William F. Mitchell

Born in 1912, William F. Mitchell started his work in golf as a greenkeeper at the young age of 19. He spent his next few years working as a superintendent while managing a turf farm. Through these experiences, he gained firsthand knowledge of golf course construction, while creating connections in the industry, such as Orrin Smith, who he helped assist in several layouts throughout New England.

In the late 1940s, Mitchell and his two brothers, Samuel and Henry, created a golf course architecture firm known as Mitchell Brothers. It lasted until 1954, and while the other brothers left the field of architecture, Mitchell stayed committed to the profession full-time. By the 1970s, Bill Mitchell was responsible for over 150 original designs and 200 remodeling projects.

He was an advocate for building golf courses specifically for women's golf and was retained by the LPGA to create such a course. Mitchell passed away in 1974, but his designs and innovative thinking for the game have forever shaped the design footprint of golf. Mitchell was elected to the American Society of Golf Course Architects membership in 1969 and was involved with the organization until his death.