Who's who: Graham Marsh

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Graham Marsh

  • Name:

    Graham Vivian Marsh
  • Also known as:

    Swampy
  • Country:

    Australia
  • Born:

    Jan 14, 1944 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Gosnells GC / Cottesloe GC, Perth, WA.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, course designer and course owner.
  • Turned Pro:

    1969
  • Website:

    https://www.gmgd.com.au

Roll of Honour

Senior MAJORS (2): US Snr Open (1997); The Tradition (1999). Total professional wins (70), including European Tour (10), Australasian Tour (15), Japan Tour (20), Asian Tour (5), PGA Tour (1) and Champions Tour (6). Awarded the MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire (1984).

Golf course design

Marsh's initial design work focused on Australia and Japan, but later projects branched out to other parts of Asia, Europe and the USA. He often collaborated with fellow Australian designer Ross Watson. His best known work includes, but is not limited to:

AUSTRALIA: Eynesbury; Growling Frog; Horizons Resort; Palm Meadows (Gold Coast); Paradise Palms; Secret Harbour; Terrey Hills G&CC; Vines Resort (Perth); Western Australia (redesign).

ASIA: BFA Intl (China); Huatang Intl (China); Penang (Malaysia); Staffield (Malaysia); Suzhou Taihu Intl (China); Tropicana (Malaysia).

UNITED STATES: Old Silo (Kentucky); Pines course, Paririe Club (Nebraska).

Did you know?

Marsh, better known as "Swampy," was an excellent cricketer in his youth, and trained as a maths teacher after graduating from the University of Western Australia. After a successful period as a young amateur golfer, he turned professional in 1969, becoming one of the leading Australian golfers of his generation. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he was a regular winner on the European, Japanese and Australasian tours. As a senior, Marsh played extensively on the Senior PGA Tour in the United States, which brought him his two major championship wins. In 1986 he established the very successful Graham Marsh Golf Design business. Graham's younger brother Rod Marsh, played cricket for Australia. During his career as a batsman/wicket-keeper, Rod Marsh was known as one of the game's most colourful characters.

Top tournaments won by Graham Marsh

1999
America
59 (-12)
$165,000
Gillette

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

59 (-12)

Prize money

$165,000

Title sponsor

Gillette

Played as the Gillette Tour Challenge (Oct 5; unofficial money best-ball event involving eight teams that comprised a PGA Tr, LPGA Tr and Snr PGA Tr player). The team of Graham Marsh (Aus), Dottie Pepper (USA) & Tom Watson (USA) beat second-placed team of Jeff Sluman (USA), Nancy Lopez (USA) & Dana Quigley (USA) in a one-shot nearest-the-pin playoff (208-yard par-3 17th). [Mid Ocean Club, Tucker's Town, Bermuda].

1999
Majors
136 (-8)
$225,000
Countrywide

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

136 (-8)

Prize money

$225,000

Title sponsor

Countrywide

Played as The Tradition presented by Countrywide (April 1-4). Second-placed Larry Nelson (USA) finished 3 shots behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded the last of his six US Snr Tr wins. Reduced to 36 holes due to spring snowstorms during the event. [Cochise course, Desert Mountain GC, Scottsdale, AZ].

1997
America
PGA West (Palmer)
192 (-24)
$100,000
Liberty Mutual

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

PGA West (Palmer)

Score

192 (-24)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

Liberty Mutual

Played as the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (March 21-23; unofficial two-man better-ball team event). Second-placed Gil Morgan (USA) & Hubert Green (USA) finished 3 shots behind John Bland (RSA) & Graham Marsh (Aus). [Palmer (private) course, PGA West, La Quinta, CA].

1997
Majors
280 (-8)
$232,500
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

$232,500

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Senior Open (June 26-29). Second-placed John Bland (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded back-to-back Snr PGA Tour wins, and his first major championship victory. [North Course, Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL].

1997
America
GC of Georgia
205 (-11)
$195,000
Nationwide

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

GC of Georgia

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

$195,000

Title sponsor

Nationwide

Played as the Nationwide Championship (June 20-22). Second-placed Hale Irwin (USA) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [Lakeside course, GC of Georgia, Alpharetta, nr Atlanta, Georgia].

1996
America
TPC Piper Glen
206 (-10)
$120,000
PaineWebber

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

TPC Piper Glen

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

PaineWebber

Played as the PaineWebber Invitational (May 3-5). Second-placed Tom Wargo (USA) and Brian Barnes (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [TPC Piper Glen, Charlotte, North Carolina].

1996
America
Park Meadows, UT
202 (-14)
$120,000
Franklin Quest

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Park Meadows, UT

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

Franklin Quest

Played as the Franklin Quest Championship (Aug 30-Sep 1). Second-placed Kermit Zarley (USA) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Park Meadows CC, Park City, nr Salt Lake City, Utah].

1995
America
Greystone G&CC
201 (-15)
$157,500
Bruno's

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Greystone G&CC

Score

201 (-15)

Prize money

$157,500

Title sponsor

Bruno's

Played as Bruno's Memorial Classic (June 2-4). Second-placed J.C. Snead (USA) finished 5 shots behind first-time Snr PGA Tour winner Marsh (Aus). [Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Alabama].

1987
Japan
276 (-12)
¥16million
Visa

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

¥16million

Title sponsor

Visa

Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 12-15; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Tom Watson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].

