Tom Weiskopf
A Tribute from Castiglion del Bosco
Tom Weiskopf’s legacy at The Club at Castiglion del Bosco cannot be underestimated.
As our golf course designer, he created something of great beauty, blending naturally with the Tuscan landscape. And as a friend of The Club, he brought warmth and camaraderie, bringing Members together, wherever he was in the world.
We count ourselves privileged to have known Tom Weiskopf, a phenomenal player, one of the great golf course architects of the modern era and a true friend. His legacy will live on at Castiglion del Bosco, both on the golf course, his only design in Continental Europe, and in the Weiskopf Invitational, our annual Member-Guest event.
In this special feature, The Club at Castiglion del Bosco pays tribute to our dear friend, Tom Weiskopf.
Thank you, Tom, for everything you did for us.
David Waters - General Manager
A True Friend
Massimo, Chiara, Laurie and Tom
Tom and Massimo
"It was a privilege to work with Tom Weiskopf on the creation of the golf course."
Tom had a great sensitivity for the land and an artistry evident in the way the course blends so beautifully into the Tuscan landscape.
Tom appreciated the landscape: he understood the history, its importance and simplicity.
He ensured we worked with the lands, using the contours and moving very little earth. By doing so, he created a remarkable golf course that, from day one, looked like it has been here for a hundred years.
I enjoyed spending time with Tom and could see that both he and Laurie cherished their time together in Tuscany.
Sadly, our time with Tom has been cut short, but we will be forever grateful for the important role Tom played in the history and evolution of the Castiglion del Bosco estate.
By Massimo Ferragamo
Founder of The Club at Castiglion del Bosco
Tom Weiskopf's
Tuscan Masterpiece
One of the finest private courses in Europe, Tom Weiskopf conjured up all his skill to craft his Tuscan masterpiece Castiglion del Bosco, which opened in 2012.
Exquisitely blended into the soft curves and contours of the estate’s rolling hills and valleys, Tom’s subtlety helps the course tread lightly in an environment whose natural beauty requires little enhancement or embellishment.
"To me, a golf course is simply art on the ground. It's telling a story in a way."
Whether it was the long-distance vistas or the holes that played down certain valleys and up ridges, blending great green locations with dramatic changes of elevation to create golfing perfection, Tom adored everything about his Tuscan masterpiece.
“The thing that makes Castiglion del Bosco so unique as a golf course and club is that it’s timeless. You’re never in a hurry and you look forward to every moment because it’s so peaceful,” he said.
“It’s one of the prettiest places and, without doubt, one of the most unique places I’ve ever been to, by far.”
To make the course at Castiglion del Bosco even more unique, Tom added the short 19th ‘Brunello Hole’.
For Members and their guests, it’s a wonderful way to settle a match and compete for a Magnum of Brunello.
The Weiskopf
Invitational
Tom created lasting links throughout his life.
When Tom and his wife Laurie came to Castiglion del Bosco in 2018, for the inaugural Weiskopf Invitational which he hosted and founded, Tom started his own Tuscan legacy.
Tom returned in 2019 with Laurie, and their friendship with The Club stands to this day.
The Weiskopf Invitational has become an essential annual gathering at Castiglion del Bosco: a Member-Guest event that has introduced so many new friends and families to The Club.
Bringing new life to Castiglion del Bosco and spending precious time with family and friends is what the Weiskopf Invitational is all about.
Tom Weiskopf: The Player
Tom’s swing was purred over by peers, commentators and fans alike.
In Sports Illustrated’s 17 Prettiest Golf swings of All Time published November 2021, Tom ranked an impressive ninth!
Adding power from his 6’3” frame, Tom became a force to be reckoned with in the 1970s.
He recorded 28 tournament victories, including his standout 1973 Open Championship title, and twice played for Team USA at the Ryder Cup.
He was one of Augusta’s “nearly-men”, finishing second on four occasions at the Masters, twice behind his fellow Ohio golfer Jack Nicklaus.
“Jack knew he was going to beat you. You knew Jack was going to beat you. And Jack knew you knew he was going to beat you.”
Even when his heyday was over, Tom never lost the knack of winning. He clinched U.S. Senior Open glory in 1995. The runner-up? Nicklaus.
Tom Weiskopf: The Designer
Tom’s ardent love of golf shines through when you consider how his playing days morphed straight into hard, long hours designing golf courses.
Sometimes he worked so hard, he got into trouble. Deep trouble, in fact, including gut-wrenching moments trying to escape a muddy bog in Scotland while designing Loch Lomond. Read the full story in Golf Digest.
His work at Loch Lomond is revered. It places first in Tom Weiskopf’s top 15 course designs, in an article by Golfweek.
With Castiglion del Bosco, Yellowstone Club and Loch Lomond all featuring in the top 10 here, Tom’s talent for creating golf courses for some of the world’s most exclusive venues in the most remarkable landscapes was clear.
Tom thought carefully about the playing experience and, inspired by St Andrews, famously revived the ‘drivable par four’ concept.
Tom’s designs favored fun and playability over sheer difficulty, and in total he designed more than 70 courses worldwide including TPC Scottsdale, venue of the Phoenix Open.
Read more on GolfPass about Tom’s golf course design career.
Tom Weiskopf at The Club
In Pictures
A Message From Laurie Weiskopf
Tom and I cherished our days together at Castiglion del Bosco. Tom loved returning to the see how the golf course was doing.
We loved spending time with Members at the Weiskopf Invitational and enjoyed the company and friendship of so many lovely people over the years.
"On one very special visit, we were fortunate to stay in the villa overlooking the Capanna Vineyard and we felt so privileged having that amazing view of Tuscany all to ourselves for just a short while – it was a magical experience."
For the two of us, Castiglion del Bosco was one of our happy places. We felt so much at peace and Tom always commented about how timeless everything seemed, that there was never any hurry.
We had so many happy memories and I feel privileged and blessed to have shared special times with Tom at Castiglion del Bosco.
Thank you to Massimo Ferragamo, to Chiara, to David and, of course, all the wonderful Members, for your support and best wishes. It meant a lot to Tom – and it means so much to me.
Laurie Weiskopf, September 2022
Closing Thoughts
Our thanks and gratitude to Laurie for sharing Tom’s obituary.
We leave you with a picture of Tom and Laurie at The Club, an indelible image of happiness as we remember our dear friend Tom Weiskopf.
Tom Weiskopf, 1942-2022
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