About
Grimsdell is credited with first introducing grass golf courses to the bushveld regions of South Africa, radically transforming playability and accessibility in these arid areas.
Bob Grimsdell (1897–1986) was a pioneering golf course architect and professional golfer whose legacy shaped South African golf. Born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, Grimsdell moved to South Africa as a teenager and served in the military during World War I. After returning briefly to England as a club professional, Grimsdell became deeply influenced by architects Harry Colt and C.H. Alison, learning their design philosophies. In the 1920s, he settled permanently in South Africa, becoming pro-greenkeeper and later renowned course designer at prestigious clubs such as Royal Johannesburg, where he laid out the East Course in 1933. Over a career spanning four decades, Grimsdell introduced grass golf courses to arid regions and was responsible for numerous prominent layouts, including the King David and Nelspruit Golf Clubs. He won several international tournaments as a player but never clinched a national South African title. Inducted into the Southern African Golf Hall of Fame, Grimsdell’s work remains foundational to South Africa’s golf landscape.
