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Thomas Dunn<br />
Born Blackheath, England, 29th December 1849. Died Blagdon 1902 , aged 52.<br />
Tom Dunn became a professional at Wimbeldon Common (London Scottish) in 1870. The<br />
course had originally been laid out by his father , Old Willie Dunn, with 18 holes, but over<br />
the years it had been reduced to 7. In his first year at the club, Tom extended it to 18. He went<br />
on to hold professional positions at North Berwick, Tooting Beck, Meyrick Park amongst<br />
others.<br />
Dunn had four top-10 finishes in The Open Championship his best effort coming 6th in<br />
1869.<br />
He was the most prolific golf course architect of his day. He produced layouts that were<br />
inexpensive and serviceable, making it possible for increasing numbers of all social classes<br />
to take up the sport.<br />
He was a great salesman and is quoted as telling his clients; “God meant this site to be a golf<br />
course.” The first designer to work on inland courses rather than links he was a firm believer<br />
in a cross bunker requiring a forced carry from the tee, another for the approach and even a<br />
third on a three shot hole.<br />
Dunn himself considered Broadstone to be one of his greatest achievements where he was<br />
“not stinted for men, money or materials”. He felt Meryick Park the greatest challenge because<br />
of the densley covered heather, gorse and pine forest terrain.<br />
Tom was married to Isabel Gourlay, “the greatest women golfer of her day”. Tom travelled<br />
to America on several occasions visiting his brother Willie Dunn Jnr. (who also went on to<br />
become an architect). Despite his visits to the US, it is doubtful that he ever laid out a course<br />
there. While many American courses claim<br />
to have a Tom Dunn course, it is more<br />
likely they were laid out by one of the other<br />
Dunns.<br />
Tom’s work in Great Britain and on the<br />
Continent was extensive with more than<br />
137 courses.<br />
This timeline has been constructed<br />
using information from various<br />
sources, such as club histories, club<br />
websites, “The Architects of Golf ” by<br />
Cornish and Whitten.<br />
Born 1849<br />
Ashley Wood, Dorset - 9 holes 1893<br />
London Scottish Golf Club - Added 9 holes 1870<br />
Bath 1880<br />
Bramshaw - Manor Course 1880<br />
Felixstowe Ferry - 9 holes 1880<br />
Kinsdown 1880<br />
Cork - Ireland 1880<br />
Northe Berwick- Remodel 1883<br />
Brighton & Hove - 9 holes 1887<br />
Seaford 1887<br />
Dinard, France 1887<br />
Coubert - France 1888<br />
Blairgowrie 1889<br />
Bromley: Bude & North Cornwall GC 1890<br />
Eltham Warren 1890<br />
Tooting Bec 1890<br />
Ganton 1891<br />
Huddersfield 1891<br />
Lindrick 1891<br />
Northwood 1891<br />
Richmond 1891<br />
Royal Cinque Ports - 9 holes 1892<br />
Royal Mid Surrey 1892<br />
Royal Worlingon & Newmarket - 9 holes 1892<br />
Seacroft 1892<br />
Ventnor - 9 holes 1892<br />
Weston-Super-Mare 1892<br />
Enfield 1893<br />
Hastings & St. Leonards 1893<br />
Hastings 1893<br />
Royston 1893<br />
Woking 1893<br />
Haagsche - Netherlands 1893<br />
Buscott Park & Chiselhurst GC 1894<br />
Hampstead - 9 holes 1894<br />
Lansdown 1894<br />
Meyrick Park 1894<br />
Surbiton 1895<br />
Frinton 1896<br />
<strong>Saunton</strong> 1897<br />
Broadstone 1898<br />
Maidenhead 1898<br />
London Scottish Golf Club - Remodel 1901<br />
Bulwell Forest 1902<br />
Sheringham; Sherwood Forest - 9 holes 1904<br />
Erewash Valley 1905<br />
Beckenham Place Park 19<strong>07</strong><br />
Burhill - 9 holes 19<strong>07</strong><br />
North Oxford 1908<br />
Nottingham City 1908<br />
Whickham 1911<br />
Ralara - Canary Islands<br />
Unknown<br />
Littlestone - Remodel<br />
Unknown<br />
Died 1902
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