Kevin is correct.
Some years ago, the late, great Tom MacWood and myself, along with Tony Pioppi embarked on a co-project to find out as much about William Watson as possible. Three dedicated researchers on a Golf Course Architecture turned up photos and facts that we felt were never properly given their due, especially William Watson's importance in the story of Golf in America.
I can honestly say, the story has no end, while finding out more information in my own research since Tom MacWood's unfortunate passing. Much of it corroborating what Tom found, and this is a great thing too, because as time moves along; the further meeting of people who were equally interested has turned up even more! People that were more mesmerized by the Watson family itself, not just William's courses.
The fact is William Watson went by that name, and that name only. Two of our sources, one of them being Tom MacWood say that he detested the name "Willie" because when Watson came to this country, he was in his forties--a grown man. if anyone back then called him that, then they were wrongly informed. Back in those days--and I think you can appreciate this Tom, a George Thomas calling a gentleman older then him, "Willie" would have been viewed as disrespectful. I do think the confusion stems from William Park Bell, due to his age, size and stature, as well as his previous occupation as caddie master at Annandale, being called both Billy and Willie. With Watson obviously helping Bell's career, eventually both in the same business as competitors, over time, that mistake multiplied.
William Watson, wasn't the only Watson designing golf courses either. His father, John Cobb Watson was well respected as an Royal and Ancient member of some wealth in his success in growing flak seed. He was also the one that laid out Annandale's geometric featured golf course, while William's younger brother, Thomas Martin Watson was responsible for the original Arroyo Seco links, and then eventually Griffith Park, which Tom Bendelow is wrongly given credit for. This course is now the site of the Los Angeles Zoo.
As far as the mans architecture, I feel that it goes into the realm of classic, strategic design which it would seem that Watson was incredible at routing golf courses. I think it was his strength. I think he excelled at using natural landforms as a way of running the ball off of them, away to more difficult next shots or carrying them where the strategies were taken advantage of. One of the nit-picks at the time was that Watson's courses were extremely difficult, especially heavily bunkered. From the looks of it, they were all thoughtfully placed.
More to come.