William Flynn Society
Celebrating Flynn’s Contributions to Golf Course Architecture, Construction, and Agronomy
Joining the William Flynn Society offers golf and golf architecture enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore the world of one of the most celebrated golf course architects of the 20th century. Membership in the society provides exclusive access to the latest version of the Flynn biography, The Nature Faker – William S. Flynn, Golf Course Architect, archival assets, including architectural plans, historic photographs, and scorecards. Members are able to participate in golf events, podcasts, newsletters, and lectures that highlight Flynn’s contributions to the sport. Membership in the William Flynn Society provides access to an extraordinary community of golfers and golf clubs where camaraderie and experiences are centered around the golf courses of William Flynn.
Video Option II below.
William Flynn – The Nature Faker
Long before giant bulldozers and bigger budgets allowed the moving of great quantities of earth to shape the land to the architect’s vision, William Flynn utilized what nature provided, creating unique site-specific hole designs. When he elected to enhance strategy or simply provide drainage, he did so in ways that mimicked nature, resulting in reduced maintenance expenses. Unlike many early architects, Flynn chose to hide much of his work by making his architectural constructs appear natural. He referred to himself as the “Nature Faker,” a moniker that inspired the name of his biography.
Flynn’s determination to limit the number of projects he was working on at any given time was unique. This allowed him to spend considerably more time on-site to finalize plans based on intimate knowledge of the terrain. His philosophy was simple yet profound: by working with the land rather than against it, he created courses that are in harmony with their surroundings.
For more information, members may download updated versions of The Nature Faker – William S. Flynn, Golf Course Architect, and the archival assets and publications posted on this site.
