Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas was a legendary golf architect and professional golfer whose impact on the sport spanned both competitive play and design. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England in 1934, Thomas was a leading British golfer in the 1950s and 1960s, runner-up twice at The Open Championship, and represented Wales in the World Cup 11 times and Great Britain in the Ryder Cup on four occasions. Following a successful playing career curtailed by arthritis, he transitioned to golf course architecture, designing over 100 courses worldwide. His most notable achievement is the co-design of the Brabazon Course at The Belfry with Peter Alliss, which became a celebrated Ryder Cup venue. Thomas’s design style emphasized visually stunning, accessible layouts and challenging, memorable holes, with work spanning Europe, Africa, and beyond. He was recognized as one of the most influential people in golf and honored as captain and Life Member of The PGA.