Samuel Mitchell was born into a golf family in Massachusetts, where his father was a longtime greenkeeper at Kernwood Country Club in Salem, Massachusetts. His uncle, Enoch Crombie, was one of Donald Ross’ first construction superintendents. With this background, this influenced Mitchell to get footing into golf course architecture.

Mitchell attended the University of Massachusetts and graduated from the Stockton School of Agriculture in 1928. After working for a few years in design and maintenance, he started the firm Mitchell Brothers, a design firm of brothers William and Henry. Not only did he play a part of the design firm, Mitchell also managed one of his own designs, Easton Golf Club in Massachusetts.

Mitchell was elected into ASGCA in 1974 as an Associate member and promoted in 1976 to become a Regular member. Mitchell was promoted to Fellow status in 1984 and served as a member of the organization for 12 years until his death in 1986.