William Laidlaw Purves

William Laidlaw Purves (1842-1903) was a significant figure in late 19th-century golf, often recognized as a golf course architect, although perhaps most famously known as the founder of the Ladies' Golf Union (LGU) in 1893, a key moment in the history of women's golf. Associated particularly with Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, he played an influential role in the layout and development of courses and the broader structure and administration of the game during its period of rapid expansion.