Course Reviews & More
Robert White: A Forgotten Giant of Golf Course Architecture
By Sean Fawcett - NJ Golf News Senior Writer
One of the overlooked figures in New Jersey golf course history is Robert White. Even among enthusiasts, his name is not always widely recognized, yet his impact is undeniable.
Born in St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1876, White began his career as a schoolteacher before emigrating to the United States in 1894 to study agronomy at the University of Wisconsin. Like many Scottish immigrants with a love for the game, he found work as a greenskeeper, clubmaker, and eventually as a golf professional. His résumé included posts at Myopia Hunt Club in 1895 and Shawnee Country Club in 1914, before turning more fully to course design.
White’s influence extended far beyond architecture. He became the first president of the PGA of America in 1916, guiding the new association through the final years of World War I. He also co-founded the American Society of Golf Course Architects and helped many young British professionals find work in the U.S. Later, in 1954, he designed the first White House putting green for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1994.
Although not as prolific as Donald Ross or A.W. Tillinghast, White designed roughly three dozen courses during the Golden Age of Golf. His work is found in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and South Carolina, where he lived until his death in 1959. In New Jersey, his best-known design is Manasquan River Golf Club, along with Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell.
At Manasquan River, White created a course of contrasts. The front nine, opened in 1923 on the meadows and pastures of the Osborn family farm, plays with a parkland feel. Three years later, the back nine opened in the higher ground and ravines above the river, evoking a more Scottish, links-style character. Together, the two nines form a course that shifts in mood and challenge, offering both wooded holes and riverside stretches with expansive views.
Two holes in particular illustrate White’s design philosophy. The 7th, a par five of nearly 660 yards, requires strategic placement just to cross a ravine before tackling a plunging fairway. The 16th, a demanding par four of 465 yards, asks players to carry the Manasquan River on the approach to a green perched dramatically above the water.
As Christopher Dymek, Manasquan River’s longtime PGA professional, puts it: “There isn’t a bad hole out there. Robert White made a masterpiece at Manasquan.”
Robert White may not have left behind the same number of courses as his more famous contemporaries, but his blend of Scottish minimalism and American ambition produced enduring work. His designs — especially at Manasquan River — remain a testament to his role as both a builder of courses and a pioneer of professional golf in the United States.
Photo and additional information provided courtesy of Christopher Dymek - Manasquan River Country Club. All rights reserved.
