In 1926, Albert Hockey, Don’s stepfather, was commissioned to manage and up-grade the first course in Bad Ragaz and he traveled from London with his entire family. Don was 15 at the time and his great and early passion for golf developed gradually as he helped his stepfather in the various club activities but especially with the improvements of the golf course.

During this period Don and his friend Charlie Fasel often cycled from Bad Ragaz to Davos which is 60 kms away and with an elevation difference of 1077 metres! They embarked on those epic journeys so that they could improve their games at the Kurpark Golf Course. Anybody who is willing to go to such lengths and physical strain just for a game of golf must consider it to be more than a hobby!

Don stayed in Switzerland when his family returned to London and his dream to build golf courses was granted when he supervised the construction of the small course in Flims. He traveled throughout Switzerland during the slow winter months doing odd-jobs and constantly dreaming of the beautiful courses he would create all over the world. Those were difficult times and he was often very homesick and longed for his native London.

A good friend advised him to stay in Switzerland if he wanted to build golf courses as in that particular field he would be a big fish in a small bowl rather than a small fish in a big aquarium, if he returned to the UK.

Don remained in Switzerland and demonstrated his design skills for the first time when he was commissioned to re-design and re-model the old course in Bad Ragaz. A task which he accomplished with great skill and to everybody’s satisfaction!