The champion, who died at the age of 88 yesterday morning, left his architectural imprint on courses at Yarrawonga and Thurgoona over more than 30 years.

Flags were lowered to half-mast at Thurgoona and the Black Bull course at Yarrawonga, which marked his swansong as a designer.

Black Bull director of golf James McCully said it was sad news, but Thomson had made a huge mark.

“We are officially the last Peter Thomson course, the last he put his name on before retiring from golf course design,” Mr McCully said.

“Obviously it’s special to us and he’s left us a massive legacy and we’re now the No.76 ranked course in Australia.”

Black Bull has hosted the revived Victorian Senior Open since 2016 and since then the winner’s trophy has been named after Thomson. 

In 2015, Thomson told The Border Mail, during a visit to Black Bull, that he had posterity in mind when fashioning the layout.

"This is a creation that should stand the long-term assault it's going to get from the golfers of the nation and the world," Thomson said.

"It will make its mark by the players who come and play.

"I would suspect there are going to be plenty of players come to Yarrawonga to see the course, play on it and play in the various events."

In the 1980s, Thomson redesigned courses at Yarrawonga and Border Golf Club and envisioned Thurgoona Golf Club.

He attended the latter’s official opening in February 1982 when a hole-in-one contest for a $7000 Ford Laser was a drawcard.

Thurgoona had nine holes until 1985 when the full course was complete.

Founding member and later club president and captain Jack Cervaal said Thomson had helped promote the course and three other Border clubs to city golfers at expos in the 1980s.

“He was a good bloke, didn’t say a hell of a lot,” Mr Cervaal said.

More recently, Thomson continued to take an interest in the course and liaised with superintendent Dean Lewis over its future. 

Thomson, an AO and CBE, died in Melbourne after having suffered from Parkinson’s disease for the past four years.