Alex Russell

Alex Russell was a distinguished Australian golf course architect and amateur champion, renowned for shaping Australia's Sandbelt golf architecture. Born in 1892, Russell became Alister MacKenzie's partner during the creation of Royal Melbourne's West Course, where he was instrumental both in design and on-site supervision. After MacKenzie's departure, Russell completed the West Course and then solely designed and oversaw the construction of Royal Melbourne's East Course, widely lauded for its skillful layout. His independent works include significant courses such as Yarra Yarra, Lake Karrinyup, Riversdale, and Paraparaumu Beach in New Zealand. Russell blended artistry and strategic challenge, favoring natural landforms and understated hazards. After a sabbatical managing his family's sheep farm and serving with the Red Cross in WWII, his direct involvement in golf architecture waned, partly due to declining health. Nonetheless, Russell's influential legacy endures in some of the region's finest and most revered courses.