Robert W. White

Robert W. White was a Scottish-born golf course architect and pioneer who left an enduring mark on American golf. Born in St Andrews, Scotland in 1876, he emigrated to the United States in 1894, working as a schoolteacher before studying agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. White is celebrated both as the first president of the PGA of America (1916–1919) and as a course designer and innovator in turf management—he introduced agricultural methods to golf course upkeep, vastly improving playing conditions across the U.S. Over his career, White designed over 100 courses and served as a professional at multiple clubs. Notably, he was involved in building the first putting green for the White House during the Eisenhower administration. In addition to his architectural work, White assisted many British pros in finding positions in America, helped found the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1994.