David McLay Kidd (b. 1967) is a Scottish golf course architect who shot to prominence as the original designer of Bandon Dunes (Oregon, 1999) at the young age of 26. The son of a Scottish greenkeeper, Kidd grew up around Gleneagles and brings a links golfer’s sensibility to his designs. Bandon Dunes’ success – its rugged authenticity and minimalist, wind-swept beauty – immediately placed Kidd among architecture’s elite and helped spark the era’s fascination with “authentic links” experiences outside the UK. In the 2000s, Kidd formed DMK Golf Design and went on to create high-profile courses across the globe: Queenwood in England (2001), an exclusive modern parkland; Nanea in Hawaii (2003), a lava-strewn private course blending links elements; Tetherow in Oregon (2008), a bold heathland-style course; and Machu Picchu GC in Peru (2012), the world’s highest championship course. He also designed Castlegregory (Ireland) and Ballybunion’s Cashen Course remodel, further establishing his trans-Atlantic footprint.

Kidd’s style initially was known for its dramatic shaping – large undulating greens and eye-catching bunkers – and his courses like Tetherow and early versions of The Castle Course at St. Andrews (2008) were sometimes criticized for being overly penal with severe greens. Kidd took that critique to heart and famously “rebooted” his philosophy around 2010 towards more fun, player-friendly designs . His later works, such as Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley (Wisconsin, 2018) and Rolling Hills (California, 2016), embrace super-wide fairways, big greens with gentler contours, and multiple options – all in the name of enjoyable play. Mammoth Dunes in particular has been lauded for how its sprawling fairways and bowl-shaped landforms invite creativity and recovery, reflecting Kidd’s maturation and responsiveness to golfers’ desires.

Kidd’s design evolution showcases his versatility: from the pure links challenge of Bandon to the almost “extreme” modernity of Tetherow and then to the welcoming style of Mammoth Dunes. Despite this evolution, a common thread remains – a keen use of the natural land and a willingness to break convention. He is one of the leaders in the revival of match-play courses and short courses too, designing the popular 13-hole Quarry at Gamble Sands (Washington, 2014) and the short course at Sand Valley. David McLay Kidd’s influence is significant; he opened the door for a new generation of minimalist architects with Bandon Dunes, and through introspection he demonstrated that course architects can adapt and prioritize fun . Today, his courses rank among the top in public-access lists, and his voice (often candid on social media and in interviews) continues to advocate for making golf more engaging for all.