Henry Shapland "Harry" Colt (4 August 1869 – 21 November 1951) was a
golf course architect born in
Highgate
Highgate ( ) is a suburban area of north London at the northeastern corner of Hampstead Heath, north-northwest of Charing Cross.
Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has two active conservation organis ...
, England. He worked predominantly with
Charles Alison
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...
,
John Morrison John Morrison or Morison may refer to:
In politics
* John Morrison (Manitoba politician) (1868–1930), politician in Manitoba, Canada
* John Morrison (Saskatchewan politician) (1872–1950), Canadian Member of Parliament
* John Morrison (intelli ...
, and
Alister MacKenzie, in 1928 forming
Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd was a British golf course architecture firm founded in 1928. The partners Harry Colt, Charles Hugh Alison, and John Stanton Fleming Morrison
John Stanton Fleming Morrison DFC (17 April 1892 – 28 January 1961) was ...
. He participated in the design or redesign of over 300 golf courses (115 on his own) in all six inhabited continents, including those at
Wentworth Club,
Sunningdale,
Muirfield,
Royal Portrush, and
Royal Liverpool.
Colt teamed up with George Crump in 1918 to design Pine Valley Golf Club, which is ranked as the #1 golf course in the United States, by ''Golf'' magazine (2017–18 ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S.) and ''Golf Digest'' (2019–20 ranking of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses). The classic Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield, Michigan, was designed by Colt and Alison in 1921. The course played host to the 1947 PGA Championship, the 1957 Western Open, and Ryder Cup Challenge Matches in 1943.
Colt was educated at
Monkton Combe School near Bath, before taking a
law degree
A law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers. But while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not confer a license themselves. A legal license is gr ...
at
Clare College,
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge beca ...
, where he captained the
Cambridge University Golf Club in 1890.
In 1897 he became a founder member of the
Royal & Ancient Rules of Golf Committee.
Career
Colt's courses of note in the UK include: Tandridge Golf Club, which features Colt Corner
Oxford Golf Club Ladbrook Park Golf Club, Denham Golf Club,
St George's Hill,
Sunningdale (New course), Belfairs Golf Club,
[https://www.belfairsgolfclub.co.uk/] Rye, Blackmoor,
Swinley Forest, Brancepeth Castle, Brokenhurst Manor, Camberley Heath,
Calcot Park
Calcot Park is a country house, estate, and golf club in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated between Calcot and Tilehurst, suburbs of the town of Reading, and within the civil parish of Tilehurst.Ordnance Survey (2006). ''OS Explore ...
,
Goring and Streatley Golf Club, Grimsby Golf Club, Hendon Golf Club, Tyneside and the East & West Courses at
Wentworth Club. He performed extensive redesigns of
Sunningdale (Old course),
Woodhall Spa
Woodhall Spa is a former spa Village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England, on the southern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, south-west of Horncastle, west of Skegness, east-south-east of Lincoln and north-west of Boston. It is noted ...
, and of
Muirfield,
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, and
Royal Portrush, three of the courses on the rota for the
Open Championship. In Canada, his courses for the
Hamilton Golf and Country Club and the
Toronto Golf Club are highly respected. He also designed in 1914 the first Spanish course bigger than 4.300 yards, the Club de Golf Sant Cugat, promoted by the
Barcelona Traction Light and Power Company Ltd.
Results in major championships
Note: Colt played in only
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later t ...
and
The Amateur Championship.
DNP = Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Yellow background for top-10
Team appearances
*
England–Scotland Amateur Match (representing England): 1908
References
External links
Colt Association Official Site*
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
article by Mark Pottle, 'Colt, Henry Shapland
arry(1869–1951)
accessed 2 March 2007
Bath Golf Club Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colt, Harry
Golf course architects
Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge
People educated at Monkton Combe School
People from Highgate
1869 births
1951 deaths