No Laying Up - Golf Podcast 1109: C.B. Macdonald Deep Dive - Part 1
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Jan 15, 2026 Dive into the life of Charles Blair Macdonald, the father of American golf course architecture. Discover how his experiences in Scotland ignited his passion for the game. Learn about the creation of America’s first eighteen-hole course and the influential social circles that supported his vision. Uncover the fascinating history behind the first US Amateur Championship and Macdonald's drive to establish governing standards for the sport. Expect thrilling insights into design principles and the evolution of golf architecture.
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McDonald’s Mission: Protect Golf’s Soul
- Charles Blair McDonald pushed American golf to mirror Scottish traditions to prevent it becoming a shallow fad.
- He prioritized rules, playing the ball as it lies, strategy, and course purpose over gimmicks or commercialization.
Locker With Old Tom Morris
- CB arrived at St. Andrews skeptical but quickly fell in love after meeting Old Tom Morris and getting a locker in his shop.
- Old Tom gave him his first clubs and McDonald practiced obsessively, absorbing rules and culture from top players.
Camp Douglas Tin-Can Round
- In 1875 McDonald and a friend buried tin cans for cups on Camp Douglas and played as hoodlums tormented them.
- He then stowed his clubs away until he could go abroad again, marking his early US struggles to play golf.