1985
Europe
282 (-6)
£21,660
KLM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

£21,660

Title sponsor

KLM

Played as the KLM Dutch Open (July 25-28). Second-placed and defending champion Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus), who claimed the last of his ten European Tour wins. [Noordwijkse GC, Noordwijk, Neth.].

1985
Europe
283 (-5)
£20,000
Lawrence Batley

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

£20,000

Title sponsor

Lawrence Batley

Played as the Lawrence Batley International Classic (July 10-13). Second-placed Rick Hartmann (USA) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Brabazon course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship. Won by Graham Marsh (Aus).

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

289

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian Masters. Stewart Ginn (Aus) finished in second place behind Marsh (Aus).

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

282

Prize money

Title sponsor

Mayne Nickless

Played as the Mayne Nickless Australian PGA Ch'ship. Won by Graham Marsh (Aus).

1981
Japan
Ube 72 CC
270 (-18)
¥5million
Pepsi / Wilson

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Ube 72 CC

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

¥5million

Title sponsor

Pepsi / Wilson

Played as the Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (May 18-21). Won by Marsh (Aus). [Mannennike West course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].

1981
Europe
275 (-13)
£17,500
Dixcel Tissues

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

£17,500

Title sponsor

Dixcel Tissues

Played as the Dixcel Tissues European Open (Sept 3-6). Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].

1981
Japan
277 (-3)
US$60,465
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

277 (-3)

Prize money

US$60,465

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Chunichi Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 30-May 3; Japan Tr event). Second-placed D.A. Weibring (USA) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus), who won this event for the second time. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

1980
Europe
272 (-16)
£13,330
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Fulford

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

£13,330

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 7-10). Second-placed John Bland (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

1979
Europe
285 (-3)
£5,015
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

285 (-3)

Prize money

£5,015

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Dutch Open (July 26-29). Second-placed Antonio Garrido (Esp) and Malcolm Gregson (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Noordwijkse GC, Noordwijk, Neth.].

1979
Europe
283 (-5)
£10,000
Dunlop

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

£10,000

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Masters (Oct 3-6). Second-placed Isao Aoki (Jpn) and Neil Coles (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

1977
Europe
5 & 3
£30,000
Colgate

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

5 & 3

Prize money

£30,000

Title sponsor

Colgate

Played as the Colgate World Match Play Championship (Oct 5-8; field of 16 players). Marsh (Aus) beat Raymond Floyd (USA) 5 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

Prize money

US$40,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Chunichi Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 28-May 1; Japan Tr event). Won by Marsh (Aus), who recorded his tenth Japan Tour win. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

1977
Europe
Saint-Nom-La-Breteche
273
£9,714
Lancome

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Saint-Nom-La-Breteche

Score

273

Prize money

£9,714

Title sponsor

Lancome

Played as the Trophee Lancome. Marsh (Aus) won after a playoff. [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].

1977
America
273 (-11)
$45,000
Sea Pines

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

Sea Pines

Played as the Sea Pines Heritage Classic (March 24-27). Second-placed Tom Watson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded his only win on the PGA Tour. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

1976
Japan
272 (-16)
¥12million
Dunlop

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

¥12million

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 25-28; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Miller Barber (USA) finished 6 shots behind Marsh (Aus), whose first prize equated to US$40,000. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].

1976
Europe
272 (-12)
£8,000
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Fulford

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

£8,000

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Sept 22-25). Second-placed Mark James (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Malaysian Open. Second-placed Min-nan Hsieh (Taiw) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Marsh (Aus). [Old course, Royal Selangor GC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia].

1974
Japan
278 (-10)
US$16,666
Bridgestone

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

US$16,666

Title sponsor

Bridgestone

Played as the Bridgestone Tournament (Oct 31-Nov 3; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Seiichi Numazawa (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded his fifth Japan Tour win, and fourth in 1974. [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].

1974
Asia
Royal Perak
278
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Royal Perak

Score

278

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Malaysian Open. Won by Marsh (Aus). [Royal Perak GC, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia].

1974
Japan
Katayamazu GC
284 (-4)
Pepsi / Wilson

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Venue

Katayamazu GC

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Pepsi / Wilson

Played as the Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (May 23-26). Marsh (Aus) beat Hsieh Yung-yo (Taiw) to record his fourth Japan Tour win. [Hakusan course, Katayamazu GC, Kaga, Ishikawa].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thailand Open (Asian circuit event). Second-placed Ben Arda (Phil) and Mitsutaka Kono (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Old course, Siam CC, Pattaya, Thailand].

1973
Europe
286 (-2)
£2,437
Sunbeam Electric

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

£2,437

Title sponsor

Sunbeam Electric

Played as the Sunbeam Electric Scottish Open (June 27-30). Second-placed Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) finished 6 shots behind Graham Marsh (Aus). [Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Indian Open. Second-placed Stewart Ginn (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Marsh (Aus), who recorded his second win in three years in this event. [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the German Open. Brian Huggett (Wales) finished in second place behind Marsh (Aus). [Frankfurter GC, Niederrad, Frankfurt am Main].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Swiss Open. Second-placed Tony Jacklin (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Indian Open. Second-placed David Graham (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Marsh (Aus). [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Marsh, Graham

Score

274

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Swiss Open. Second-placed Donald Swaelens (Belg) and Jean Garaialde (Fra) finished behind Marsh (Aus). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

WINSTONgolf - Links course

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)