[3] Serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War, and 22 years in the Naval Reserves, he achieved the rank of Commander.

[5] Graves began his career in 1955 as a landscape architect before transitioning into golf course architecture.

[5] He designed over 75 golf courses around the world, but his best-known work is located in the western United States.

Graves also designed Port Ludlow Golf Course and Canterwood Country Club in Washington state.

[5] One of his masterpieces, completed in 1978, was the Championship 18 Course at Buffalo Hill Golf Club in Kalispell, Montana.