American Society of Golf Course Architects | Inside ASGCA

American Association of Golf Course Architects | Inside ASGCA

Who Are Our Members?

Logo Membership in ASGCA signifies that an architect is primarily dedicated to the profession of golf course design, has acquired sound technical training, has completed not less than eight years of practical experience in golf course architecture and designed at least five 18-hole equivalents, and is recognized by the other members as a competent professional.

Simply put, ASGCA members are the cream of the crop when it comes to golf course architects. The membership process is thorough and peer-reviewed; only 177 golf course architects in the world lay claim to this prestigious designation.

In addition, ASGCA members abide by standards of professional practice and a stringent code of ethics. These standards set for the golf course architect’s role in contract negotiations and his or her responsibilities to the client. Many public agencies and entities have recognized that the ASGCA membership constitutes the highest professional standards in golf course design. How does a golf course architect become an ASGCA member?

Every ASGCA member must meet a set of criteria in order to complete the rigorous two-year long application process. In fact, the standards are so strict that the average age of the new ASGCA member elected was 46 in 2006. In addition to being a citizen of Canada, Mexico or the United States and working for a firm based in one of these countries, all ASGCA members must meet the following criteria:

Be at least 28 years of age and been practicing golf course architecture for a minimum of eight years
Have designed at least five 18-hole equivalents, three of which must have opened in the past six years
Adhere to a strict professional Code of Ethics (PDF)

Peer Review

ASGCA members are very involved in the review of each potential member’s application. Four of the five representative courses submitted on an application are evaluated in person by an ASGCA member. The member studies plans of the course, interviews construction personnel, club management and either walks or plays the course with the applicant.

In addition to the course evaluations, each applicant must be sponsored by three ASGCA members. The sponsors are members who can personally vouch for the character, professional integrity and high level of applied architecture skill of the applicant.