Old Tom Morris was one of the first travelling golf architects?

Before Old Tom Morris, golf courses were usually created by local clubs adapting whatever natural land was available to them. Morris was one of the first people to travel from town to town specifically to design, improve and advise on golf courses, turning course architecture into a recognized profession.

As his reputation grew, clubs across Britain and Ireland sought his expertise. He would walk the land, study the natural features and create layouts that worked with the existing landscape rather than fighting against it.

Without modern surveying tools or machinery, Morris relied entirely on his eye, experience and understanding of how golfers played the game. He studied the wind, terrain, natural hazards and soil conditions before deciding where holes, bunkers and greens should be placed.

His approach was revolutionary because he believed the best courses should feel as though they belonged naturally to the land. Many of the principles he introduced—strategic bunkering, thoughtful routing and using natural contours—became the foundation of modern golf course design.