About
Seymour Dunn's method for teaching the swing plane—using an imaginary pane of glass—was later famously adopted by Ben Hogan, who acknowledged Dunn's inspiration for his own iconic teaching.
Seymour Dunn was a prominent Scottish golf course architect, professional golfer, instructor, and golf writer, born in 1882 in North Berwick, Scotland. Immersed in golf from an early age, Dunn's family were notable golf course designers, and he began laying out courses as a teenager. At just 17, he became a pro at the Société Golf de Paris and soon designed pioneering courses in Europe, including Belgium’s first golf course and several for European royalty. Dunn emigrated to the United States in 1907, where he made a lasting mark on golf course architecture, especially in New York state with the Lake Placid Club, Craig Wood Golf & Country Club, and Saranac Inn Golf and Country Club, among others. Dunn’s innovations in instruction influenced generations, with his “Golf Fundamentals – Orthodoxy of Style” recognized as a classic, and his swing plane teaching later cited by Ben Hogan. Dunn’s impact on both course design and instruction endures in golf history.
