Professional Diploma

By Martyn Jones - EIGCA Education Manager

It’s a tranquil, dewy morning; there is a modest chill in the air. A watery sun hangs low in the hazy sky, its rays broadcasting light fingery shadows that sensually massage the wiry turf of the Old Course’s rolling fairways. The R&A Clubhouse, solid and imposing, stands as a lone sentry, guarding the splendour laid out at its feet. Sand, gorse, heather and wispy fescue are intricately woven into a bewitching landscape that has inspired golf course architects for generations.

And now another group of aspiring designers has gathered on the historic links to savour its form, its intricacies, and its timeless intrigue. Fifteen eager students have arrived at the home of golf for the concluding seminar of the 2005 - 2007 EIGCA Professional Diploma in Golf Course Design, the only programme of its kind in the world.

They are from as far afield as Canada, South Africa, India - in total twelve countries - united in a desire to expand their knowledge of golf course architecture. One cannot imagine a more befitting venue for the conclusion of their two-year programme of intensive study.

These young people, some who will, no doubt, progress to become acclaimed designers are fresh, enthusiastic and well versed in the precepts of golf course architecture. They are well aware of the eccentricities of the Old Course and its disregard of many accepted criteria of modern golf course design - blind tee shots, hidden hazards, playing over a hotel!!! But this is the Old Course; this is hallowed ground to these pilgrims.

This article first appeared in the Institute's Yearbook for 2007-2008.

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