Credit: Courtesy of the Tillinghurst Association
Born into a well-to-do Philadelphia family, A.W. Tillinghast (1872-1948) became fascinated with golf while a youth, then went on to become the "Dean of American Golf Course Architects." Tillinghast was one of five men with roots in Philadelphia, now known as The Philadelphia School of Design, who elevated the sophistication of golf course architecture in the United States between 1912 and the 1930s. Hugh Wilson, A.W. Tillinghast, George Crump, William Flynn, and George Thomas have all left indelible marks on the golfing landscape in courses that include Baltusrol, Riviera, Newport, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, Cherry Hills, Bethpage, Merion, Philadelphia Cricket, San Francisco Golf Club, Los Angeles Country Club, Cherry Hills, Shinnecock Hills and Pine Valley. All remain ranked among the nation's best.
