About
Charles Banks earned the nickname 'Steam Shovel' Banks because he frequently used steam shovels to move massive amounts of earth, creating the dramatic features that defined his courses.
Charles Banks (1883–1931) was a distinguished American golf course architect whose career, though brief, left a profound impact on the golden age of golf design. After graduating from Yale and teaching English at Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, Banks met renowned architect Seth Raynor during a course renovation at Hotchkiss and soon entered the field. He joined Raynor’s firm, working closely with Raynor and C.B. Macdonald, architecting major projects like the Yale Golf Club and Mid Ocean Club. Banks became a key figure after Raynor’s death, completing 10 unfinished Raynor projects before creating approximately 20 original courses and renovating several more. Known as “Steam Shovel” Banks for his use of mechanical earthmovers to sculpt massive, unique features—most notably large elevated greens and deep bunkers—his work carried forward the signature 'template hole' style popularized by Macdonald and Raynor. His designs, such as Whippoorwill and Forsgate, remain celebrated for their bold contours and strategic challenges.
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