Dimitri Van Hauwaert, from Belgium, has been chosen from an international line-up of contestants as the winner of the 2001 Toro Student Golf Course Architect Award. The winner of the associated Barenbrug Award is Richard Myers, from Kent.
The annual award scheme is open to all students studying on the two-year
Diploma Course in Golf Course Architecture – organised by the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) – at Merrist Wood College, in Surrey. The award was launched in 1999 in recognition of the important role played by golf course architects in the creation of quality golf courses around the world.
Along with eight other finalists, Dimitri presented a written and verbal dissertation to judges on his diploma course thesis, as well as design ideas, detailed drawings and costings for a new golf course. The expert judging panel comprised David Williams, Ken Moodie and Martin Gillett, representing EIGCA; external examiner Nigel Rudd, dean of environmental studies at Herriot Watt University and Edinburgh College of Art; Bruce Jamieson, representing Toro; and Ben Petitjohn, of Barenbrug.
Dimitri, who runs his own garden landscaping company, said: “I am delighted to win the award, it is very important that golf course architects can gain recognition in this way. But I think everyone on the course won the prize, we all worked so hard and helped each other – it’s a prize for the whole group.”
In February 2002, Dimitri will enjoy the prize of an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to The Toro Company’s worldwide headquarters in Minneapolis, USA, and the Toro Irrigation Division in Riverside, California. He will also visit the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Show in Orlando.
Barenbrug Award winner Richard Myers, who has worked for a golf course architect’s practice for three years, commented: “This is a very satisfying win for me and a reward for a lot of hard work during a busy year. I am very interested in agronomy, so taking the Barenbrug Award is particularly exciting for me.”
As his prize, Richard will visit Barenbrug’s Dutch Wolfheze breeding station this summer. He is also looking forward to a tour of the links courses on the east coast of Scotland, including St Andrews, at the end of the year.
Toro www.toro.com
Barenbrug www.barenbrug.com