Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
The Secret of St. Andrews podcast is for golf enthusiasts, history buffs and patriots.
This is our ranking of the five Scotsmen who have had the greatest impact on the game of golf in America. Each of these men, in their own way, shaped the sport’s traditions, architecture, and culture—leaving a legacy that continues to define American golf today. Let's count down from number five to number one.
At number five, from Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland, is Stuart Maiden. Maiden's influence wasn't measured by tournament victories but by the players he shaped. Most notably, he was the guiding force behind Bobby Jones, America's greatest amateur golfer. Maiden's "old Carnoustie swing" became Jones’s own, and his practical, hands-on teaching style set a new standard for golf instruction in America.
Through Jones’s legendary career and the popularity that followed, Maiden's Scottish approach to the game helped fuel golf's explosive growth across the United States.
Number four is Alister MacKenzie. Born in Normanton, Yorkshire, England, to Scottish parents, MacKenzie's genius lies in the courses he left behind. He designed Augusta National, home of The Masters, and Cypress Point—both celebrated for their beauty and strategic brilliance. MacKenzie’s philosophy of blending natural landscapes with challenging play revolutionized American course design, inspiring architects for generations and setting a new bar for what a golf course could be.
At number three, we recognize Donald Ross from Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland. Ross is the architect behind over 400 American golf courses, including Pinehurst No. 2. His designs are known for their natural flow and subtle challenges, rewarding thoughtful play and shot-making. Ross didn’t just build courses—he built the very foundation of American golf, shaping the way the game is played and experienced across the country.
Number two is John Reid from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland—and with him, his friend and fellow Dunfermline native, Robert Lockhart. Together, they brought golf to America's shores. Lockhart imported the first clubs and balls from Scotland, and with Reid laid out a three-hole course in Yonkers, New York. Their efforts led to the founding of the St. Andrew’s Golf Club, introducing not just the sport but also the concept of the private golf club to America. Their vision and initiative sparked a movement, turning a Scottish pastime into an American tradition.
And at number one, the foundation of it all, is Old Tom Morris. Born in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, Morris was a champion golfer, a pioneering course designer, and a master clubmaker. He set the standards for course maintenance and equipment, and his shop in St. Andrews was where Lockhart acquired the clubs that would start it all in America.
Morris’s design principles directly influenced both Donald Ross and Alister MacKenzie, whose work defines American golf architecture. His methods and mentorship shaped Stuart Maiden, who in turn inspired Bobby Jones. Every aspect of American golf—from its courses and clubs to its champions—can be traced back to Old Tom Morris. His legacy is the very spirit of the game as it flourished in America.
These five Scotsmen, connected by heritage and vision, built the bridge between Scotland and America—and in doing so, shaped the game we know and love today.