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Golf Course Architect · England
William Herbert Fowler (1856–1941) began his sporting life as an amateur cricketer before turning to golf course architecture in the early 1900s. Commissioned by his brother‑in‑law Sir Cosmo Bonsor, Fowler designed the inaugural course at Walton Heath, opened in 1904, and went on to design both the Old and New Courses there.
His design philosophy emphasized natural land contours and fair play, favoring gently-sloped bunkers (later dubbed “Fowler Graves”) and avoiding artificial shaping, earning him a reputation for inspired originality during golf’s Golden Age. In later years, he partnered with Tom Simpson and contributed to numerous projects in the UK and the United States, including expansions and redesigns such as at Pebble Beach’s 18th hole.
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