James Braid

James Braid (6 February 1870 - 27 November 1950) was a Scottish professional golfer and a member of the Great Triumvirate of the sport alongside Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor. During his career, he won The Open Championship five times, became a renowned golf course architect, and eventually became a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Braid was born in Earlsferry, Fife, Scotland, and played golf from an early age, working as a clubmaker before turning professional in 1896. Initially, his game was hindered by problems with his putting, but he overcame this after switching to an aluminium putter in 1900.

In 1912, Braid scaled back his tournament golf and became a full-time club professional at Walton Heath. He developed a very successful career in golf course design and is sometimes regarded as the "inventor" of the dogleg, although holes of similar design had been known for centuries (for example, the Road Hole at the Old Course at St Andrew's).

Among Braid's more famous designs are the King's Course and the Queen's Course at Gleneagles and the 1926 remodeling of Carnoustie Golf Links. Stranraer Golf Club's course became Braid's final design in 1950, the year of his death.

Website: http://www.jamesbraidhighland.golf/