Tom Dunn

Thomas Dunn (29 December 1849 – May 1902 ) was a golfer, golf club maker and prolific architect of many golf courses in the early 20th century. Less celebrated than his contemporary, Old Tom Morris, Dunn created many functional layouts and helped lead the development of courses away from the coast into inland heathland locations, notably many around London. In total, Dunn had four top-10 finishes in the Open Championship.

Early life Dunn was born in Musselburgh, the son of Willie Dunn Snr (1821–1878).

Willie Dunn Snr and his twin brother, Jamie, were notable golfers of their time, playing against Allan Robertson and Old Tom Morris. Willie was apprenticed under the Gourlay family. At the time of Tom's birth, Willie Dunn Snr was greenkeeper at Blackheath where he remained until 1864.

Dunn learned the game and family business of golf, including club manufacture and groundsmanship, from his father. Dunn also had an elder sister; Catherine (b. 1842 also in Musselburgh), and four younger sisters; Rebecca (b. 1852), Janet (b. 1854), Jemima (b. 1856) and Sarah (b. 1858). His younger brother, William, (b. 1864 and known as Willie Jnr), like his younger sisters, was also born at Blackheath.

In 1864 the Dunn family moved back to Scotland and Willie Dunn Snr was employed at Leith Links. In 1871, he extended the course to eighteen holes. Also in 1871, he joined his father at Leith Links. (b. 1874) were born here. Dunn's first daughter, Isabella May Gourlay Dunn, was born in early 1880. Dunn's younger brother, Willie Dunn Jnr, was apprenticed to him whilst at London Scottish Golf Club in Wimbledon. During this period, Dunn's father died in Millhill, Inveresk in 1878 aged 59. Soon thereafter he accepted a position as head professional and greenkeeper at Hanger Hill where he laid out the course.

After his death, but not before, critics derided his predictable use of hazards and his 'hit and run' staking-out methods. However, he provided a service at a time when very few people understood the basic architectural principles required for a functional layout, and Dunn had the skill and experience to deliver to order. Dunn himself claimed to have laid out a total of 137 courses, and, although some have closed and many since been further embellished and developed, the basic underlying layouts of many of Dunn's courses remain.

Although Beckenham, now Beckenham Place Park Golf Club, is sometimes attributed to Dunn,

Results in major championships Note: Dunn played only in The Open Championship.

"T" indicates a tie for a place