Gary's design career started very early on in his life, spending hours on end designing golf courses on his Arnold Palmer golf game.
Gary graduated from university with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Turfgrass science before completing his Masters Degree at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland. Gary put his love of golf and new-found knowledge to use straight away as he joined European Golf Design (EGD) in 2003.
Since joining EGD Gary has been involved in projects across the world as the lead designer on both new developments and renovation projects with some of his work picking up awards and accolades.
A long-time member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), Gary had the honour of becoming their Vice-president in 2023, displaying how valued he is within the industry.
Golf courses, by their nature, are large landscapes which through thoughtful design and good management practices, can contribute positively to both the environment and the communities in which they are located. This may require us to be more analytical in terms of our designs and materials that we might specify but should also consider the construction work and the wider processes involved with delivering a completed golf course development.
Gary Johnston, EIGCA
Gary has worked alongside us for over a decade and in fact, Gary's project at Irie Fields in St Kitts achieved GEO Development Certification in 2015 making it the first GEO Certified Development. The project was a huge success and a great flagship for sustainable golf development. Some highlights include:
GEO – How did you get started with EGD?
"I had wanted to be a golf course designer for a long time and was fortunate enough to be able to spend 6 months gaining some valuable work experience at EGD prior to commencing a Master’s degree at Heriot-Watt. After completing my degree Jeremy Slessor was kind enough to offer me a full-time position, and I have been with the company ever since. Initially, I worked on small renovation projects, followed by projects in Bulgaria and Turkey where I gained some valuable experience. Since then, I have worked on approximately 50 projects, and over seen around 15-20 through construction.
GEO – Tell us a bit more about the Irie Fields project and how that was for you.
"St. Kitts (Irie Fields) was one of my career highlights. Working in the Caribbean is something truly special. Our client was an amazing individual with a clear vision, who built a team that were genuinely enthusiastic about delivering a truly special project. A particularly rewarding aspect of the project was the community involvement. About 90-95% of the construction work whether it be golf, residential or the resort was completed by local workers. It was a true community project, and I believe this spirit was reflected in the final course.
GEO – Do you have a certain way that you approach each project or is it very much unique to the project?
"As a designer, I would hate to think I approach any project with a fixed mindset. Each project is unique, and I always look forward to sitting down with a new client to determine what the design strategy for that particular project will be. The fun part for me is that every project comes with its own set of challenges, requiring unique solutions. That’s what makes the job so fun and interesting. I believe it’s important to go your own way and not simply replicate what other courses in the region have done.
GEO - What would you say you have learned in your time in the industry?
"One of the key considerations during the Irie Fields project, and something I still prioritize today, was sourcing materials locally. On an island, resources are limited, so I constantly asked myself, “Can we use the rock available on site for construction? Can we maximize the use of native sand instead of importing it?” This approach has become integral to my process in every project.
GEO - Where do you see the value of including GEO in development projects?
"The sustainable golf course design and construction framework provided by GEO has proven immensely valuable in guiding the planning of new golf developments. Not only does it promote best practices, but it has also added value by assisting our projects in reaching their full potential. As Golf Course Designers, we have a great responsibility, we lay the groundwork for all that follows in terms of construction and long-term management. That is why it is vital for us, together with GEO, to lead by example and set the standards early to ensure that the environmental impact that our projects have is a positive one."
Find Gary and his work at:
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
