Australian golf legend Peter Thomson retires from course design

Australian golf legend and renowned golf course designer Peter Thomson has called it quits on his architecture career after 51 years in the business due to age and declining health.

The 86-year-old announced earlier this week that he was going to retire in full from his two golf design businesses, Thomson Perrett in Melbourne, and Thomson, Perrett and Lobb in London.

“Due to my age and declining health, and in consultation with my family and two partners, Ross [Perrett] and Tim [Lobb], I have decided to retire completely from the golf design businesses,” Thomson said in a statement released on Monday.

“I have encouraged Ross and Tim to continue with their golf design practices for ongoing projects, as well as creating new golf courses on their own long into the future.”

The five-times British Open winner founded the company, then Thomson Wolveridge, together with his mate and recently-retired golf professional Michael Wolveridge in the mid 1960s.

Ross Perrett came aboard in 1987 as a young architect and the company switched name to Thomson Perrett following Wolveridge’s retirement in 2004.

Thomson Perrett and Lobb was established the following year, in 2005, to service the European, Middle Eastern and African markets. In collaboration with various design partners, Peter Thomson has put his name on several golf courses in Australasia, Asia and Europe over the years.

“I have enjoyed a wonderful association with both Ross and Tim, as I did in the past with Michael Wolveridge.

“Together, over 51 years, we have embarked on many exciting projects in more than 30 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Asia, the Middle East, and more recently Africa, bringing the game to regions previously without proper golf courses.

“This has given me much satisfaction as I reflect upon our achievements.”

Managing Director of Thomson Perrett, Ross Perrett, who has worked with Peter for almost 30 years, said in a statement that he will continue to managing the business as usual, with a company re-branding taking place later in the year.

“Peter’s generous support and friendship has been an inspiration to all the Thomson Perrett team and we thank him for the role he has played in each of our careers. It has been a privilege to work closely with one of golf’s most intelligent and greatest players.”