A. (Alexander) Mackenzie

Born in Yorkshire in 1870 and trained as a doctor, Alexander “Alister” MacKenzie later became one of the most influential golf course architects of the early 20th century. His work took him from Britain to the United States and beyond, and his designs are still admired for blending naturally with the land while rewarding imagination and skill.

He wrote about golf with the same practical, thoughtful approach that marked his design work. His best-known book, Golf Architecture, set out his ideas on course construction and greenkeeping in a clear, accessible way, helping establish many of the principles that still guide golf design today.

MacKenzie died in California in 1934, but his reputation has only grown since. He is especially remembered for courses such as Augusta National and Cypress Point, and for a style that made golf feel both strategic and deeply connected to the landscape.