Willie Watson

Willie Watson, born near St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1860, was a pioneering golf course architect who played a major role in shaping early American golf. After beginning his design career at Hexham Golf Club in England, Watson immigrated to the United States in 1898. He quickly became a leading architect, designing and remodeling over 100 golf courses, many of which were in California, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan. Watson’s work included founding a golf retail store in Los Angeles and mentoring future architects such as William P. Bell. Among his most notable designs are TPC Harding Park, The Olympic Club courses, Belvedere Golf Club, San Diego Country Club, and Interlachen Country Club. His projects often hosted major USGA and PGA championships. Despite many of his Southern California courses being lost to urban development, Watson’s influence endures, with surviving layouts still praised for their innovative routing and playability. He worked seasonally, dividing his time between California and the Midwest, until retiring in 1930. Watson died in Los Angeles in 1941.