European Golf Design, one of the world’s foremost golf course design agencies, this week celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Founded in 1992 as a joint venture between the European Tour group and IMG, European Golf Design (EGD) is responsible for 105 projects globally including three Ryder Cup venues: The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort, host of the 2010 Ryder Cup; the redesign at Le Golf National, host of the 2018 Ryder Cup; and the redesign of the stadium course at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, which will host golf’s greatest team competition in less than 18 months’ time.
In 2021, a two-man syndicate comprising European Tour Chief Operating Officer Keith Waters and businessman Robert Birmingham acquired 50% of EGD from IMG, with Jeremy Slessor continuing to operate as the organisation’s Managing Director.
Three of its projects – The Stadium Course at PGA Catalunya, The Montgomerie at Carton House GC and The Faldo Berlin at A-Rosa Resort – have previously been voted the best new courses in Europe, while Dubai Hills in the United Arab Emirates was named as ‘The World’s Best New Course’ in 2019.
Over the last 30 years, EGD has worked with 19 world-renowned players on Signature Design-branded courses, including Ryder Cup Captains Thomas Bjørn, Darren Clarke, Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam, as well as ten-time Major Champion Annika Sorenstam.
In all, 36 of EGD’s projects have hosted events on the DP World Tour, European Challenge Tour, Ladies European Tour, Legends Tour and LPGA Tour. This year, nine venues designed, or redesigned, by EGD will host events on the DP World Tour, Legends Tour, LPGA and Ladies European Tour.
Jeremy Slessor, Marketing Director of European Golf Design, said: “The story of EGD for the last 30 years has been one of collaboration, flexibility and creativity. Particularly given the past couple of years, we see those traits as being ever-more important to ensure that the company continues to thrive for the coming decades.
“We’ve been extremely fortunate to have had such strong support from our past and present shareholders, with the European Tour Group being particularly involved. Some outstanding clients have given us the opportunity to work with them, and the team here have delivered amazing courses time and time again. It’s been a privilege to have been part of the company for so long, and we all look forward to the future.”
At present, 16 new courses and renovations are currently being overseen by EGD, including projects in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
EGD is also currently taking steps to become a carbon-neutral company as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. With support from the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, EGD is tracking and measuring its carbon footprint across all areas of business operations, reducing emissions where possible and mitigating where necessary by credibly offsetting all unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions.
