Getting Personal with Tom Mackenzie
Tom Mackenzie - forget about the golf, he's an entertainer!
Who are you? Golf architect Tom Mackenzie.
Family status. Married to Amanda with two sons Alistair and Robert.
Who's your hero and why? Seve. He was at his peak when I was a junior and I had the amazing opportunity to caddy for him at my home club in Scotland when I was fifteen. He was so kind to his fellow caddy.
What's been the highlight of your career so far? Still being married after nearly thirty years - a rarity in our business. It hasn't been plain sailing.
Which famous people wind you up? BoJo and all his lies. Lying politicians generally.
What job would you love, other than your own? That would be rich coming from someone who does the job that almost every golfer would love to do. I suppose I'd love to help people.
What was the most embarrassing moment in your life? Getting off a plane at the wrong airport in Brazil. The front half got off and I followed them, but the rest stayed put and I didn't notice.
What scares you? Looking old, wrinkly and balding in the mirror.
What would your autobiography be called…and who would play you in the film? The Running Game. Robin Williams, except he is dead.
What is your favourite sport? Other than golf, cricket.
What would you cast into room 101? Distance measuring devices, especially when used inside fifty yards.
Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? Hadrian's Wall to stop the Romans from coming any further north (not historically accurate I know).
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To be healthy and happy to the end.
What three words best describes yourself? Enthusiastic, creative and funny (I hope).
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Both of my grandfathers who I never met. Robin Williams to keep the conversation and laughs going.
What's the best advice you have ever been given? From a developer - "Forget about the golf. You are in the entertainment business. Most people who play the course aren't golfers - they are there to enjoy themselves."
What's your favourite piece of trivia? Cam Smith's average putt length holed on the Friday of The Open was fourteen feet. 14 FEET!!!!!!!!
What's your favourite piece of kit? Reluctantly, I would have to say the AutoCAD on my laptop. I was brought up in the era of ink pens and tracing paper and, although I hate it daily, it is a huge time saver.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Animals by Pink Floyd, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and Rain town by Deacon Blue.
What's the daftest work-related question you have ever been asked? People asking why there is a new hill when it is a pile of topsoil.
What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old greenkeeper? Buy a good alarm clock and make your lunch before you go to bed. That's two things.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? With the climate emergency and cost of fuel, slower speed limits and enforce them. A bit serious, sorry.
Read the full article - In the beginning… an architect's viewpoint - here