I was introduced to Seth Raynor in high school, although I had no idea who he was at the time. The occasion was a match at the Creek Club on Long Island. It was a great course, and I enjoyed playing it, but I didn't really appreciate the experience.
Now that I've learned a bit about Raynor and his work, I wish I had paid more attention to the course instead of trying to win my match. (I didn't, but here's my excuse: My opponent, Louis Body, against whom I wound up playing in college as well, was a Creek member so he had a significant advantage.)
Similarly, I imagine players in contention on Sunday will give little thought to the architect as they play Waialae, the only course on tour designed by Raynor, one of the leading lights of the Golden Age. Raynor was an engineer hired by C.B. Macdonald to help build the National Golf Links of America, the country's first great course. They worked together so well that they collaborated on other great courses like Mid Ocean in Bermuda and Long Island's Lido, widely considered to be the best course that no longer exists.
