Dr Alister MacKenzie
Profile
Dr Alister MacKenzie is regarded by many as the finest golf architect in the history of the game. Certainly if the criteria is the quality of their best four or five courses it would be hard to mount an argument against the charismatic Englishman. From Royal Melbourne West to Cypress Point, Augusta National, Crystal Downs, Lahinch and places like Kingston Heath (where he designed the bunkering), Pasatiempo, Alwoodley and more this is a man who understood both the value of strategic design and how to make the most of a given piece of land.
MacKenzie courses are, at times, incorrectly characterized by wild greens and extreme putting contours, which generally only appear on tracks where the land lends itself to that type of design. Augusta National aside, his best courses are noted for the ingenuity of their individual holes, the flow and intimacy of the routing and the naturalistic shaping of the greens and bunkers.
MacKenzie is a fascinating character who continues to inspire generations of golfers and course designers. His worldwide legacy is certain to live for as long as our game is played by people with a passion for great design.
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