Alister MacKenzie
Golf Course Architect
Biography
Dr. Alister MacKenzie is widely considered the greatest golf course architect of all time. Born in England and trained as a surgeon, MacKenzie brought a camouflage expert's eye for natural terrain to golf design. His masterworks — Augusta National, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne — are routinely ranked among the best courses in the world. MacKenzie relocated to California in the late 1920s and lived on the 6th fairway of his beloved Pasatiempo until his death in 1934.
Design Philosophy
MacKenzie's 13 principles of golf course design prioritize strategic variety and natural beauty. He believed every hole should offer alternative routes to the green, that hazards should be visible but not punitive to the average golfer, and that courses should require no artificial features — only the enhancement of what nature provides.
Courses by Alister MacKenzie in Our Directory (5)
Pasatiempo Golf Club
San Francisco, California · semi-private · Est. 1929
$150–$300
Sharp Park Golf Course
Pacifica, California · public · Est. 1932
$35–$55
Cypress Point Club
Pebble Beach, California · private · Est. 1928
Members Only
The Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet
Columbus, Ohio · semi-private · Est. 1938
$50–$100
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, California · semi-private · Est. 1929
$150–$295
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