Thomas was a legendary golf course architect who designed the courses for Bel-Air Country Club, The Los Angeles Country Club, Riviera Country Club and others in the 1920s. Thomas was a prominent rose breeder on the East Coast before gaining fame as a golf course designer. He was one of the great architects of courses in Southern California. In addition to the courses noted above, he designed those of Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, Palos Verdes Golf Club and Red Hill Country Club, among others.