Stanley Thompson
Encyclopedia
Stanley Thompson was a Canadian
golf course architect. He was a co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
.
Born in Toronto
, he graduated from Malvern Collegiate Institute
and attended the Ontario Agricultural College
(now the University of Guelph
) for one year. He served with the Canadian military in Europe during World War I
. When he returned to Canada after the war he became a full-time golf course architect, going into business himself by 1923. In the 1920s there was a rapid expansion of golf and new courses were needed to accommodate the millions of new players, so Thompson and his peers were kept very busy.
He designed courses from 1912-1952, mostly in Canada, with a philosophy of preserving the natural lay and flow of the land. He got his start with George Cumming, longtime professional at the Toronto Golf Club
, who had designed several Canadian courses around the turn of the 20th century.
Thompson's many world-famous courses include the Banff Springs Hotel
Golf Course in Banff, Alberta
, the Jasper Park Golf Course in Jasper, Alberta
, the scenic Fundy National Park Course in New Brunswick and the Highlands Links
in Ingonish, Nova Scotia
, all four which are publicly accessible and located in Canadian National Parks. Banff Springs and Jasper Park earned him a worldwide reputation. Four outstanding private clubs designed by Thompson are the Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver, British Columbia
, the Edmonton Country Club and the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, and the St. George's Golf and Country Club
in Toronto
. In 1948, Thompson was a co-founder, with Donald Ross, of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
, and helped to train many top golf course architects, including Robert Trent Jones
; Thompson and Jones were partners for several years in the 1930s. Thompson was an excellent player himself, competing with success several times in the Canadian Amateur Championship
, and he had four brothers - Nicol, Frank, Mathew, and Bill - all of whom became outstanding Canadian players in the 1920s.
The Stanley Thompson Society provides a list of 178 courses which Thompson laid out, had constructed, or remodeled through one of the companies that he worked for or managed in the years 1912-1953. Geographically, the courses are located in:
Thompson was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
in 1980. Golf historian James A. Barclay
wrote a biography of Thompson entitled The Toronto Terror.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
golf course architect. He was a co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
American Society of Golf Course Architects
The American Society of Golf Course Architects is a professional organization of golf course designers in America. Founded in 1946, its members are actively involved in the design of new courses and the renovation of existing courses in the United States and Canada. One of its founders was noted...
.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, he graduated from Malvern Collegiate Institute
Malvern Collegiate Institute
Malvern Collegiate Institute is a Toronto high school that was founded in 1903 as "East Toronto High School", in what was then the village of East Toronto...
and attended the Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
(now the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
) for one year. He served with the Canadian military in Europe during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When he returned to Canada after the war he became a full-time golf course architect, going into business himself by 1923. In the 1920s there was a rapid expansion of golf and new courses were needed to accommodate the millions of new players, so Thompson and his peers were kept very busy.
He designed courses from 1912-1952, mostly in Canada, with a philosophy of preserving the natural lay and flow of the land. He got his start with George Cumming, longtime professional at the Toronto Golf Club
Toronto Golf Club
The Toronto Golf Club originated in 1876, and is the third oldest golf club in North America after Royal Montreal Golf Club , and the Royal-Quebec Golf Club . It originated on a parcel of land known as the Fernhill property, which was included within the City of Toronto in the 1900s...
, who had designed several Canadian courses around the turn of the 20th century.
Thompson's many world-famous courses include the Banff Springs Hotel
Banff Springs Hotel
The Fairmont Banff Springs or simply the Banff Springs Hotel is a former railway hotel constructed in Scottish Baronial style located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The original hotel, designed by American architect Bruce Price, was built between spring of 1887 and 1888 by the Canadian...
Golf Course in Banff, Alberta
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, the Jasper Park Golf Course in Jasper, Alberta
Jasper, Alberta
Jasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca River valley....
, the scenic Fundy National Park Course in New Brunswick and the Highlands Links
Highlands Links
The Highlands Links Golf Course, is a public golf course located near the village of Ingonish Beach in Nova Scotia, Canada. Highlands Links is not be confused with Highland Links Golf, a golf course in North Truro, Massachusetts, Highland Links Colony Golf Course in Holderness, New Hampshire or...
in Ingonish, Nova Scotia
Ingonish, Nova Scotia
Ingonish is a Canadian rural community in northeastern Victoria County, Nova Scotia.Located along the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island, Ingonish is situated on the Cabot Trail approximately 60 kilometers from the shire town of Baddeck...
, all four which are publicly accessible and located in Canadian National Parks. Banff Springs and Jasper Park earned him a worldwide reputation. Four outstanding private clubs designed by Thompson are the Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the municipality is northwest of the city of Vancouver on the northern side of English Bay and the...
, the Edmonton Country Club and the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, and the St. George's Golf and Country Club
St. George's Golf and Country Club
St. George's Golf and Country Club is a golf course and country club located in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario in the west end neighbourhood of Islington...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1948, Thompson was a co-founder, with Donald Ross, of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
American Society of Golf Course Architects
The American Society of Golf Course Architects is a professional organization of golf course designers in America. Founded in 1946, its members are actively involved in the design of new courses and the renovation of existing courses in the United States and Canada. One of its founders was noted...
, and helped to train many top golf course architects, including Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was a golf course architect who designed about 500 golf courses in at least 40 US states and 35 other countries all around the world...
; Thompson and Jones were partners for several years in the 1930s. Thompson was an excellent player himself, competing with success several times in the Canadian Amateur Championship
Canadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
, and he had four brothers - Nicol, Frank, Mathew, and Bill - all of whom became outstanding Canadian players in the 1920s.
The Stanley Thompson Society provides a list of 178 courses which Thompson laid out, had constructed, or remodeled through one of the companies that he worked for or managed in the years 1912-1953. Geographically, the courses are located in:
- Canada (144 courses)
- USA (26 courses)
- Brazil (4 courses)
- Colombia (2 courses)
- Jamaica (2 courses)
Thompson was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame covering the history of the game of golf in Canada, and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of the most significant contributors to the game in that country...
in 1980. Golf historian James A. Barclay
James A. Barclay
James Alexander Barclay is a Scottish Canadian oil industry scientist and executive, golfer, and golf historian. He was elected to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2008....
wrote a biography of Thompson entitled The Toronto Terror.