Biography

Alister MacKenzie is widely recognised as a preeminent figure in golf course architecture, with his designs found on four continents. Interestingly, his fascination with course design was stimulated by his experience in the Boer War (1899-1902) where he served as a surgeon. He was intrigued by the use of camouflage by the Boers, which he later worked with during World War I and associated with golf course design. Following the war, MacKenzie started taking an interest in golf course design, seeing the correlation between camouflage techniques and the incorporation of natural cover in golf course designs. His book Golf Architecture, published in 1920, encapsulates his 13-principles of golf course design and stands as a benchmark work in the field.

MacKenzie's most celebrated works were created after relocating to the USA in the late 1920s. Some of his most notable designs include the Augusta National, in collaboration with Bobby Jones, the Cypress Point, and the Royal Melbourne in Australia. MacKenzie named Augusta National the "World's Wonder Inland Golf Course". He, unfortunately, passed away a few months prior to the first Masters in 1934. Besides working with him on Augusta National, Bobby Jones wrote the foreword for MacKenzie's The Spirit of St. Andrews, another seminal work on golf course architecture.

Known for their perfect balance of ease and difficulty, MacKenzie's golf course designs have a unique charm. His design style usually features wide fairways with limited rough but emphasises shot placement, often through hazardous bunkering. Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calafornia, though short by modern standards, offers an enduring challenge with strategically positioned bunkers and rolling greens.

A distinctive characteristic of a MacKenzie course design is the clever use of bunkers. Viewed from tee to green, the playing field appears covered by sand. Yet, when viewed from green to tee, the bunkers often become invisible. MacKenzie's designs also encourage golfers to exercise their imagination on greenside shots, a philosophy influenced by watching American player Walter Hagen chip on the 17th green on the Old Course at St. Andrews during a match. This philosophy is reflected in the fact that one of the greatest shot-makers in the game, Seve Ballesteros, is the only player to have won championships at Augusta National, Royal Melbourne, and St. Andrews.