People & the land Architect
Architect
C.B. Macdonald
In 1894, Charles Blair Macdonald lost two matches billed as national championships. His objections to their status helped bring about a common governing body, the United States Golf Association. The following year, he won its first U.S. Amateur.2
In the archive 8 Courses at 8 ClubsDated work 1911–1926
Course work
Published course connections in the archive.
- Original designOriginal Macdonald holes retained within today’s mixed Upper Course
- Co-design
- Original design
- Original designOriginal National Golf Links course
- Co-designCo-design of the first nine holes at the current Cobb estate site
- Original design
From a championship dispute to course design
His later project at National Golf Links of America drew on another part of his golfing education. After studying courses in Scotland and England, Macdonald selected ideas from several of their best-known holes for a course beside Peconic Bay on Long Island. The National was founded under his leadership in 1908.1
The Club names the Road Hole and Eden from St. Andrews, the Alps from Prestwick and the Redan from North Berwick among its models. Those names trace an exchange of golfing ideas across the Atlantic, with particular holes rather than a single entire course supplying the examples.1
Southampton engineer Seth Raynor assisted with construction at the National. Their collaboration also reached Old White at The Greenbrier, whose history credits Macdonald and Raynor with its original design and construction in 1914.13
Sources and record notes11 references
Sources for this history
- National Golf Links of America
National Golf Links of America
Welcome to National: founding, British source holes, location and Raynor.
Consulted 2026-11-06 - Illinois Golf Hall of Fame: Charles Blair Macdonald
Illinois Golf Hall of Fame
Biography: 1894 disputed national matches, USGA formation and 1895 U.S. Amateur.
Consulted 2026-11-06 - The Greenbrier: Golf History
The Greenbrier
Course History: The Old White, original design and construction in 1914.
Consulted 2026-11-06
Architect record sources
- Fried Egg Golf / Matt Rouches (opens in a new tab)Architect identity · Course design
- Illinois historic register announcement (opens in a new tab)Course design
- National Golf Links of America history (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Lake Forest-Lake Bluff History Museum: Onwentsia Club (opens in a new tab)Course design
- LINKS: Sleepy Hollow, designer-hosted article (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (opens in a new tab)Course design
- The Greenbrier (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Yale Golf Course official history (opens in a new tab)Course design