William Stephen Flynn (December 25, 1890 – January 24, 1944) was a prominent

golf course architect A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...

during the early part of the 20th century. Flynn is most noted for designing Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island and

Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Country Club is a private country club in the western United States, located in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, a suburb south of Denver. Founded in 1922 and designed by William Flynn, the club features a championship 18-hole golf ...

, Lancaster Country Club, and for his work at the

Merion Golf Club Merion Golf Club is a private golf club located in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a township bordering Philadelphia to the northwest along the historic Main Line. The club has two courses: the East Course, and the West Cours ...

. Flynn, along with

A.W. Tillinghast Albert Warren "Tilly" Tillinghast (May 7, 1876 – May 19, 1942) was an American golf course architect. Tillinghast was one of the most prolific architects in the history of golf; he worked on more than 265 different courses. He was inducted into ...

George C. Thomas, Jr. George Clifford Thomas Jr. (October 3, 1873 – February 23, 1932) was an American golf course architect, botanist, and writer. He designed the original course at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and more than t ...

, Hugh Wilson, George Crump, and William Fownes together made up the "Philadelphia School" of golf course architecture. Together, the group designed over 300 courses, 27 of which are on in the top 100 golf courses in the world.

Life and career

Flynn was born in

Milton, Massachusetts Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and an affluent suburb of Boston. The population was 28,630 at the 2020 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and architect Buckminster Fuller. ...

. He graduated from Milton High School, where he had played interscholastic golf and competed against his friend

Francis Ouimet Francis DeSales Ouimet () (May 8, 1893 – September 2, 1967) was an American amateur golfer who is frequently referred to as the "father of amateur golf" in the United States. He won the U.S. Open in 1913 and was the first non-Briton elected ...

.Biography of William S. Flynn
/ref> He laid out his first course at

Heartwellville, Vermont Readsboro is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The town was named after John Reade, a landholder. The population was 702 at the 2020 census. The hamlet of Heartwellville is in the northern part of Readsboro, approximately nor ...

, in 1909 working under the direction of his brother in law Frederick Pickering who was considered the “king of golf course constructors” in the beginning of the century. Pickering constructed the first Merion Course and William Flynn worked for him at the time. Although Pickering was supposed to construct the Merion East after a disagreement, Flynn was hired to assist Hugh Wilson with completion of the East Course at

Ardmore, Pennsylvania Ardmore is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) spanning the border between Delaware and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 12,455 at the 2010 census and had risen to 13,566 in the ...

. He worked as the construction supervisor at Merion and remained on as superintendent for a short time, helping establish the course. Flynn continued his involvement with Merion for 25 years, perfecting the course. He and Wilson had hoped to form a design partnership, but Wilson's failing health prevented it. Instead, Flynn partnered with Howard Toomey just after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

with Flynn the designer and Toomey handling the engineering side of the work. They started their own golf architectural firm, Toomey & Flynn. William Gordon, Robert Lawrence and

Dick Wilson Dick Wilson (July 30, 1916 – November 18, 2007) was an American actor who was best known as grocery store manager Mr. George Whipple in more than 500 Charmin bathroom tissue television commercials (1965–89, 1999–2000). Biography Dick Wi ...

all started out as assistants with the firm of Toomey and Flynn and all later became prominent designers in their own right. Flynn was particularly active around

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, producing numerous highly rated courses which compete with each other for attention. Although his body of work is found around Philadelphia, his most recognizable work is outside the area at places like

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, The Cascades in Virginia,

The Country Club The Country Club, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the oldest golf-oriented country club in the United States. (The Philadelphia Cricket Club, founded in 1854, was the first country club for any sport.) It holds an important place in ...

in Brookline, Massachusetts, Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Shinnecock Hills on Long Island.Fine Golf Design
/ref> In 1927, Flynn added the Primrose nine at

. Three holes from the Primrose are used on the course's Composite Course for the U.S. Open, but much of Flynn's renovation work at The Country Club goes unnoticed. The climax of Flynn's career would be Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, where he had his finest site and certainly produced his greatest work. Toomey and Flynn were hired to redesign the original course in 1931 with the addition of new land to build the back nine. Flynn kept only two holes from the original course in a total makeover. Shinnecock is praised for its beautiful routing and Flynn's use of the natural terrain. It is currently ranked third in '' Golf Digest's'' 100 Greatest Courses Ranking, the highest of any course Flynn was involved in. Flynn died at the age of 53 in Philadelphia.

