Golf Architects/Designers: Peter Alliss

Peter Alliss (born 28 February 1931) has done almost everything in the golf world, a professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. His father Percy was a professional golfer who won several tournaments on the European golf circuit in the 1920s and 1930s, Peter was born in Berlin while his father was employed as a club professional there and it was perhaps inevitable that Peter would also make a career in golf.

Percy hired Peter as his unpaid assistant at Ferndown Golf Club, allowing him time off during midweek to compete in tournaments. With some degree of success in his first professional tournaments, Peter quickly established himself among the top young players of the time.

Between 1954 and 1969, he won 21 professional tournaments – including three British PGA championships – and was twice winner of the Vardon Trophy. In September 1958, he won the national championships of Italy, Spain, and Portugal in three consecutive weeks. His first appearance in the Ryder Cup was in 1953, and with the single exception of 1955, he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the event until 1969. He is one of only two father-and-son duos to have represented their country at this level. He spent just six weeks on the American tour, in 1954, and therefore is known primarily as a commentator in the USA. Peter retired from the professional golf circuit in 1969.

Peter made his broadcasting debut way back in 1961, as part of the BBC team covering the Open Championship at Birkdale which was won by Arnold Palmer. His retirement from international golf at the – relatively early – age of 38 led to a full-time career “on the other side of the ropes.” By 1978 he was the BBC’s chief golf commentator following the death of his co-host and great friend Henry Longhurst.

His also involvement in golf course architecture goes back more than 30 years. His first course design partner was David Thomas, with whom he created over 50 courses, including , which is UK headquarters of the PGA and spiritual home of the Ryder Cup. He then joined forces with Clive Clark and added another 22 courses to his portfolio that includes the Seve Club in Japan, La Baule in Brittany, the Landsdowne Course at Blairgowrie in Scotland, Old Thorns Hampshire in England, Links Course at Belle Mare Plage Hotel in Mauritius and Yamasukra on the Ivory Coast just to name a few.

As an author he has written 20 books, the latest being Golf – The Cure for a Grumpy Old Man, and he also writes regularly for Golf International and Fairway to Green magazines.