LATEST
NEWS

Architects take in four historic UK courses as part of EIGCA study tour
Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Architects take in four historic UK courses as part of EIGCA study tour

Golf course architects from around the world visited southeast England to attend the European Institute of Golf Course Architects’ (EIGCA) study tour event.

Supported by the Toro company, the five-day study tour allowed members of the EIGCA, American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA) to play and learn more about four of England’s classic courses.

Entitled ‘To Heath & Links’, the study tour began on 13 September at Sunningdale Golf Club with a presentation and tour of Harry Colt’s lost holes. Attendees were accompanied by the current course manager and by the club historian while walking the course, and learning about its history and how courses such as Sunningdale are helping to retain and safeguard the region’s lowland heathland, which is diminishing across southern England.

Attendees were given the opportunity to play the Sunningdale course the following day and experience first hand the design work of Harry Colt. Many holes at Sunningdale are considered to be substantially as Harry Colt originally created them.

The tour then moved to The Berkshire Golf Club and its Herbert Fowler-designed Red Course. Attendees played the course before enjoying a presentation on Fowler’s work and career.

Having experienced two heathland courses, the tour’s final two days took in two links courses – Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports.

The architects played the William Laidlaw Purves-designed Royal St George’s course on 16 September. This was followed by a dinner at the clubhouse, after which a presentation was given on the preservation of duneland habitats on the coastline of Kent.

The study tour’s final day saw the architects play the course at Royal Cinque Ports, with attendees hotly discussing which of the two visited links courses was their preference.

The tour was rounded off by a banquet dinner at Leeds Castle, during which the venue for the next study tour was revealed. Entitled ‘The Four Reds’, the tour will visit Adelaide, Australia and its surrounding sand belt golf courses in 2018.

Speaking at the conclusion of the tour, EIGCA President Tom Mackenzie said: “It has been a great honour to welcome so many of the world’s top designers to England for the third golf course architects study tour. Bringing together the members of the SAGCA, ASGCA and EIGCA to study and play these wonderful golf courses and, perhaps most importantly, to share our knowledge, has been a wonderful experience and one which I’m sure we have all appreciated. I would like to thank Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports for their fantastic welcome and hospitality.”

“For me, the educational value of this trip has been enormous and I’m sure it has been the same for all the architects who attended,” MacKenzie added. “I hope that they have all enjoyed the ‘To Heath & Links’ 2015 Study Tour and we look forward to us all meeting up again in Australia for ‘The Four Reds Tour’ in 2018.”

Previous Article Terrain Aeration completes greens improvement work at Newport Golf Club
Next Article First links course in the Baltic region opens for play
Print
5104 Rate this article:
No rating
Sean Dudley

Sean DudleySean Dudley

Other posts by Sean Dudley
Contact author

Contact author

x
Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Projects covered include Golf Club Föhr, Brautarholt, Cabot Citrus Farms, Somabay and more

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century
Stefan von Stengel
On site | Adam Lawrence

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century

Adam Lawrence reports on a visit to the far north of Germany where Christian Althaus has completely rebuilt the 27-hole course over the last 15 years

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle
Harris Kalinka
Report | Richard Humphreys

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle

Ten holes of a new Fazio Design course on Mexico’s Pacific coast have opened for play

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection
Tony Ristola
On site | Adam Lawrence

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection

One of the world’s best 12-hole courses is being extended to 18 by architect Tony Ristola. Adam Lawrence reports from Iceland and says he expects the finished course to make quite a splash

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic
Evan Schiller
Report | Richard Humphreys

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic

Florida club unveils results of North course redesign, completed by Fry/Straka and NMP Golf Construction

Addison Reserve: Return on investment
Gideon Heller
Report | Toby Ingleton

Addison Reserve: Return on investment

One of southeast Florida’s premier residential communities has completed a project to redesign its three nines of golf

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES