Jack Daray Sr.

Jack Daray Sr. was a pioneering American golf course architect and teaching professional whose influence spanned the early to mid-20th century. Beginning his career as a teaching pro, he held posts at Highland Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Olympia Fields near Chicago, and as head professional at Biloxi Golf Club in Mississippi. Notably, he instructed distinguished figures such as U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and baseball great Ty Cobb. In addition to his teaching, Daray developed a reputation for designing thoughtful, playable golf courses beginning in the 1920s. He continued to work in course design and management for decades, with prominent projects including Coronado Golf Course (CA), Castle Creek Country Club (CA), Tchefuncta Country Club (LA), and Cascade Hills Country Club (MI). Daray was a founding member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1947, serving until his death in 1958, and helped lay the groundwork for modern golf design standards.