Tom Simpson

Tom Simpson (1877 - 1964) was one of the great amateur golf course architects. He was independently wealthy and did not need the money to exist and this, undoubtedly, influenced his approach to design and especially his dealings with committees, which was unambiguous and frequently controversial.

In the words of Henry Longhurst, who wrote a mock obituary of Simpson five years before his death, "His life has been one of unwavering hostility towards government by committees in any shape or form and of ceaseless endeavor to get 'one upon them."

His early years were spent working alongside Herbert Fowler and, although not all that much is known of their respective input, he was likely involved in some of Fowler's greatest works, such as Saunton, Walton Heath, and The Berkshire.

Simpson was not a prolific golf course architect and two world wars also ate into his productive years. Much of his work was done in Ireland and on the continent where his fees were often substantially more than his competitors, a ploy, perhaps, to scare off those who were not totally convinced to use him. Many of his finest works were actually redesigns of old layouts, such as County Louth in Ireland and Ashridge in England.

Website: http://www.tomsimpson.org.uk/