Courses designed by Flynn

*Atlantic City Country Club - Atlantic City, New Jersey *Bala Golf Club -

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

*Beaver Dam Golf Club - Prince George's, Maryland * Boca Raton Resort North Course (later replaced by Boca Country Club) - Boca Raton, Florida * Boca Raton Resort South Course - Boca Raton, Florida *Brinton Lake Club (Now Concord Country Club) -

Concordville, Pennsylvania Concordville is an unincorporated community in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 20 miles west-southwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of U.S. Routes 1 and 322. This intersection can be traced b ...

*Burning Tree Club (Construction) -

Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in ...

*Cascades Golf Course (Homestead Resort) -

Hot Springs, Virginia Hot Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bath County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 738. It is located about southwest of Warm Springs on U.S. Route 220. Hot Springs has several historic resorts, f ...

*Robert Cassatt Estate Course -

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Bryn Mawr, pronounced , from Welsh language, Welsh for big hill, is a census-designated place (CDP) located across three townships: Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, Radnor Township and Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, Haverford Township in Delaw ...

Cherry Hills Village, Colorado The City of Cherry Hills Village is a home rule municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 6,442 at the 2020 United States Census. Cherry Hills Village is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, C ...

*Cleveland Heights Country Club -

Lakeland, Florida Lakeland is the most populous city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Tampa Bay Area, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal ci ...

*Cobb's Creek Golf Club (Co-design) -

*Concord Country Club

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania Chadds Ford is a census-designated place (CDP) in Delaware and Chester counties, Pennsylvania, United States, comprising the unincorporated communities of Chadds Ford and Chadds Ford Knoll. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census ...

*The Country Club - Brookline, Massachusetts *The Country Club -

Pepper Pike, Ohio Pepper Pike is a city in eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,796 as of the 2020 census. It is an affluent suburb of the Cleveland metropolitan area. History In 1763, sixteen pioneers settled the area along the e ...

*The Country Club of Harrisburg - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania *The Country Club of Virginia (Plans for 36 holes) - Richmond, Virginia *The Country Club of York (Plans for 18 holes) -

York, Pennsylvania York (Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Yarrick''), known as the White Rose City (after the symbol of the House of York), is the county seat of York County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the south-central region of the state. The populatio ...

*Denver Country Club (Redesign) -

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

*Doylestown Country Club (9 holes) -

Doylestown, Pennsylvania Doylestown is a borough and the county seat of Bucks County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northwest of Trenton, north of Center City, Philadelphia, southeast of Allentown, and southwest of New York City. As of the 2020 ...

*Eagles Mere Country Club (Redesign 6 existing holes, Design remaining 12/ also designed 11 holes of a second course that was never finished and abandoned) -

Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania Eagles Mere is a borough in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 151 at the 2020 census. History Eagles Mere was laid out in 1877 and incorporated in 1899. The Eagles Mere Historic District was added to the National R ...

*Elyria Country Club -

Elyria, Ohio Elyria ( ) is a city in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan statistical area and the county seat of Lorain County, Ohio, Lorain County, Ohio, United States, located at the forks of the Black River (Ohio), Black River in Northeast Ohio 23 miles sou ...

*Floranada South Course - Floranada, Florida *Friendship Golf Course (Edward McLean Estate Course) -

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

*Glen View Club (Redesign) - Golf, Illinois *Green Valley Country Club - Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania *Gulph Mills Golf Club (Construction) -

Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania Gulph Mills is an unincorporated community in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is served by the Upper Merion Area School District. There is a station on the Norristown High Speed Line. A grist mill built here in 1747 s ...

*The Homestead Golf Course (Redesign) –

*Huntingdon Valley Country Club –

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania Huntingdon Valley is a village, as well as a suburban mailing address located in Lower Moreland Township, Upper Moreland Township and Abington Township all in Montgomery County, and in small sections of Upper Southampton Township and Lower S ...

*Indian Creek Country Club – Indian Creek Village, Florida *Indian Spring Country Club -

Silver Springs, Maryland Silver Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, near Washington, D.C. Although officially unincorporated, in practice it is an edge city, with a population of 81,015 at the 2020 censu ...

*Kilkare Course (William Plunkett Private Course) -

*The Kittansett Club –

Marion, Massachusetts Marion is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,347 at the 2020 census. For geographic and demographic information on the village of Marion Center, please see the article Marion Center, Massachusetts. His ...

*Lancaster Country Club – Lancaster, Pennsylvania *Lehigh Country Club – Allentown, Pennsylvania *Manor Country Club – Rockville, Maryland *JF Manne Miniature Golf Course - Ocean City, NJ *Manufacturers Golf & Country Club –

Oreland, Pennsylvania Oreland is a United States census-designated place (CDP) in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships, just outside the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia. Oreland has a ZIP code of 19075, and the population was 5,678 at the 201 ...

