Membership enquiry

Thank you for your interest in The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects. We are pleased to provide the following information about the initial processes of becoming a Golf Course Architect.

Golf Course Architecture in Australia is a specialised form of design and supports only a small number of full time designers. Most are members of the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects. A member's list can be found elsewhere in our web site. The small size of the industry here in Australia can make continuous employment difficult at times.

Many of the newer Golf Course Architects in Australia have a background in Landscape Architecture and this may be the best starting point for a career in Golf Course Architecture. Others include Engineers and Architects, plus a couple have other more diverse backgrounds such as Green Keeping or Surveying.

We suggest that you secure either trade or university qualifications in one of these related type of professions for something to fall back on if your search for employment is unsuccessful. These vocations importantly offer design or management skills that assist in gaining employment with a golf course design firm.

University degrees in Landscape Architecture are available in most capital cities and we suggest you log onto the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) web site www.aila.org.au for further information. This would advise on university courses closest to you and how they differ from one another. Some may have opportunities to include a golf course project in your studies.

Unfortunately because of the limited number of Golf Course Architects here in Australia there are no specific educational courses on the topic.

Outside of Australia there are 1 or 2 university courses that may assist you becoming a Golf Course Architect but these may require prior to entry relevant experience or a related type of university degree.

Unfortunately because of the limited number of Golf Course Architects here in Australia there are no specific educational courses on the topic.

Outside of Australia there are 1 or 2 university courses that may assist you becoming a Golf Course Architect but these may require prior to entry relevant experience or a related type of university degree.

Courses we are aware of are:

1. Heriot-Watt University ( Edinburgh , Scotland ), Masters Course in Golf Course Architecture; Duration 1 year fulltime. Cost approx. A $24,000 + expenses. This course presumably has the depth of the study that would make a graduate a good prospect to employ if one of the Australian firms was seeking a junior designer.
2. University of Guelph ( Canada ), Correspondence course in Golf Course Design and Construction, and in Turf Management: Cost approx. A $500 each. Both are short courses with limited information so it could be considered as good background knowledge, rather than a full course allowing someone to be readily productive in an office.

In addition to university courses books on the history, new developments and design processes of golf course design / management are a beneficial way to begin learning the basics of course design.

Relevant books are available from:	Contact details	Web link
Sleeping Bear Press	Visit website for details
Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association	Ph: (03) 9548 8600 Fax: (03) 9548 8622
Johima Books	Ph: (02) 9687 1922 Fax: (02) 9687 1027

All have catalogues, which are good starting points when looking for relevant written material on the subject.

Another notable read is our own Society of Australian Golf Course Architects Journal called

GOLF ARCHITECTURE. This is devoted solely to Golf Course Architecture therefore will be both interesting and useful. Each edition reviews the latest and most noteworthy books published around the world. A subscription form can be found on our website.

The opportunities to become a Golf Course Architect tend to be small due to the limited numbers of design offices in Australia and only a few new employees throughout them in any one year. They therefore have the opportunity to select good students in a relevant degree e.g. Landscape Architecture, who are perceptive and have a sound understanding for example of golf, earth shaping and the environment. They need not be single figure golfers. The firms tend to have to considerably develop the golf course design skills and related knowledge of the aspiring Course Architects, especially in the early years as the relevant background training tends to be limited for the practical professional tasks of golf course design. (Another way is to become one of the world's better golfers and then your experience of courses and public profile often cause developers to offer design opportunities. Then you usually can oversee projects and employ or team up with your own Course Architects. A world top 50 ranking is of course hard to achieve!)

We acknowledge becoming a Golf Course Architect can be difficult at times due to limited opportunities and the number of people who aspire to this fulfilling career. Please do not be discouraged but you will need to plan your career path carefully, pro-actively seek skills and possibly have some luck or a good contact. Golf Course Architects tend to develop a range of skills and generally work hard - although seeing a new green, hole or course in play is a great thrill and is very satisfying.

The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects wish you the best in your future career path and in time hope you can achieve your objective and if appropriate gain membership of our Society.