The 15th EIGCA Annual Meeting saw a record number of attendees participate in the event at the Marine Hotel in North Berwick, Scotland from 15-18 April 2015.

More than 60 European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) members and students, together with industry and consultant partners, patrons, journalists and other invited guests, attended the event.

The historic course at North Berwick hosted the first round of the EIGCA’s President’s Cup, and provided the inspiration for many of the topics discussed at the event’s conference.

The conference hall at the Marine Hotel, which overlooks the famous 16th Biarritz hole, hosted a debate between an invited panel of architects and journalists who discussed the pros and cons of undulating greens and whether such designs were good or bad for the development of golf.

Tom Mackenzie was elected as the organisation’s new president, Ross McMurray was elected as vice president, while Ally McIntosh and Andy Watson were welcomed as the institute’s newest members.

As well as the North Berwick course, attendees also visited the courses at Gullane and Muirfield.

At the meeting’s President’s Dinner, the institute’s Harry Colt Award was presented to the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) for their role in improving the environmental credentials of the golf industry.

A special presentation was also made to Rainer Preissmann, Mark Adam and Peter Harradine, who each played a major part in the formation of the EIGCA back in 2000.

Outgoing president Peter Fjällman said: “I have been very proud to lead the EIGCA over the last two years. I believe that we have made excellent progress as an Institute in that time and have taken steps not only to improve the services we provide to our members but also to develop the EIGCA as a professional body. I am particularly excited about our new five year plan which will hopefully lead to more significant long term benefits and I am delighted that the Council have asked me to lead this important work.”

New president Tom Mackenzie said: “It is a real privilege to be the new President of the EIGCA, but it won’t be easy to follow Peter Fjällman. He has been a great leader. I promise that, over the next two years, I will do all I can to continue to develop the professionalism of the EIGCA for the benefit of its members and the game of golf generally. We have exciting plans for our future and I am looking forward to working with our council and staff as we put these plans into action.”