John Morrison
Name:
John Stanton Fleming MorrisonCountry:
EnglandLived:
[1892-1961]. Born on April 17, 1892 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Died on Jan 28, 1961 in Farnham, Surrey, aged 68.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Golf course architect; military pilot.Turned Pro:
n/aWebsite:
https://www.coltassociation.co.ukIn addition to his sporting achievements and drinking prowess, Morrison was recognised by many clubs and golf writers for his common sense and great knowledge as a golf course architect. He also served with great distinction as a pilot in two world wars.
Morrison's best known work includes, but is not limited to (* = assisting Harry Colt):
BRITAIN & IRELAND:
Prince's GC, Kent (1950; major redesign with Sir Guy Campbell).
CONTINENTAL EUROPE:
Barlassina, Italy (1956) / Biella GC - Le Betulle, Italy (1958) / Frankfurter GC, Germany (1928*) / Hamburg-Falkenstein, Germany (1928*) / Hamburg-Hittfeld, Germany (1957) / Hossegor, Fra (1927) / Lubeck-Travemünder, Germany (1927) / Royal Haagsche, Nld (1938, assisting Hugh Alison) / Royal Knocke, Belg (1928, Lekkerbek course, which permanently closed in 1939; club now called Royal Zoute) / St Cloud GC, Fra (1930, Yellow course*) / Stockholm GC, Sweden (1932) / Torino GC - La Mandria, Italy (1956) / Toxandria, Nld (1928).
Educated at Charterhouse School in Surrey and Trinity College, Cambridge, Morrison was a talented all-round sportsman. While at Cambirdge he won three Blues (first-team colours) for cricket, football and golf. As an amateur he represented England at football and played first-class cricket at county level with Somerset (as his future golf design partner Hugh Alison had done).
During the 1914-18 War, Morrison joined the Royal Flying Corps and won the DFC and Bar and Italian silver and bronze medals for valour flying "stringbag" torpedo bombers in Italy. He then joined the newly formed Royal Naval Air Service, and is reported to have been one of the first pilots to land a plane on an aircraft carrier. In the Second World War, he was initially a Wing Commander then a Group Captain in charge of a training wing.
Starting out in golf architecture as an assistant to Harry Colt in 1924, Morrison worked on a number of courses and remodelling projects. In 1928 his relationship with Colt and Colt's long-time partner Charles Hugh Alison was formalised with the establishment of the golf architecture firm of Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd. Morrison carried the firm's banner, particularly into Continental Europe.
When Colt died in 1951 and then Alison a year after that, it was left to Morrison to continue the firm, which he did until his own death in 1961.
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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