A Brief Beginner’s Guide to Donald Ross

There may be no more influential architect in American golf than Donald Ross, a name you likely heard many times this weekend as you tuned into the PGA Championship

Born in Scotland and shaped by the game’s early traditions at St. Andrews—including an apprenticeship under Old Tom Morris—Ross immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s. By the time he died in 1948, he would have his hand in more than 400 golf courses, an enduring portfolio that would define what American golf would become. A century after many of his most influential designs opened, they still dominate rankings, host major championships (like this weekend’s PGA at Aronimink), and anchor some of the game’s more revered clubs.

Ross was not known for flashy, manufactured golf. His philosophy centered on working with the natural land in front of him. When you play a Ross, you may notice the fairways often tumble across existing land contours, and greens sit naturally within the terrain rather than appearing forced upon it.

And it’s his work on the greens—Aronimink as a prime example—that generally stick out the most when you play a Ross. If you’ve had the pleasure of playing Pinehurst No. 2 and the displeasure of watching your ball trickle off a false front, you get it.

His private club portfolio reads like a hall of fame: Seminole, Oak Hill, Inverness, Oakland Hills, Aronimink, East Lake, and Scioto among the standouts. But part of his enduring appeal is how accessible his work is to everyday golfers, whether it’s the Ross-molded muni down the road or the destination course on your bucket list. Some of his best publics include Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4, French Lick, a trio in Southern Pines (Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines), The Broadmoor: East, George Wright, and the Old Course at Omni Bedford Springs.

The vast majority of his golf courses sit in the eastern third of the country. If you find one within driving distance—for a day trip or a weekend—don’t hesitate.

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This article originally ran in the Sunday Pins newsletter from Birdie Houses.