About
Despite being one of Europe’s most prolific winners, Neil Coles made few appearances in the United States because of his fear of flying, which shaped both his playing and design career.
Neil Chapman Coles is a renowned English professional golfer and distinguished golf course architect. Born in 1934 in London, Coles turned professional at just 16 and quickly established himself as one of Europe’s most consistent and respected players. Over his playing career, he won 29 notable European tournaments between 1956 and 1982, and added 14 senior titles after the age of 50, maintaining his competitive edge into his late 60s. Coles represented Great Britain and Ireland in eight Ryder Cup matches from 1961 to 1977, making his mark as a durable competitor with seven singles points—a feat tied for the most in Ryder Cup history. After his storied playing career, Coles transitioned to golf course design, with acclaimed projects including Chartham Park, Slaley Hall’s Priestman Course, and Spain’s PGA Golf de Catalunya (now Camiral), a regular host for major European events. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000 and served as the first chairman of the PGA European Tour.
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