Geoffrey Cornish Passes

Longtime golf course architect Geoffrey Cornish passed away on February 10. The past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and a former winner of the Golf Course Superintendents of America Association's Distinguished Service Award died at the age of 97.

"Mr. Cornish was a true gentleman and exemplified the highest traditions of ASGCA and the game of golf, said Rick Phelps, president of the ASGCA. "His exceptional work as a golf course architect, author and lecturer cannot be overstated. Mr. Cornish's contributions to the profession of golf course architecture and the golf industry will live on for generations."

Here's the press release from the ASGCA announcing Cornish's passing.

Geoffrey Cornish, a Fellow of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), died February 10, 2012, in Amherst, Mass. He was 97. Cornish, an ASGCA Past President and native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, designed more golf courses in New England than anyone. He and his associates designed 240 golf courses in the United States, Canada and Europe, including: the International Golf Club, Bolton, Mass.; the Center Valley Club, Center Valley, Pa.; and the New Ashburn Golf Club, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He continued to serve until his death with Mungeam Cornish Golf Design.

He wrote many books and co-authored (with Ron Whitten) the landmark reference book, "The Architects of Golf," which allowed readers, for the first time, to obtain specific information about the architectural history of their favorite golf courses while learning more about the people who designed them. For years, Cornish presented to groups around the world on the history and practice of golf course architecture.

He received his bachelor's degree in agronomy from the University of British Columbia and his Master's and honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts. Cornish was introduced to golf course architecture in 1935 when evaluating soils for Capilano Golf Club, then under construction by Stanley Thompson in West Vancouver. Cornish soon joined Thompson for training and four years later became greenskeeper at St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg.

Cornish served overseas with the Canadian Army during World War II, but rejoined Thompson in 1946. He left for a five-year association with pioneer turfgrass scientist Lawrence Dickinson at the University of Massachusetts before opening his own practice in 1952 in Amherst, Mass.

Cornish joined the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1967. He served as ASGCA president in 1975-76 and co-chaired the ASGCA History Committee with Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA.

Cornish was a past recipient of the ASGCA Donald Ross Award and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Distinguished Service Award. He is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Cornish was predeceased by his wife Carol.

"I was honored to work with Mr. Cornish. He was a true gentleman (who had a) wealth of knowledge on golf design and golf in general. He brought so much to public golf as he wanted to create courses that people could really play. Golf, especially in New England, would not be the same without him. Everyone who ever worked with Mr. Cornish knew how he would walk and study a golf course. He would show up for an 8 a.m. meeting at 6 a.m. and walk the golf course, carefully assessing the layout before the meeting even began." Mark Mungeam, ASGCA (partner in the firm of Mungeam Cornish Golf Design)

"Geoffrey Cornish, Bob Graves and Jack Kidwell were as close to saintly men as possible, so for the ASGCA to have them as members and past presidents was a blessing. They never spoke ill of anyone or anything, they were true friends to whomever they met, and they gave the game of golf and the profession of golf course design a refined dignity. Geoffrey Cornish was the 'dean' of that group, and he leaves behind a long legacy of great golf courses and golf course designers that he mentored. Geoff was a special man and by any measure, every day spent with him was a treasured memory. He will be missed." Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA (co-chairman with Geoffrey Cornish of the ASGCA History Committee)

The above report is courtesy of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (www.gscaa.org) and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (www.asgca.org).

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