, which include (but are not limited to): Apremont, nr Paris (1992); The Buckinghamshire (1992); Edinburgh course, Wentworth (1990, with Gary Player); Remedy Oak (2005).

John Jacobs was born in Woodsetts in South Yorkshire, a village that sits alongside the renowned Lindrick Golf Club, where his father Robert "Bob" Jacobs was the professional. After the Second World War, during which he served in the Royal Air Force, John Jacobs also joined the professional golfing ranks, assisting his cousin Jack Jacobs, who had taken over at Lindrick.

acobs enjoyed only moderate success during his days as a tournament professional; he made his one Ryder Cup appearance in 1955. Most notably he became the driving force behind the modern European Tour. Serving as the tour's first Tournament Director and Director-General from 1971 to 1975, he acquired the title the "Father of European Golf". His period in office included the inaugural season of the modern European Tour in 1972.

Lauded as one of the best golf coaches of his time, Jacobs established his John Jacobs Golf Schools in 1976, in partnership with Shelby Futch. His very successful "Golf Doctor" and "Practical Golf" instruction books have helped golfers all over the world improve their games (and fellow professionals improve their coaching).