Born: 30th August 1870 - Normanton, Yorkshire

Died: 6th January 1934 - Pasatiempo, USA

Married: Hilda Sykes Haddock

Educated: Cambridge University

Practiced medicine in Leeds before serving as a Civil Surgeon during the Boer War. Whilst in South Africa he observed the skill of the Boers of concealment which he studied. During the 1914-18 War he was appointed to establish the British School of Camouflage. In his career as a golf architect he used some of the principles involved in designing the courses.

In 1905 he helped form a permanent Committee to start the Alwoodley Golf Club. It was at this time that he met Harry Colt when he persuaded the Committee to call him in to settle disputes on the design of the course. In 1909, he was responsible for the design, and construction, of the Moortown - Leeds Course, and so began his permanent career as a Golf Architect. Between 1907 and 1931, he was responsible for some 41 original courses, plus 14 with partners and numerous courses remodelled in the UK, North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

It is believed that his partnership with Colt and Alison was never clearly defined, despite an announcement in 1920 that the three has regrouped, and was probably aimed at avoiding competition, however, with little financial commitment. It seems probable by 1923 that MacKenzie was operating independently as Morrison had joined the partnership.

His worldwide reputation was certainly justified when one takes into account his involvement with courses such as Augusta National (with Robert T Jones Jnr), Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Jockey Club of Buenos Aires, Alwoodley and Moortown.

Colt

Alison

Morrison

Colt Alison & Morrison Ltd