The primary inspiration for my career is shared with perhaps the greatest golf architect of them all, Donald Ross. We both spent our formative golfing years in Dornoch whose magnificent greens and subtleties left an indelible impression.

My love for links golf has continued to grow and is highly influential in my approach to design. This passion for golf, plus a lifelong interest in landscapes, led to a degree in Landscape Architecture, a subject that offered the perfect foundation for a golf course architect.

On graduation in 1989 I achieved my dream start, working for Donald Steel in my career of choice. This relationship led to the formation of Mackenzie & Ebert.

A love of the landscape and deep appreciation of links golf combine in my designs to create courses that sit comfortably in their setting and which offer a wealth of shot-making permutations, particularly around the greens. My natural philosophy is that the best golf courses make the most of the site’s existing features and work with the landform, a belief that I share with Martin. Too many modern courses lack soul because the land has been bulldozed into submission.

I am a former university golfer with a category one handicap. As part of my apprenticeship, I caddied on the European Tour for a full season, a year where I learnt a great deal about professional golf and course strategy. The highlight was caddying in the Open Championship at St. Andrews. Further invaluable experience was gained working as a greenkeeper at Royal Dornoch. I have served as Committee Member and Chairman of the Green Committee at a previous club.

I now play at West Sussex and too infrequently at Royal Dornoch. I am also a member and Past-President of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects