A Walk With Donald Ross

Width and recovery. Choices and decisions. Playability and challenges.

Whether you read Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s writings or listen to Andy Johnson and Zac Blair gush over their newest course design discoveries, these descriptors loudly echo in the budding golf architecture movement, and for good reason. Great architecture means creating a golf experience that’s interesting, challenging, and fun for as many golfers as possible.

On a trip this year to Mid Pines Golf Club in North Carolina, the mastery of Donald Ross was in full form.

Even though it’s been 70 years since Ross’ death, the man himself led us on a walk across these grounds. He showcased the property with a path he personally laid for us, with no piece of his puzzle feeling like an intrusion on the land.

Each tee and green gave the sense of a natural resting point, effortlessly letting us take in the expanses of rolling property and nuances in its concentrated contours. Each fairway provided a walking path that meandered naturally through natural hazards and topological obstructions. Perfect routing, a superb use of elevation changes, subtle changes to playing angles, and a demand for a variety of shots found in (or absent from) our bags.

Everything was meant to be exactly where it is.

It was as if the land could only be a golf course and its sole purpose was to welcome everyone who loves the game.

Our foursome included a 70, 80, 90, and 100 shooter and we couldn’t shake this shared feeling. This tour was intimate, starting right at the first tee and nurtured each step along the way to the last green.

By Kevin Moore