The Inside Swing

David McLay Kidd

Golf Course Architect

Biography

David McLay Kidd is the Scottish-born architect who put Bandon Dunes — and Oregon — on the world golf map. His original Bandon Dunes course (1999) was the foundation of what became America's premier pure golf destination. Born in Glasgow and raised around Gleneagles, Kidd brings an authentic links sensibility to his work. His later designs at Tetherow in Bend and the innovative Gamble Sands in Washington continued to push boundaries in Pacific Northwest golf.

Design Philosophy

Kidd designs courses that honor links tradition while embracing new terrain. He favors firm, fast playing surfaces, strategic width, and minimalist maintenance practices that let the land speak. His courses are built for the ground game and reward creative shotmaking over brute power.

Courses by David McLay Kidd in Our Directory (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are David McLay Kidd's most famous courses?
Bandon Dunes (the original course at Bandon Dunes Resort, 1999), Tetherow in Bend, Oregon, Gamble Sands in Washington State, and Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley in Wisconsin.

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