McLay-Kidd has designed several renowned courses that feature on many golfers' "must play" lists. His best known work includes, but is not limited to:

UNITED STATES:
Bandon Dunes, OR (1999, Dunes course) / Gamble Sands, WA (2014) / Nanea, HI (2003) / Rolling Hills CC, CA (2017) / Sand Valley, WI (2018, Mammoth Dunes course) / Tetherow, OR (2008) / TPC Stonebrae, CA (2004, originally called TPC San Francisco Bay) / Tributary, ID (2009, originally called Huntsman Springs).

BRITAIN & IRELAND:
Beaverbrook, Eng (2016, with Tom Watson) / Machrihanish Dunes, Scot (2009) / Powerscourt, Ire (2003, West course redesign) / Queenwood, Eng (2001) / St Andrews, Scot (2008, Castle course).

AND ALSO:
Fancourt, S Africa (2005, modifications to Montagu course) / Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua (2013) / Laucala Island, Fiji (2003).

Born and raised in Scotland, David McLay-Kidd grew up with golf in his bones. His father Jimmy Kidd was a head greenkeeper, who spent 25 years managing the famed courses of the Gleneagles Hotel. Having been around some of the oldest and finest courses in the world, it was not surprising McLay-Kidd followed in his father's footsteps ... but as a course architect rather than a course superintendent.

Known initially for his minimalist 'retro' designs (in the style of "golf as it used to be"), McLay-Kidd established his credentials with the world famous Dunes course at Bandon Dunes. After the success of Bandon, McLay-Kidd launched DMK Golf Design and dedicated himself to building best-in-class golf courses around the world.

The name McLay was originally David Kidd's middle name, and also his mother's maiden name. At some point the name McKlay was formally recognised as part of David's surname, hence the now hyphenated David McLay-Kidd.