Professional Diploma in Golf Course Design

Please note that EIGCA is no longer running this Diploma course -

for further information please see the 'Update' on the main Education Page

By offering a qualification in Golf Course Design the Institute is responding to the strong demand for formal training in designing golf courses and for an introduction to a profession which requires an ever wider range of skills and technical knowledge. However, like other professions in the industry, Golf Course Architecture is a career which is unpredictable in terms of long term security.

While the Institute recognises that the market will dictate the demand for new golf courses and the size of the profession, it realises that it has a duty to train new golf course architects in order to achieve and maintain a high standard of design and professional expertise.

With new markets appearing in countries around the world, where golf is being discovered, there is no reason why the profession should not continue to expand. The principal aim of the course is to teach the fundamental skills and knowledge required for a career in golf course design, although it may also appeal to individuals who are simply pursuing a n interest in the subject. It is designed to be as specific and comprehensive as possible in covering the normal roles of the Golf Course Architect but the course will require a certain degree of background research to be carried out by the students in their own time to fill in particular gaps in their own knowledge. Some individual course tutoring will be available to help with this aspect as well as a mentoring scheme.

Course description

The Course is run by the European Institute of Golf Course Architects. It utilises the wealth of experience of the membership of the Institute in specific areas of golf course architecture and the excellent facilities. The programme will be run as a distance learning course over a period of two years with ten weeks of intensive tuition at five centres throughout Europe. As with any distance learning course students are expected to do the majority of the work in their own time outside of the seminars and it is recommended that students be able to set aside 10-15 hours per week study time, to complete a variety of assignments and design projects between seminars

Student numbers are restricted to maintain a high quality of learning. The teaching takes the form of five modules of lectures, field studies, and design workshops, the last of which includes the final presentation and assessment of course work.

Lecturing will be in the hands of professional architects from EIGCA and industry experts. All teaching is in English so students must have a very good command of English, both spoken and written.

The Programme

The subjects to be taught include:

• conceptual design and masterplanning
• course layout and safety
• detailed design of golf course features
• drawing and CAD skills
• specifications, quantification
• contract law and documentation
• contract administration
• agronomy and turf science
• construction, irrigation and water management
• golf course maintenance
• landscape design
• ecological and environmental science
• health and safety
• planning
• professional practice

The Teaching Centres

The teaching centres for the 5 seminars will be spread throughout Europe giving students the opportunity to study the diverse styles of golf courses and experience the variations between cool season golf courses of northern Europe and the warm season courses in southern Europe.
At each there will be the opportunity for students to visit nearby noted and historic golf courses, playing from time to time and taking advantage of presentations by officers at each. Visits to construction sites are planned also.

Application process and entry criteria

Regarding the entry criteria for our Diploma, we prefer post-graduates in subjects closely allied to golf course architecture such as landscape architects, architects, engineers, agronomists, etc. However, we will consider those with lesser qualifications if they have practical experience in an area of the golf industry, e.g. trainee golf course architects, constructors, greenkeepers, or professional golfers, if they show an aptitude to learn and a flair for design. We do not accept school leavers with only A levels (or equivalent) or those with only non-related qualifications.

Within 12 months prior to the commencement of the course, applicants will be able to complete an application form that will be available on our website. They will be given a deadline to return their completed forms by, along with their CV, a recent photograph and their completed credit-debit authorisation form. Email is used wherever possible.

Our course typically starts during the month of August, so the deadline for applications would be likely to be set towards the end of the previous year. The EIGCA Education Board would then assess all applications and respond by the end of January.

Successful applicants would be invited to interview. These are likely to be held in the Spring, just before the EIGCA Annual General Meeting.

The course tuition fees are currently £10,000 payable in advance, half during the month preceding the initial seminar and the balance one year later and they are exclusive of travel, accommodation, meals and any other expenses. We also charge a £100 administration fee which is payable on receipt of completed applications. There will be a small number of R&A funded bursaries which can be applied for by students once they have been accepted on to the course.

For a list of recommended reading for the course please click on the link: