Perry Maxwell

Perry Duke Maxwell was born on June 13, 1879, in Princeton, Kentucky, and later moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he became a pivotal figure in American golf architecture. Known as the "father of Oklahoma golf," Maxwell was instrumental in bringing the game and its design principles to the American Midwest and Southwest. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he was not formally trained as an architect but brought a deep understanding of natural terrain and strategic golf design to his work.

Maxwell's first major project was Dornick Hills Golf & Country Club in Ardmore, where he applied innovative ideas such as grass greens—something new to Oklahoma at the time. He went on to design or remodel approximately 70 courses and contributed to about 50 others. His signature design elements include large, undulating greens with distinctive swells now known as "Maxwell’s rolls," and his ability to harmonize course features with the natural environment.

In the 1930s, Maxwell worked closely with Alister MacKenzie, becoming his partner and on-site collaborator on acclaimed courses like Crystal Downs and Melrose Country Club. Upon MacKenzie's death, Maxwell took a more prominent role in revamping Augusta National Golf Club, moving key greens and adding strategic challenges still present today.

Maxwell's best-known designs include Southern Hills Country Club, site of several PGA Championships and U.S. Opens, as well as Prairie Dunes and Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. He was a founding member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

He passed away on November 15, 1952, but his legacy endures as a master of classic design, respected for elevating the art and science of course architecture.