About

Course Design

James Dalgleish

(1865 - 1935)

James Dalgleish emigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1896. Trained as a club maker, he was hired by A.G. Spalding Co. to manage their golf department. Later he became the golf professional at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. In 1903 he moved to Kansas City to work in the same capacity at Evanston Golf Club. When the club secured ground near Swope Park to build a new course in 1906, Dalgleish laid out the new links.

In 1912 the members of Evanston acquired land south of town and hired Donald Ross to design a new eighteen hole course which would later be named Hillcrest. Mr. Dalgleish was expected to carry the Ross plan to completion. It took more than four years to accomplish that task. He would remain at Hillcrest until 1924.

A professional of that era was expected to be a club maker, greenkeeper, rules expert, teacher and tournament player. Dalgleish was all of those. He became nationally known as "The Father of Kansas City Golf" in the nascent years of the sport. As a founder of the first organization of professional golfers in the area, he was elected president by his peers.

Dalgleish is credited with numerous course designs throughout the region from small-town Kansas to Swope Park. He was the owner, designer and head professional at his St. Andrews course at 89th and Summit and designed Victory Hills in 1927.

For his pioneering role in Kansas City as a golf professional, course architect, player and course owner/operator, "The Father of Kansas City Golf" was inducted into the 2016 class of the Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame.

Mr. Dalgleish's designs include: