Biography
Jay Morrish worked with some of the biggest names in golf course architecture -- and on the PGA Tour -- of the latter half of the 20th century. In so doing, he represents a bridge between the "modern" style of sculpting courses out of the earth, and a "minimalist" style of weaving courses into the natural flow of the landscape. He did not reflexively look to move dirt, but was not opposed to it, if doing so would improve variety and enjoyment of golf holes.Shortly after receiving a degree in landscape architecture from Colorado State University in 1962, Morrish joined Robert Trent Jones, Sr., with whom he worked for four years. Under Jones, Morrish's first job was construction supervisor on Spyglass Hill Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula in California. In 1967, Morrish joined George Fazio's firm for two years. From there, he joined Desmond Muirhead's design firm during the heyday of Muirhead's collaborations with Jack Nicklaus. When Muirhead and Nicklaus parted ways, Morrish went with Nicklaus and worked on most of The Golden Bear's designs over the next decade. In 1983, Morrish set out on his own but continued his collaborative ways, teaming with another PGA Tour legend, Tom Weiskopf. The Morrish-Weiskopf duo subsequently designed some of America's best-rated, even iconic, layouts, specializing in desert courses, including Troon North and Troon Golf & C.C. in Scottsdale, Ariz., Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, Ariz., and TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.One of the team's most famous courses, however, is about as far away from the desert as one can get. In 1993, Morrish-Weiskopf unveiled Loch Lomond Golf Club in Luss, Scotland, a track that both men often described as their best collaborative work. Loch Lomond is also notable for being the first course in Scotland designed by Americans.In the 1990s, Morrish and Weiskopf parted ways, but Morrish continued building courses, mostly in the western U.S. Notable solo designs (many with input from his son Carter) include Tehama Golf Club in Carmel, Calif., Stone Canyon in Tuscon, Ariz., and Pine Dunes in Frankston, Texas. Jay Morrish served as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects from 2002-2004. He died in 2015 at the age of 78.