Harry Colt

Two Bunkers by H. S. Colt, representing the then-new natural style, 1914 Henry Shapland Colt (4 August 1869 – 21 November 1951) was a British golf course architect born in Highgate, England, the sixth child and younger son of a barrister. He worked predominantly with Charles Alison, John Morrison, and Alister MacKenzie, in 1928 forming Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd. He participated in the design or redesign of over 300 golf courses (115 on his own) in all six inhabited continents, including those at Wentworth Club, Sunningdale, Muirfield, Royal Portrush, and Royal Liverpool.

Colt teamed up with George Crump in 1918 to design the course at Pine Valley Golf Club, which has been ranked almost continuously since 1985 as the #1 golf course in the United States, by Golf magazine (1985–2000, 2003–2008, 2013–2014, 2017-2025 ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S.) and Golf Digest (1985–2000, 2003–2008, 2013–2014, 2017-2025 ranking of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses). The classic Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield, Michigan, was designed by Colt and Alison in 1921. The course played host to the 1947 PGA Championship, the 1957 Western Open, and Ryder Cup Challenge Matches in 1943.

Colt was educated at Monkton Combe School near Bath between 1881 and 1887, before taking a law degree at Clare College, Cambridge, where he captained the Cambridge University Golf Club in 1890.

In 1897 he became a founder member of the Royal & Ancient Rules of Golf Committee.

Career

Colt's courses of note in the UK include: Stoke Poges Golf Club, Tandridge Golf Club, which features Colt Corner, Oxford Golf Club, Ladbrook Park Golf Club, Denham Golf Club, St George's Hill, Sunningdale (New course), Belfairs Golf Club, Rye, Blackmoor, Swinley Forest, Brancepeth Castle, Peebles Golf Club, Brokenhurst Manor, Camberley Heath, Calcot Park, Goring and Streatley Golf Club, Alnmouth Golf Club (Foxton), Grimsby Golf Club, Hendon Golf Club, Tyneside and the East & West Courses at Wentworth Club. He performed extensive revisions of Sunningdale (Old course), Woodhall Spa, Muirfield and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.

In Ireland Colt & Co. were responsible for new courses at Royal Portrush, Royal Belfast, Co. Sligo and Belvoir Park in Belfast. Extensive revisions were also carried out at Royal County Down and Dollymount. Colt & Company were also active in Continental Europe, throughout Northern France, The Netherlands and Germany.

In Canada, his courses for the Hamilton Golf and Country Club and the Toronto Golf Club are highly respected. He also designed in 1914 the first Spanish course bigger than 4.300 yards, the Club de Golf Sant Cugat, promoted by the Barcelona Traction Light and Power Company Ltd.

Results in major championships Note: Colt played in only The Open Championship and The Amateur Championship.

DNP = Did not play "T" indicates a tie for a place R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play Yellow background for top-10

Team appearances England–Scotland Amateur Match (representing England): 1908