About
Ken Cotton did not begin his career as a golf course architect until after World War II, when he was already in his late 50s, yet he became a key figure in postwar British and European golf course design.
Charles Kenneth "Ken" Cotton (1887-1974) was a preeminent English golf course architect who began his career in design relatively late in life, after first being a Cambridge graduate, school teacher, and accomplished scratch amateur golfer. Following World War II, Cotton turned to golf course architecture in his 50s, revitalizing layouts neglected during the war and quickly establishing a reputation for thoughtful, strategic designs. He co-founded the renowned partnership Cotton, Pennink, and Partners Ltd. with Frank Pennink and Charles Lawrie, later joined by Donald Steel. Cotton was behind the creation and redesign of acclaimed courses such as St Pierre (Monmouthshire), Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire), and Olgiata (Rome), among others in Britain and Europe. He was also a founding member and president of the British Association of Golf Course Architects. Cotton’s understanding of course design was deeply informed by his own playing experience, reflected in courses well regarded for their playability and artistry.
