Alex "Sandy" Herd

Alex "Sandy" Herd was a distinguished Scottish professional golfer who won The Open Championship in 1902 at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake). His victory was notable for being the first at the championship contested with the then-revolutionary rubber-cored Haskell ball, which he adopted mid-tournament. Herd was the brother of Fred Herd, who won the 1898 U.S. Open.

Beyond his playing career, Herd turned to golf course architecture, designing several courses primarily in northern England. His portfolio includes Abbeydale in South Yorkshire, Hornsea on the East Riding coast, and St Annes Old Links in Lancashire. These layouts reflect the sensibilities of an accomplished player from golf's early professional era, demonstrating his understanding of strategic design rooted in the traditional links game.

Herd's dual legacy as both Open champion and course architect places him among the notable Scottish golfers of his generation who shaped the game on both sides of the Atlantic.

Sources: Wikipedia articles linked above; course list from Course Vaults.