Michael Cocking

RACV Healesville

Profile

An elite Amateur golfer, Michael Cocking has been the primary designer at the Australian based firm of Ogilvy Clayton Cocking and Mead (OCCM) for many years. In 2019 it was announced that company founder Mike Clayton was leaving to form a new business with Mike DeVries and Frank Pont, leaving Cocking as the main designer with US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Cocking started work in the golf business with the Michael Clayton Golf Course Design team, which included partners John Sloan and Bruce Grant. Prior to the formation of Ogilvy Clayton Design, and later OCCM, he was involved in projects like Royal Queensland, RACV Healesville and the RACV Torquay redesign.

In more recent times, under the OCCM banner, Mike Cocking’s most notable work has been as lead designer on the Bonnie Doon and Royal Canberra redesigns and to head the expensive Peninsula Kingswood redevelopment. Like the company, the Peninsula Kingswood work has polarized many in the local industry. Some regard the work as excessive and unsustainable, while others, often Professional golfers or elite amateurs, are convinced it’s now the most exciting golf facility in the country.

Although some of the OCCM / OCM design work does appear to have a focus on elite golf over average amateurs, Cocking himself is a talented designer and an accomplished artist. The break of he and Geoff Ogilvy away from Michael Clayton will be of great interest to the Australian market. They make a formidable team.

For an independent appraisal of Michael Cocking's work or the OCM Golf company portfolio please contact the Global Golf Group.