James Braid

Golf Course Architect

James Braid (1870–1950) was a Scottish professional golfer—one of the famed ‘Great Triumvirate’ alongside Vardon and Taylor—who won The Open Championship five times in the early 1900s (1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910). After retiring from competitive play around 1912, he became a highly respected golf course architect, designing or refurbishing over 200 courses across the British Isles, celebrated for his strategic use of natural terrain, well‑defined bunkering, and economical, enduring layouts.

He’s sometimes credited with popularizing the dogleg hole. His architectural legacy includes courses such as Welshpool Golf Club in Wales (hillside course designed by Braid) and Verulam Golf Club near St Albans, England (originally laid out by Braid in 1905 and extended to 18 holes, opened in 1912).

He was engaged by Alderley Edge Golf Club in 1928 to review land and present preliminary designs, though those plans were ultimately not implemented. At Brampton Golf Club in Cumbria, he was the original designer of the course.

At Sherborne Golf Club, he redesigned and added holes in 1936.

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