Alex Russell was born at Geelong on 4 June 1892 into a prosperous Australian family of Scottish origin. Part of his childhood and education took place in Britain, and in 1912 he entered Jesus College, Cambridge, representing the university in golf, tennis and billiards. The First World War interrupted his studies. Serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was wounded, rose to acting major and received the Military Cross. Military experience strengthened his command of plans, contours and close observation of terrain. After returning to Melbourne, Russell became one of Australia’s leading amateurs. He won the 1924 Australian Open and several major amateur titles. His playing ability and long-standing study of British courses led him to prepare proposals for Royal Melbourne. When Alister MacKenzie visited Australia in 1926, he was impressed and selected Russell as his local partner. Russell travelled with him, prepared drawings, contributed ideas and later supervised construction of the West Course with Mick Morcom. He was not merely an executor. Royal Melbourne’s East Course is substantially his own work, while Yarra Yarra, Lake Karrinyup, Riversdale and Paraparaumu Beach reveal an independent mind. Russell pursued alternative routes, approach angles and natural forms. He accepted blindness when justified by land and disliked artificial detail. His hazards ranged from small pots to broad exposed sand according to strategic need. At Paraparaumu Beach he spent six weeks on site and left instructions that the club later translated with remarkable accuracy. He often accepted symbolic payment, reflecting financial independence and an almost cultural conception of architecture. Strokes reduced his activity from 1950, and he died on 22 November 1961. Long described as MacKenzie’s Australian assistant, Russell is now recognised as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s greatest architects and the intellectual founder of the Sandbelt school.
Stratégie fondée sur les angles et les routes alternatives; greens et bunkers adaptés aux sols sableux; rejet des formes artificielles; capacité à transformer les principes de MacKenzie en une école australienne autonome.
2 of 2 courses located — click a point to open its page.
