Dr. Alister MacKenzie, a physician turned golf architect, was the brains behind Augusta National -- one of the most famous golf courses in the world, and host of the prestigious Masters tournament. But its designer died penniless and pleading for his fee.
The magic of MacKenzie —
Dr. Alister MacKenzie, a physician turned golf architect, was the brains behind Augusta National -- one of the most famous golf courses in the world, and host of the prestigious Masters tournament. But its designer died penniless and pleading for his fee.
The Alister MacKenzie Society
MacKenzie was enlisted to design Augusta by golf's leading Bobby Jones who, after announcing his shock retirement in 1930 at the peak of his powers, wanted to build a course where he could play with his friends away from the spotlight.
Jones' Georgia dream —
MacKenzie was enlisted to design Augusta by golf's leading Bobby Jones who, after announcing his shock retirement in 1930 at the peak of his powers, wanted to build a course where he could play with his friends away from the spotlight.
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Jones and MacKenzie were united by a shared philosophy of providing a course that is both playable and challenging for all types of golfers. Augusta was built on a former fruit plantation in Georgia in just 76 days.
Augusta National —
Jones and MacKenzie were united by a shared philosophy of providing a course that is both playable and challenging for all types of golfers. Augusta was built on a former fruit plantation in Georgia in just 76 days.
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MacKenzie's early designs feature elaborate bunkers throughout the course but the Scot was more focused on using the contours of the land by the time he got to Augusta. However, there are still a few dangerous bunkers dotted around the revered course.
Bunkering down —
MacKenzie's early designs feature elaborate bunkers throughout the course but the Scot was more focused on using the contours of the land by the time he got to Augusta. However, there are still a few dangerous bunkers dotted around the revered course.
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MacKenzie declared Augusta his "finest work" but he never got to see the finished course and died a few months before the first Masters was held in 1934. He never received full payment from the club, which struggled financially in its early years.
'My finest work' —
MacKenzie declared Augusta his "finest work" but he never got to see the finished course and died a few months before the first Masters was held in 1934. He never received full payment from the club, which struggled financially in its early years.
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Jones was convinced to employ MacKenzie to design his own course after playing at Cypress Point in Monterey, California. MacKenzie's design maximized its proximity to the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, and many consider it to be his masterpiece.
MacKenzie's masterpiece? —
Jones was convinced to employ MacKenzie to design his own course after playing at Cypress Point in Monterey, California. MacKenzie's design maximized its proximity to the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean, and many consider it to be his masterpiece.
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Alongside Augusta and Cypress Point, MacKenzie's most celebrated course is Royal Melbourne's west course in Australia. Those three regularly feature in the upper echelons of any list detailing the world's best golf courses.
Royal Melbourne —
Alongside Augusta and Cypress Point, MacKenzie's most celebrated course is Royal Melbourne's west course in Australia. Those three regularly feature in the upper echelons of any list detailing the world's best golf courses.
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MacKenzie's footprint stretched far and wide, from Argentina to Augusta, Mexico to Ireland. His 1920 book entitled "Golf Architecture" is still referred to by modern designers, and though he died 80 years ago, his ideas live on in courses all over the world.
A pioneer of design —
MacKenzie's footprint stretched far and wide, from Argentina to Augusta, Mexico to Ireland. His 1920 book entitled "Golf Architecture" is still referred to by modern designers, and though he died 80 years ago, his ideas live on in courses all over the world.
The Alister MacKenzie Society