The EIGCA (European Institute of Golf Course Architects) held its Annual Meeting at The Tivoli Hotel in Copenhagen last week – a sell-out event which in addition to members was attended by Patrons, Partners and invited media.
Caspar Grauballe, EIGCA Presidemt, presented Outstanding Contribution Awards to Martin Hawtree and Peter Harradine.
He said, “We introduced this award last year to recognize an individual/s within the EIGCA community for their contribution to furthering the work of the Institute and golf course design profession.
“Both these recipients represent families for whom the major contribution made to the Institute, its predecessor organisations, and golf course design are undeniable.
“The Hawtree name has been associated with golf course design for over 100 years. Martin Hawtree is the third generation in his family to practice as a golf course architect, after his grandfather, Fredrick Senior, started the business in 1912, mainly working with James Braid. Frederick Junior took over the firm when his father passed away in 1955, closing the construction side and concentrating on golf course design. Martin joined in 1973, taking over the practice from his father in 1984.
“The Hawtree firm has been associated with the building or remodelling of over 500 courses, with their work spread across 4 continents.
“Martin’s Dad, Fred Jr, was one of the four founders of the first association of professional golf course architects, along with CK Cottom, J Hamilton Strutt and Donald Harradine, the British Association of Golf Course Architects, which became the British Institute in the early 1990s.
“Martin has been involved with the Institute and its predecessors since 1985. The foundations for a future European Association were laid in 1994 with the signing of the first Protocol Alliance when Martin was President of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects.”
Announcing the award to Peter Harradine, Caspar said, “The name of Hockey / Harradine has been associated with golf course design since the early 1920s. Albert Hockey remodelled his first course in 1920 before moving his family including stepson Don Harradine to Switzerland in 1925. Don designed courses, mainly in Europe and was joined in the business by Peter in the 1960s.
“Father and son worked together until Don retired in 1980. Peter has built courses across the globe, having personally designed and co-designed over 180 golf courses in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia.
“The Harradine dynasty has been entwined with EIGCA since before its inception. From his father’s involvement in the formation of the British Association of Golf Course Architects, along with Martin’s father, Fred William Hawtree, Peter was an important part of the formation of EIGCA in 2000, and was President from 2002-2004.
“The Harradine name and tradition in golf course design continues with Peter’s son Michael, the 4th generation of the family working in golf course design. Michael is here today and works for Harradine Golf in Dubai. He is also a graduate of our education programme, graduating with distinction in 2021.”
Among the Partners to be welcomed by EIGCA at the Partners Dinner on the previous evening was DSV UK Limited – represented by Hamish Crichton (pictured). Additional Partners welcomed were: IDBD, P Quinn Construction Limited and Surtec Golf Agronomy.
During the evening, Bruce Charlton, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and president and chief design officer of Robert Trent Jones II, was made a Member of EIGCA
Andy Brown, Senior Manager of Global Business Development & Relationships for The Toro Company, a Gold Partner said, “The benefits of our partnership stem from having the opportunity to discuss the projects the members are working on and understand what they and their clients need from us. It also gives us the opportunity to hear about the industry challenges from the architect’s perspective and inform them about new technology that we are introducing.
“On behalf of all the partners I’d like to congratulate Caspar Grauballe, President of the EIGCA and all the team for once again hosting the most popular industry event of the year. The conference itself is organised and run extremely professionally, bringing together a wonderful cross-section of the golf industry. It is an excellent opportunity to spend time with many of the EIGCA members, as well as representatives of the ASGCA, to learn from each other and share experiences and memories. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the EIGCA and we are all looking forward to celebrating that major milestone.”
For more information visit The EIGCA All photos are courtesy of EIGCA.
