Forty European golf architects have signed up for the European Institute of Golf Course Architects' ‘Raising the Standard of Sustainable Golf Course Development’ programme which begins later this month.

The programme is believed to be the first professional development course on sustainable golf development in the world. Developed in partnership with the Golf Environment Organization, the three phase programme will educate EIGCA members on sustainable development.

EIGCA environment committee chair Tom Mackenzie said: “We thought this new initiative to promote improved sustainable design and development would prove popular with our members and I am delighted so many have registered at the first opportunity. In fact, the demand was so great that the programme has been oversubscribed and we will aim to run a second course in the future.

“I think the reaction of our members shows how sustainability and environmental responsibility are now an important part of modern golf course design and they clearly feel they need to learn more about the principles involved, which can only be good for the future of the golf industry. The generous support of our industry partners, Rain Bird, Everris, Toro, Ransomes Jacobsen and Profile Products, and of the R&A's Working For Golf programme has allowed us to commission 35 webinars which should all be complete before the end of 2013.”

The first part of the course consists of a two day introductory session, supported by Rain Bird, which will take place in Malmo, Sweden later this month prior to the EIGCA’s annual conference. The teaching elements will be carried out in two phases and once these are concluded the architects will need to demonstrate their full understanding through the submission of real case studies.