UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT
The only golf course architect to have advised all the Clubs or Courses on which the Open Championship has been played.The only architect for 70 years to have given significant advice at the Home of Golf. Provided the Master Plan for the modern St Andrews.
The only writer or architect to have played in the Open as an amateur.
President British Association of Golf Course Architects 1986-89
President Association of Golf Writers 1993-98
President of English Golf Union 2006
Architectural Background
Joined forces with Ken Cotton, Frank Pennink and Charles Lawrie in 1965. Became Partner in Cotton (CK), Pennink, Lawrie, Steel & Partners 1969 - 87. Founded Donald Steel & Co Ltd in 1987. In 2005 adopted an independent role.
Writer
Writing came first, with never a thought that golf course architecture might follow. The Sunday Telegraph's first golf correspondent 1961-90. Author, co-author or editor of ten books on golf.
Player
A believer that playing experience at a high level has been an essential qualification to both writing and golf course architecture.
Speaker
A sideline that has kept him in touch with golfers everywhere.
Design Service for New Golf Courses
A complete design service from a feasibility study to a full detailed design is on offer.
Design Service for Existing Golf Courses
An important part of the service involves advice to existing golf clubs. General course studies to review bunkering, planting and overall layout have been completed on over 500 courses.
Biography
Donald Maclennan Arklay Steel
Born Hillingdon, Middlesex August 23 rd 1937.
Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and Christ's College, Cambridge. At Fettes (1950-56), he was Head of School. At Cambridge (1957-60), he graduated BA (Agriculture) and was President of the Hawks Club.
General
On the Churchillian assumption that a man is fortunate if his work and pleasure are one, Donald Steel has had forty five years doing what he has loved best. In his chosen careers of golf writing and golf course architecture, a balance of interest has given the best of both worlds. Still does. What is more, it has earned unprecedented recognition from his two professional bodies. He has served as President of the Association of Golf Writers (1993-98) and the British Association of Golf Course Architects (1986-89).
If watching champions and studying new land passes as work, the playing side of a varied life shows (or, at least, did) that he can practise what he preaches. Proficient enough to have taken take part in the 1970 Open Championship at St Andrews, and to have represented England at International level, he was a regular contestant in amateur championships and occasional professional events (as an amateur). In addition, he won the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society’s famous President's Putter on three occasions – 18 years apart. Serious Fun, a phrase adopted by Steel in 1985 and used in the title of the Society’s History, rings true.
Words of Bernard Darwin, whom he once met at Rye, and whose writing Steel so much admired, also lend an apt summary.
"It was the romance of life; and I am wiser than to try and define romance; that was to be found in games and still is".
Paul Daley, who edited a scholarly appraisal of Melbourne's great Sandbelt courses as well as two or three volumes on golf course architecture, paid a notable compliment, 'To assist Donald in his line of work, three skills are at hand: 1) playing ability. 2) writing ability and 3) ability as a golf course architect. At each of these elements, one may find others who may be more proficient. But, if you take these skills as a package and take a composite rating, Donald Steel is, in my opinion, the leading golfing personality in the world, and among the top 5 in our game's glorious history'.
In 2003, Steel was named as the 4th most influential golf course architect in the world by Golf Magazine.
More recently, in February 2006, Steel received the singular honour of being elected President of the English Golf Union, never having previously played an active part in the Union's affairs.