J ack Fleming arrived for work at the often-dusty golf course construction site in dress shirt, tie and, during the hot summers, a white Panama hat. Consummate pro. Passionate about his job. Locked in on his latest project. Determined to deliver another first-rate product.
Northern California golfers may not realize his impact on their game. Fleming’s name doesn’t light up the golf design marquee like Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast or Robert Trent Jones, Jr. or Sr.
He might be the golf-course architect that time forgot, or at least set aside for a few generations before historians or others issue a polite reminder. And here’s a polite reminder: No one in California was more prolific in his line of work than Fleming, who passed away in March of 1986, six months after he danced like a teenager at his 90th birthday party at The Olympic Club.
The family admits some uncertainty about the number, but most sources reveal that Fleming designed, remodeled or restored about 60 courses, most of them in Northern California. Born in Ireland and never a golfer, he parlayed a fortuitous friendship with Dr. Alister MacKenzie – yes, arguably the brightest light on that marquee – into a distinguished career.
How distinguished, you ask? You’ve probably played more than a few of Fleming’s courses.
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