Donald Ross

Donald James Ross was born in Dornoch, Scotland.  Ross fell in love with the game of Golf early in his teens while caddying at the Dornoch Golf Club.

In 1886, Old Tom Morris was invited to Dornoch to lay out 9 holes, Ross, 14 years old at the time, was in attendance, and no doubt had a impact on his future career.  In 1892, Morris returned to Dornoch, where he renovated the entire 18 holes.  Ross was already honing his skills in both Greenkeeping and club making, and was reported to be a keen observer while Morris conducted his work.

In 1893, Ross moved to Saint Andrews to apprentice under Old Tom Morris.  By 1894, young Ross was hired to serve as Dornoch’s Head Golf Professional, Greenkeeper, and club maker.

In 1899, Ross was asked by an American couple visiting Dornoch for an extended holiday, to come to America, where he landed a job at Oakley Country Club to renovate the existing 11-hole layout.  While at Oakley, Ross met the Tufts family, who convinced him to become their winter Golf Professional at a new development in Pinehurst, North Carolina.  For many years, Ross would work in the summers at Oakley, and later Essex Country Club, with winters residing in Pinehurst.

By 40, Ross had a multiple course designs completed, but it wasn’t until he was asked to finish Old Elm in in Chicago, Illinois, a Colt design, that his career took a prolific turn.  From 1912 to 1948, Ross was undoubtedly one the most in-demand, and active Golf Course Architects in America, where he designed over 400+ courses.

Ross’s best work can be found between 1922 and 1930.  Donald Ross had a knack for mastering routing’s that often used every wind, every club in a player’s bag.  The majority of Ross’s designs were and still are friendly to players of all calibers, with safe and aggressive lines, run-up or aerial options, and greens that were imminently playable.  He particularly loved and incorporated broad pitching and chipping areas around his green sites, adding both intrigue and fairness to the scratch and higher handicap player.  What we view today as, “minimalist”, came natural to Donald Ross.

Crown Club Golf Society noted clubs:

Franklin Hills Country Club

Holston Hills, Knoxville, TN

Oakland Hills Country Club

Oak Hill Country Club

Detroit

Hidden gems:

Catawba Country Club

Chattanooga Golf and Country Club

Country Club of Asheville

Mimosa Hills Country Club