Alex Russell (golfer)

Alex Russell
Born	Template:Birth date Geelong, Australia
Died	November 22, 1961(1961-11-22) (aged 69)
Occupation(s)	Pastoralist, military officer, golfer, golf course designer
Known for	Australian Open golf champion (1924), Military Cross recipient, golf course architecture

Alex Russell MC (4 June 1892 – 22 November 1961) was an Australian pastoralist, military officer, golfer, and designer of golf courses.

Originating from Geelong, he was the son of grazier Philip Russell and Mary Gray. His education included time at Glenalmond College in Scotland followed by Geelong Grammar School, where he completed his studies in 1911, excelling both academically and athletically. In 1912, he pursued engineering at Cambridge University in England. On 14 September 1917, he wed Jess Lucy Fairbairn, daughter of Frederick Fairbairn, in Chelsea.

Russell received his commission with the Royal Garrison Artillery in October 1914 and served on the Western Front throughout World War I. During this period, he sustained injuries twice, earned the Military Cross, and was elevated to acting major in 1918. Following the war’s conclusion, he settled near the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne.

Both Alex and Jess Russell distinguished themselves as skilled amateur golfers. Alex secured victories in the Riversdale Cup (1929, 1931), the Australian Open (1924), Australian foursomes (1924, 1926), along with various state amateur titles. Jess achieved success by winning national ladies' foursomes in 1926 and 1927 and placed as runner-up several times in the Australian Women's Amateur championships.

Russell made notable contributions to golf course architecture, designing the Black Rock west course which opened in 1931, as well as its eastern counterpart. His work extended to courses at Karrinyup near Perth, Yarra Yarra in Melbourne, and Paraparaumu Beach close to Wellington, New Zealand. In the early 1920s, he briefly acted as private secretary to Prime Minister Stanley Bruce. In 1932, he relocated to Mawallok—his father's sheep station near Beaufort—where he excelled in breeding merino sheep and served as President of the Australian Sheepbreeders' Association from 1950 to 1951.

During the Second World War, Russell held the position of deputy commissioner (1941–42) and subsequently chief commissioner (1943–46) of the Australian Red Cross field force while also acting as a camp commandant for the Australian Imperial Force. He was mentioned in despatches and transferred to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1943. In 1948, he was honored as a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. He remained actively involved with the Royal Melbourne Golf Club council until 1955. Eventually retiring to South Yarra, he passed away in 1961 due to hypertensive heart disease.