Old Tom Morris was paid more for course design than playing golf?

By the later part of his career, Old Tom Morris’ greatest value was no longer as a tournament player but as one of golf’s foremost experts. Clubs across Britain and Ireland sought his advice, paying him to design new layouts, improve existing courses and develop better methods of course maintenance.

His reputation became so strong that simply having “Designed by Old Tom Morris” associated with a course became a mark of quality. During his lifetime, he designed, redesigned or advised on more than 70 courses, including many that are still regarded as some of the world’s finest. His work can be seen at famous venues such as Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Machrihanish, Cruden Bay, Lahinch, Royal County Down and Muirfield, while he also made significant improvements to the Old Course at St Andrews.

Unlike many later architects, Morris believed that a course should blend naturally into its surroundings. He used existing dunes, ridges and valleys to create strategic challenges rather than relying on artificial features. Many of the courses he touched have hosted major championships or remain ranked among the world’s best, a lasting tribute to the timeless quality of his designs.