European Golf Design

EGD Designer, Dave Sampson helps claim Golf Digest's top spot in Italy and Switzerland plus number 5 in France with their "2024 The Best Golf Courses in Europe" Italy - Number 1 - Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Championship), Lazio Switzerland - Number 1 - Crans-sur-Sierre G.C., Crans-Montana France - Number 5 - Evian Resort, Évian-les-Bains

Our 'why' has never been to make it onto Top 100 lists - that is just a by-product of working at something we all truly love to do. That said, it's always reassuring when past projects are recognised by independent experts and flattering to know we had a helping hand in the accolades those projects are now receiving. But our involvement is as part of a much larger team of professionals, so congratulations to the quality-driven investors, developers and project teams who have been recognised for their excellence by the latest Golf World Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe: 1 Costa Navarino 4 Camiral (formerly PGA Catalunya) 12 Antalya Golf 22 Montgomerie Maxx Royal 25 Evian Resort 45 San Domenico 55 Lighthouse Golf 56 Cullinan Links (formerly Titanic Golf) 60 Linna Golf 74 Pirin 93 Morgado We are proud of each one and grateful for the opportunities each presented to create, with the wider team, something special. #Top100

Hear the thoughts of EGD Designer Gary Johnston on our involvement with the phased renovation work on the Longcross Course at Foxhills Club & Resort

One year to the day we celebrate the award winning 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone with this uplifting and inspiring movie by European Tour Productions. European Golf Design (EGD) are the design company of Ryder Cup Europe and were tasked with turning the existing course at Marco Simone just outside Rome into a venue capable of hosting the World’s third biggest sporting event. The job of designing the golf course was given to EGD Designer, Dave Sampson. With all of Dave’s design talent including EGD’s vast Ryder Cup experience behind him, Marco Simone was turned into a golf course specifically with the drama of match play in mind. The previous layout was rerouted not only to provide numerous risk and reward opportunities for the world’s leading players, but also to maximise the natural rolling countryside terrain. Spectators had unrivalled vantage points of the on-course action as well as distant views of the famous Eternal City, Rome. 12 months on Marco Simone is now an icon and a legacy for golf in Italy. Later in 2023 Dave Sampson was named as one of Today’s Golfer most influential people in the golf industry. We have a proud record at European Golf Design, every Ryder Cup we have been involved with has been on the winning team. The Ryder Cup European Tour Destinations #WinningTeam

“Sustainability is not a nice-to-have, if you’re not sustainable you’ll be out of business very quickly,” says Jeremy Slessor, European Golf Design’s Managing Director. In this interview, Jeremy explains what golf venues can do to become more sustainable and highlights how the EGD Designed (in association with Bernhard Langer) Dunes course at European Tour Destinations COSTA NAVARINO is leading the way. EGD, the golf course design company of the European Tour, is a carbon-neutral design company. EGD designed the first new development in the world to be recognised with the GEO (GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf) Certified Development status and has projects throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia. Jeremy Slessor, Managing Director of EGD, said: “For many years sustainability has been part of the way in which we conceptualise, design and construct courses. Now, our updated and strengthened strategy aims to deliver even more positive and measurable environmental and social impacts through course development and renovation, alongside new goals and actions across various other aspects of the business.” #SustainableGolf #ForSustainableGolf

European Golf Design to renovate the East course at Wentworth European Golf Design will renovate the East course and create a new golf academy at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. The 6,200-yard course was designed by Harry Colt and opened for play in 1924, two years before the West, venue for this week’s BMW PGA Championship, was built. European Golf Design will work with the club’s senior management team to reinstate the layout’s heathland character and restore Colt’s original design values. The project team are referencing historic materials from the club’s archives for the project. Work is underway and includes reshaping bunkers, revamping several green complexes, reshaping fairways and executing a woodland management programme. “The renovation work on the East course is a clear sign as we continue to strive to make a classic heathland test even greater while recognising the original roots that have made the layout so iconic,” said Stuart Boyle, club manager at Wentworth. Wentworth’s new golf academy includes the creation of a new par-three course, three indoor teaching studios, a putting studio and a short-game area. There will be nine new outdoor hitting bays, too. “The development of our new golf academy will only enhance the golf offering we have at Wentworth,” said Boyle. “We are committed to providing a world-class offering for our members, creating a golf and country club experience which is cherished and admired the world over. The club is looking firmly to the future, while building on its distinguished heritage, as it strives to create a welcoming and friendly experience which prizes the family dynamic and creates pathways for future generations of golfers.” By Richard Humphreys, Golf Course Architecture

The BMW PGA Championship is the DP World Tour’s flagship Rolex Series Event. What does that mean to EGD? Answer: TEAMWORK. Originally designed by Harry Colt, the West Course has changed several times over the years, and it would be fair to say that a lot of those changes did not meet the approval of either the Members or Players. As a result, plans were put into place to renovate the course during the summer of 2016 to reintroduce style, strategy and enjoyment. WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL Working with Ernie Els and his design associate, Greg Letsche, along with a European Tour Advisory Group, including Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjørn and David Jones, Wentworth’s Director of Courses, Kenny Mackay, and Chief Executive, Stephen Gibson, EGD (Jeremy Slessor) were tasked with liaising with each stakeholder to prepare a cohesive plan that addressed all the stated concerns. Met with widespread approval, the renovations were completed in time for the 2017 BMA PGA Championships. We work (Matt Sturt) with our Parent Company at the European Tour Group and DP World Tour producing the wide-ranging Event Maps for the Rolex Series, one of which is the BMW PGA Championship. Working on these huge tournaments, Teamwork is essential. The slick logistical management of events on this scale requires unique knowledge, experience and communication to the common goal. What we bring to the team is taking ownership of our involvement and producing the best every time, on time. #TeamWork #CommonGoal

The DP World comes to Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland this week. The Omega European Masters (formerly The Swiss Open) has been played for more than 90 years and is one of the longest-running and prestigious tournaments on the DP World Tour. Located in the Swiss Alps, around 120 miles east of Geneva, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club is one of the most photogenic courses in professional golf. European Golf Design was chosen as the Design Company to redesign the legendary Severiano Ballesteros Course, with the changes led by EGD Designer, Dave Sampson. The work has been phased with holes 1,4 & 5 completed in 2023, holes 10 & 17 this year and hole 8 next year. Dave Sampson's CV includes the design of the 2023 Ryder Cup course at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome. Dave's work also includes the renovation of Evian Royal Resort, France in preparation for the 5th Major on the LPGA tour, The Evian Championship, in 2013.

Delighted to have our work on show this week at two prestigious venues. The 2024 KPMG Women's Irish Open visits the magnificent Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. In association with legends Colin Montgomerie and Mark O’Meara, EGD designed both courses at Carton House. EGD Designer, Ross McMurray was recently back at Carton working on a the new practice green, which is in use this week. You will also see another branch of EGD on show this week at The Belfry Hotel & Resort for the 2024 Betfred British Masters. EGD’s Matt Sturt working with the DP World Staging Team produced all the Staging Maps and Guides you will see online and around the course. Earlier in the year EGD Designer, Robin Hiseman designed the new Callaway Golf Short Game Zone at The Belfry. Working with the team at the Belfry, P Quinn Construction Limited and DURABUNKER LIMITED, the new Short Game Zone is a fine addition to the already superb practice facilities. #WeAreEGD