Donald Ross
Donald Ross is a Golden Age era golf course architect with 29 courses in the Alister Links database across 15 states. Best known for Pinehurst No. 2. Designs in our database span 1890–1996.
Donald Ross emigrated from Dornoch, Scotland to the United States in 1899 and became the most prolific and influential golf course architect of the twentieth century. He apprenticed under Old Tom Morris at St Andrews before bringing his craft to America, where he designed or renovated over 400 courses.
Design Philosophy
Ross championed natural-looking courses that rewarded strategic play over brute force. His hallmark features include crowned, turtle-back greens that reject imprecise approach shots, subtle mounding that frames fairways, and deceptive bunkering that punishes the careless more than the bold.
29 clubs across 15 states · 1890–1996
Course Map
Courses by Donald Ross
Ranked by Alister Index score.
Seminole Golf Club
Juno Beach, FL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1929
Aronimink Golf Club
Newtown Square, PA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1896
East Lake Golf Club
Atlanta, GA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1908
Inverness Club
Toledo, OH
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1903
Oakland Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1916
Plainfield Country Club
Edison, NJ
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1890
Scioto Country Club
Upper Arlington, OH
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1916
Wannamoisett Country Club
Rumford, RI
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1898
Richland Country Club
Nashville, TN
Designed by Donald Ross (original 1921), Jack Nicklaus (1988 relocation) · Founded 1901
River Oaks Country Club
Houston, TX
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1923
Athens Country Club
Athens, GA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1926
Belle Meade Country Club
Nashville, TN
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1897
Cape Fear Country Club
Wilmington, NC
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1896
Skokie Country Club
Glencoe, IL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1897
Washington Golf & Country Club
Arlington, VA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1893
Brae Burn Country Club
Newton, MA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1897
Mountain Brook Club
Birmingham, AL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1927
Overbrook Golf Club
Villanova, PA
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1900
The Minikahda Club
Minneapolis, MN
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1898
Interlachen Country Club
Edina, MN
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1921
The Country Club of Birmingham
Mountain Brook, AL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1925
Memphis Country Club
Memphis, TN
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1905
Greensboro Country Club
Greensboro, NC
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1911
Pinehurst Country Club
Pinehurst, NC
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1996
Shaker Heights Country Club
Shaker Heights, OH
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1913
Gulf Stream Golf Club
Gulf Stream, FL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1924
Charlotte Country Club
Charlotte, NC
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1913
Myers Park Country Club
Charlotte, NC
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1944
Belleair Country Club
Belleair, FL
Designed by Donald Ross · Founded 1915
Frequently Asked Questions
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Key Facts
- Courses in database: 29
- States represented: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
- Year range: 1890–1996
- Era: Golden Age
- Birthplace: Dornoch, Scotland
- Born: 1872, Died: 1948
- Best known for: Pinehurst No. 2
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