*Marble Hall Golf Course (Now Green Valley Country Club) – Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania *McCall Field Club -

*Merion Golf Club East Course (Design and Redesign) -

*Merion Golf Club West Course (Design and Redesign) -

*Miami Beach Polo Club (Plans for 18 holes) - Miami Beach, Florida *Mill Road Farm Golf Course (Albert Lasker Private Course) - Lake Forest, Illinois *Monroe Country Club (9 holes) - Monroe, New York *Normandy Shores Golf Club - Normandy Shores, Florida *North Hills Country Club (Redesign) -

North Hills, Pennsylvania North Hills is an unincorporated community in Abington, Springfield, and Upper Dublin townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is served by the 19038 ZIP code. It is a lesser developed town than their neighbor, Glensid ...

*Ole Monterey Golf Club -

Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is ...

*Onondaga Golf and Country Club (Redesign) -

Fayetteville, New York Fayetteville is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 4,225. The village is named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a national hero of both France and the United St ...

*Opa Locka Golf Course - Opa Locka, Florida *Overbrook Country Club (Redesign) - Overbrook, Pennsylvania *Penn Athletic Club Indoor Course -

*Pepper Pike Club –

*Philadelphia Country Club –

Gladwyne, Pennsylvania Gladwyne is a suburban community in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States along the historic Philadelphia Main Line. In 2018, Gladwyne was ranked the sixth richest ZIP code (using 2015 IRS data) in the country in a ...

*Philadelphia Cricket Club (Redesign) -

Flourtown, Pennsylvania Flourtown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Flourtown is adjacent to the neighborhoods of Erdenheim, Oreland, Whitemarsh, and Chestnut Hill. The population of Flourtown was 4,538 ...

*Philmont Country Club North Course (Redesign) - –

*Pine Meadow Golf Course -

Mundelein, Illinois Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and a northern suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 31,560. It is approximately thirty-five miles northwest of Chicago. History The community now known as M ...

*Pine Valley Golf Club (Redesign) -

Pine Valley, New Jersey Pine Valley was a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 12, reflecting a decline of 8 (-40.0%) from the 20 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased ...

*Plymouth Country Club (9 holes) -

Plymouth, North Carolina Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County. Plymouth is located on the Roanoke River about seven miles (11 km) upr ...

*Plymouth Country Club –

Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania Plymouth Meeting is a census-designated place (CDP) that straddles Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The settlement was founded in 1686. The population of Plymouth Meeting was 6,177 in the 201 ...

*Pocantico Hills Golf Course (Rockefeller Private Course) -

Tarrytown, New York Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, approximately north of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North ...

*Pocono Manor East Course (Design and Redesign) - ocono Manor, Pennsylvania*Rock Creek Park Golf Course -

*Rolling Green Golf Club – Springfield, Pennsylvania *Seaview Country Club Pines Course (9 holes) -

Galloway, New Jersey Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. At of total area of land and water, Galloway Township is the largest municipality in the state.Norfolk, Virginia *Shinnecock Hills Golf Club –

Shinnecock Hills, New York Shinnecock Hills is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 2,188 at the 2010 census. It is the home of a leading golf club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Ownership of the area has been ...

*The Springhaven Club (Redesign) - (Wallingford, Pennsylvania) *Springdale Golf Club (Redesign) -

Princeton, New Jersey Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of whi ...

*Sunnehanna Country Club (Redesign 3-holes) - Sunnehanna, Pennsylvania *Sunnybrook Golf Club (Design and Redesign) - Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania *Town and Country Club (Now Woodmont Country Club) - Rockville, Maryland *U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club – Annapolis, Maryland *Wampanoag Country Club (Redesign) - Swansea, Massachusetts *Washington Golf and Country Club (Design and Redesign) -

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...

*Westchester Biltmore Country Club (Now Westchester Country Club) (Construction and Redesign) -

Westchester, New York Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

*Whitemarsh Valley Country Club (Redesign) -

Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania Whitemarsh Township is a Home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It retains its former classification of "Township" in its official name despite being a home rule municipality. The population was 17,349 at the 20 ...

*Women's National Golf and Tennis Club (Now Glen Head Country Club) (Redesign) -

Glen Head, New York Glen Head is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the greater Glen Cove area, which is anchored ...

*Woodcrest Country Club – Cherry Hill, New Jersey *Woodward Estate Golf Course (Dr. G. Woodward Private Course) - Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania *Yorktown Country Club River View Course -

Yorktown, Virginia Yorktown is a census-designated place (CDP) in York County, Virginia. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1682. Yorktown's population was 195 as of the 2010 census, while York Co ...

*Yorktown Country Club Lake View Course (Plans for 18 holes) -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flynn, William Golf course architects People from Milton, Massachusetts 1890 births 1944 deaths Sportspeople from Norfolk County, Massachusetts