Vern Morcom

Profile

Vern Morcom is best known in Australia as the son of legendary Royal Melbourne Greenkeeper Mick Morcom, and as the builder of many of the famous bunkers scattered across the Melbourne Sandbelt. He was also an accomplished golf course designer.

When Dr Alister MacKenzie came to Australia in 1926, Vern Morcom was working at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, under his father Mick. The pair built the famous bunkers at Royal Melbourne, as well as others on the Sandbelt such as the famous 15th hole at Kingston Heath.

While Vern worked under his father initially, he was later installed as head Greenkeeper at Kingston Heath, a position he held for nearly 40 years. During that time, he would also design and redesign a number of fine golf courses across Victoria, including Spring Valley, Anglesea, Curlewis, Lonsdale, Leongatha, Sandringham and Rosanna as well as Royal Hobart, Glenelg and Grange (East Course) outside the state.