About
Smith used steam shovels and bulldozers to create large, rounded bunkers and dramatic plateaus for tees and greens—a relatively innovative approach in his era.
Orrin Edward Smith was a highly productive golf course architect in the United States, active from the 1920s through the 1950s. Born in Southington, Connecticut, Smith began his career under Willie Park, Jr., notably serving as construction superintendent for the Shuttle Meadow Golf Club. Smith became a protégé of the renowned architect Donald Ross, working on several Ross projects and eventually assuming primary responsibility for many of them. In 1925, Smith launched his own practice, building a reputation for designing short, strategic layouts characterized by narrow, tree-lined fairways and deep bunkers shaped by steam shovels. He authored and remodeled over 40 courses, including Torrington Country Club, Longmeadow Country Club, and Waterville Country Club, with projects primarily in the eastern United States. Smith continued to work through economic downturns and mentored other architects such as William F. Mitchell and Al Zikorus before retiring in 1955. His work remains influential in American golf course architecture.
