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J
ay Morrish was a stalwart who was
admired by everyone,” says ASGCA
President Lee Schmidt. “His work
was outstanding, and he was funny
and smart. As an architect, he positively
impacted the world of golf course
design, and as ASGCA President he
advanced the organization. When Jay
spoke, people listened.”
Morrish received a degree in
landscape and turf management
from Colorado State University, then
soon joined the construction team
on the Robert Trent Jones-designed
Spyglass Hill course in Pebble Beach,
California. He continued to work
as construction superintendent on
Jones’ courses until joining Desmond
Muirhead as a designer in 1967.
Morrish then went to work as a
designer with Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA
Fellow in 1972. “I first had the chance
to work with Jay when I collaborated
with Desmond Muirhead on Muirfield
Village Golf Club in the early 1970s
and he was working with Desmond,”
says Nicklaus. “When I started to
design courses on my own, Jay and
Bob Cupp joined me and the three of
us worked together for years. Jay was
Mister Outside and Bob was Mister
Inside. They were a great combination.
Jay did such a wonderful job in the
field. He was very creative, very
imaginative, and he loved the game of
golf – and that showed in his work. Jay
was just a tremendous guy and great
fun to be with!
“Jay left our organization near the
end of 1983, but before he did, he
put his thumbprint on a number
of great golf courses, such as Glen
Abbey and Shoal Creek. He has
been a mainstay and a backbone of
the ASGCA, and a true champion
for those in the golf course design
business. We will miss Jay greatly, as
will so many people – in and outside
of our industry – whose lives were
touched by him.”
“I’m very proud of my professional
association with Jay,” says Bob Cupp,
ASGCA Past President, “but even
more my friendship with him over
these many years. He was a grand
friend and storyteller. His humor was
amazing. Jay could share the history
of a topic that was not only factual,
but tagged with humor, so everybody
remembered. I’m just sorry I will not
hear them first hand anymore.”
After ten years Morrish moved on to
collaborate with PGA Tour player Tom
Weiskopf. Their 12-year partnership
generated some two dozen high-profile
courses, including Loch Lomond in
Scotland. “Jay Morrish was without a
doubt one of the most talented and
respected golf course architects of
all time,” says ASGCA Past President
Doug Carrick. “It is no accident that
two of golf’s most legendary players,
Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf,
wanted to work alongside Jay. He had
Admired by all
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By Design
Jay Morrish, a Past President and Fellow of ASGCA,
died on 2 March, 2015. Friends and colleagues
throughout the golf industry have expressed their
admiration for the man and his work
Golf course architecture is a very subjective
field of endeavor, and that is good. The game
of golf would be distressingly boring if all golf
course architects embraced similar design
philosophies.
Long live diversity!”
Jay Morrish, ASGCA Fellow
APPRECIATION