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People & the land Architect
Architect
Seth Raynor
Seth Raynor came to course architecture through surveying. In 1908, he was Southampton’s village engineer and street commissioner when C.B. Macdonald engaged him at National Golf Links of America. His responsibilities grew from measuring the ground to supervising construction.21
In the archive 12 Courses at 10 ClubsDated work 1921–1926
Course work
Published course connections in the archive.
- Redesign
- Redesign
- Co-design
- Original design
- Original designOriginal course design
- CompletionConstruction direction and detailed work alongside Macdonald
A surveyor learns to build golf courses
Others entered the profession through working with him. Charles Banks, an English teacher at the Hotchkiss School, became so interested in the school’s course construction that he left his teaching position to join Raynor’s firm.2
The Yale commission shows the engineering behind the courses. Work began in 1923 on wooded ground containing rock and swamp. Sand deposits and rich soil found on the property supplied material for building the course. Raynor visited periodically; Banks managed the daily work.2
Raynor also worked with Macdonald on Old White at The Greenbrier. The resort credits both men with the course’s original design and construction in 1914. That shared credit belongs alongside Raynor’s later independent work.32
Sources and record notes13 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 - Yale Golf History: Seth J. Raynor
Yale Golf History
The course architect: 1908 survey work, Banks joining the firm, and Yale construction from 1923.
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
- Blue Mound Golf & Country Club (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Illinois historic register announcement (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Fishers Island Club about page (opens in a new tab)Course design
- History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff: Shoreacres (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
- Ohio Golf Association: The Camargo Club (opens in a new tab)Course design
- The Greenbrier: Golf History (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Yale Golf Course official history (opens in a new tab)Course design