Tom Dunn (golf course architect)
| Thomas Dunn | |
|---|---|
Tom Dunn, c. 1889
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| Personal information | |
| Born |
29 December 1849 Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | May 1902 (aged 52) Blagdon, Somerset, England |
| Nationality |
 Scotland
|
| Spouse | Isabella Gourlay |
| Children | Isabella May Gourlay Dunn John Duncan Dunn Seymour Dunn Norah Eleanor Dunn |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1869 |
| Best results in major championships |
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| The Open Championship | 6th: 1868 |
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.
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.
Dunn competed in the Open in 1868 finishing in 6th place. He competed a further seven times until 1886 but never improved his position. Dunn's professional career started at North Berwick in 1869. Soon after, in 1870, he moved to the London Scottish Golf Club at Wimbledon and was formally the club's professional until 1880. In 1871, he extended the course to eighteen holes. Years later, Dunn revealed that this was initially 19 holes! Also in 1871, he joined his father at Leith Links.
Following marriage to Isabella May Gourlay, Dunn established a golf club making business at his home on Wimbledon Common. His two sons, John Duncan (b. 1873) and Charles (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 Wimbledon. During this period, Dunn's father died in Millhill, Inveresk in 1878 aged 59. Dunn and family returned to North Berwick in 1882 and Dunn became father to a third son, Seymour in 1882 and a second daughter, Norah Eleanor, in 1886.
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