The European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) will celebrate its 15th anniversary during the organisation’s 2015 annual conference, which takes place from 15-18 April.

The event will take place at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick, Scotland, which overlooks the famous West Links course of the North Berwick Golf Club.

With a theme of ‘Inspired by Scottish Golf’, attendees at the conference will look at the history and importance of courses in Scotland’s East Lothian region, including those at North Berwick and Musselburgh.

One session will examine the green designs around the world that have been inspired by North Berwick’s famous Redan and Biarritz holes.

A number of journalists, including GCA’s Adam Lawrence, will team up with EIGCA members to present their thoughts on putting surface design, and how the shaping of greens may develop going forward.

Two of the leading figures in Scottish golf – Andy Salmon, the deputy chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, and Steve Otto, director of Research and Testing at The R&A – will deliver their thoughts on how golf course designers can impact the game’s development. This will include factors such as how courses can be made more playable for juniors, ladies and beginners, and how pace of play can be improved.

John King of the European Golf Course Owners Association will present the results of research carried out as part of the association’s VISION 2020 initiative, which is helping to map out a pathway for the sustainable development of the European golf industry.

Attendees will also hear from Jonathan Smith, chief executive of North Berwick-based Golf Environment Organization. Smith will give his thoughts on the past, present and future of golf, covering a range of geographies and courses in his presentation.

“I am very much looking forward to returning to Scotland for our 15th  anniversary especially as we have such a wonderful and diverse selection of contributors arranged for our conference,” said Peter Fjallman, president of the EIGCA. “I am sure the combination of the venue, the subject matter and the speakers will combine to create a most stimulating and thought provoking day. I am also delighted to see that we are already assured of a record attendance, so it is clearly going to be a week to remember!”