Royal Dornoch is partnering with the America-based Donald Ross Society to celebrate the Highlander’s key role in spreading the golfing gospel.
Dornoch-born Ross was “keeper of the greens” and his hometown club’s first professional before being lured across the Atlantic.
He is credited with creating 456 courses in North America, including his masterpiece, Pinehurst No2, regarded as “The St Andrews of American golf” and an anchor site of the US Open.
The Championship Course, which is counting down to its 150th anniversary in 2027, influenced Ross hugely and that was reflected in many of his designs during a “Golden Age” for golf course architecture.
To strengthen ties between a course rated among the finest links in world golf and Ross courses in the USA and Canada celebrating their centenaries, Royal Dornoch is dispatching commemorative pin flags.
Club general manager Neil Hampton explained: “When Society president Vaughn Halyard visited us last year, we discussed potential ways we could celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Donald Ross and celebrate one of the most influential figures in golf.
“Ross is among a select band of legendary golf course architects along with the likes of Old Tom Morris – who shaped many of the holes at Royal Dornoch – James Braid and Alister MacKenzie, although his work was concentrated on the other side of the Atlantic.
“Many of our American visitors make tracks for his childhood home in St Gilbert Street during their stay and Vaughn was no exception on his latest visit.
“We have been liaising with the Donald Ross Society and they have identified clubs celebrating their centenaries this year in Florida, Michigan, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
“Each of them will be receiving a Royal Dornoch pin flag to display in their clubhouse, and we plan to catch up with those clubs which have already toasted their 100th anniversary.”
Milwaukee based Halyard heads-up a Society established in 1989 to preserve and enhance the Ross legacy and to safeguard the integrity of “the Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture.”
“We are thrilled to be working in tandem with Royal Dornoch, where it all began for Donald Ross,” said Vaughn. “Along with the Royal Dornoch pin flags, the Society is coordinating the delivery of Ross Centennial plaques.
“We have been working on our Ross portfolio to clarify which clubs have already passed the 100-year mark, so they don’t miss out.
“I know each of the Ross designed courses takes pride in being able to trace a direct historical lineage to Royal Dornoch and this can only enhance the relationship between the Scottish Highlands and hundreds of clubs across North America.”
The US clubs enjoying centenary celebrations are Palatka Golf Club (FL), Whitinsville Golf Club (MA), Rackham Golf Course (MI), San Jose Country Club (FL), Salem Country Club (MA), Roaring Gap Club (NC), Hyde Park Golf Club (FL), Biltmore Golf Course (FLA), Riviera Country Club (FLA) and Delray Beach Golf Club (FLA).
