About
A sign above his pro shop at Manly Golf Club humorously read, "Learn the fundamentals of golf: swinging, swearing, cheating. Practice balls – 5 shillings a bucket – some of them round," reflecting his sense of humor alongside his professionalism.
Dan Soutar was a Scottish-born professional golfer and golf course architect who profoundly influenced the development of golf in Australia. Born in 1882, he left school at age 12 to support his family and apprenticed as a cabinet-maker. Soutar emigrated to Australia in 1903 for health reasons and quickly made his mark by winning the Australian Amateur Championship and NSW Amateur Championship the same year. He turned professional in 1904 and won the 1905 Australian Open and multiple Australian PGA Championships.
Soutar collaborated closely with fellow Scotsman Carnegie Clark and contributed significantly to the Australian golf community, including helping form the Australian PGA and serving as its first chairman. Beyond playing, Soutar was an accomplished clubmaker and teacher and authored "The Australian Golfer" in 1906, the first Australian golf textbook.
As a golf course architect, Soutar designed and routed several significant Australian courses, including the famous Kingston Heath Golf Club, Elanora, Pymble, Long Reef, Concord, and Royal Adelaide. He was known for elevating golf course design beyond the flat landscapes typical of Australia, bringing strategic complexity and character to his courses. He also made contributions to several other clubs and was respected for his integrity and principles. Soutar passed away in 1937 after complications from appendicitis.
