Membership categories

The European Institute of Golf Course Architects represents the vast majority of Europe's most qualified and experienced golf course designers. Members of EIGCA have shown through their skill, experience and training that they are able to design and supervise the construction of golf courses to the highest standards.

EIGCA is committed to providing continuing professional development for its members to ensure they remain at the top of their profession. When a golf course architect applies to become a member of EIGCA, they are subjected to a strict and rigorous examination of their qualifications and experience and you can be assured that any member of EIGCA will have achieved the following minimum criteria:

Fellowship

A Fellow is a Senior Member of EIGCA. It was originally a category that was awarded by the former BIGCA to a Member who had made a significant contribution to that Institute. It is a category that is no longer awarded by EIGCA.

Senior Membership

A Senior Member is a golf course architect practising to the highest standard with a wide experience of all aspects relating to golf course architecture in Europe including both the design and supervision of construction of new courses as well as the renovation or re-modelling of existing courses. This category represents the majority of the Institute’s membership.

A Senior Member has usually been an Associate Member and during their term as Associate Member has either personally designed and supervised the construction to completion of at least six separate golf courses, of which at least four shall be full 18-hole golf courses, or worked as a full time architect and gained the equivalent experience (usually a minimum period of four years working in Europe) to become a Senior Member.

If not already an Associate Member, s/he has provided evidence of full and individual responsibility for the design and supervision of construction to completion of at least 10 separate golf courses (at least 6 of which shall be full 18-hole courses) and has in addition presented a paper to the EIGCA Council on an agreed subject.

Associate Membership

This category of membership is a stepping stone to becoming a Senior Member, a part of a procedure the Institute takes pride in having since it helps to encourage continuous development and achievement. Associate Members will have at least two years’ experience of working in golf course architecture in Europe or sufficient equivalent knowledge to work in Europe and an understanding of the prevailing geographic, climatic and planning issues involved. They will have shown a thorough working knowledge and a degree of experience in the principal aspects of golf course architecture, construction and maintenance of golf courses in Europe.

A Graduate

has successfully completed a Certificate, Diploma or Degree course recognised by EIGCA but has not yet acquired sufficient experience to become an Associate Member.

Honorary Membership

This is a limited class of membership that is awarded by the Council to those who have shown distinguished service to the game of golf and to the purposes for which the Institute has been created.