At the Institute’s general meeting members of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects (BIGCA) approved the proposal to form one organisation by merging with the European Society of Golf Architects (ESGA) and the Association Franà§ais des Architects de Golf (AFAG). These bodies will all be disbanded and the new body is to be centralised at Merrist Wood in Surrey. The name of the new organisation is likely to take effect from the first day of the new Millennium and will be “The European Institute of Golf Course Architects”
It is probable that Regional Chapters will be formed in France/Benelux/Holland, Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Italy, Iberia and Great Britain and Ireland. These Chapters will be responsible for local administration, liaison and co-ordination with national governments and federations and continuing professional development for membership education.
“I am pleased that after a tremendous amount of work we have taken this decision,” commented Howard Swan, BIGCA President. “The new Institute will effectively represent over 100 architects. The initiatives and efforts of BIGCA, particularly over recent years in the education field, will be enhanced by the merger as will I hope the support that the industry will give to a single Europe-wide body in golf course design. We have set great store in developing standards in architecture and it is essential that the new body ensures that these are maintained and developed so that we can give our clients the best service we possibly can by designing or redesigning courses to the highest professional standards.”
The European Institute is likely to come into being at the General Meeting, to be held in England in April 2000.