Mr Gary Johnston

Admitted as an Associate Member (AEIGCA) in 2009; upgraded to Member (MEIGCA) in 2017.

Gary Johnston is an architect at European Golf Design, the golf course design arm of the European Tour Group.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Turfgrass Science, Gary began his career in golf course maintenance in the UK and USA. He furthered his education with a Master’s degree from Heriot-Watt University. After a brief initial stint with European Golf Design 2002, Gary rejoined the company in 2003. As a designer, he is responsible for creating golf course designs, construction drawings, specifications, and overseeing on-site inspections during construction.

Gary’s notable projects include the Dubai Hills Golf Club, which was awarded ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ in 2019, and the Irie Fields golf course at Kittitian Hill, the first course to achieve Golf Environment Organisation’s Certified Development Status for its sustainable design initiatives. 

He has also collaborated with Ian Woosnam on EGD’s Bulgarian projects, Pirin Country Club and Lighthouse Golf Resort, and with Colin Montgomerie on the Montgomerie Marrakech and Montgomerie Maxx Royal, the latter having hosted the Turkish Open four times. 

Additionally, Gary managed the redesign of Wynyard Golf Club for the 2005 Seve Trophy and the renovation of Prince’s Golf Club in Kent ahead of the 2011 Open Championship Qualifying and the 2013 British Amateur Championship.

Recently, Gary completed the redevelopment of two 18-hole courses at Titanic Golf Club in Turkey and the construction of the new Rixos Golf Club in Aktau, Kazakhstan. He is currently working on another new 18-hole golf course in the UAE and the redevelopment of Foxhills Country Club in the UK.