That said, Andrew Goosen’s ears might be ringing at this very moment, having been the architect behind several golf courses from Cape to Cairo and beyond. He sees a vibrant future for further development in Africa in the coming decades. 

Cape Town-based Goosen recently joined The Golf Data Group, which has been in operation almost four decades and has its stamp on top local courses such as Steyn City in Johannesburg, Leopard Creek–located in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, and St Francis Links, and Pearl Valley in the Eastern and Western Cape, respectively. 

His experience was first gained in the United Kingdom, where he enrolled in a Professional Diploma in Golf Course Architecture. 

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have seen a significant part of the world through my career, which began with the U.K. design firm of five-time British Open winner, Peter Thomson,” Goosen tells FORBES AFRICA. 

He later conducted restoration work at The Richmond Golf Club in London, designed the NEWGIZA Golf Course in Cairo and was involved in the construction of the Carya Golf Club in Turkey, host to the Turkish Airlines Open, a DP World Tour event. 

“On returning to South Africa in 2010, I established a footing for the company on the continent, and we soon began building a new course in Calabar, Nigeria,” Goosen says. 

“In 2014, I started my own practice and spent the next 12 years working exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, in amazing places such as Mozambique and Mauritius. 

“At the beginning of 2026, I was approached by The Golf Data Group to take the reins as their Golf Course Architect.” 

Goosen says there are many layers to his work that goes well beyond just imagining and mapping out a course. 

“It starts with the client,” he says. “Listening, building trust and helping them realize their vision. For a new 18-hole course, we assess the landscape, identify the most suitable areas for construction and look for outstanding natural features that can benefit the design. 

“We then set the course out, revisit the site and refine the plan until we achieve good flow and balance across all 18 holes. That is arguably the most important part of the design process.” 

Goosen reveals there is a strategy and philosophy for each hole which determines the placement of tees, hazards and greens. 

Any development needs to stay within budget and applying cost controls is key, as is monitoring  course development throughout the process. 

“During construction, the architect visits regularly to ensure the design intent and technical specifications are respected. However, we often adjust the course as it takes shape, responding to the land as it reveals itself,” he says. 

“Some clients are heavily invested emotionally, while others are far more removed from the process.” 

Goosen reveals some architects have signature features they include in their courses, but for him the most important factor is ensuring the course complements its surroundings. 

“What I strive to achieve is a golf course that sits on the land it occupies with respect and as visually unobtrusive as possible. I let the land ‘talk’ to me, and then apply design philosophies that assist in creating one that challenges golfers while maximizing their enjoyment,” he said. 

Goosen sees a strong future for golf, and therefore course design–an industry that is booming in the United States (U.S.) and Europe. 

“Golf has been around for, as far as we know, a little over 500 years, with fairly consistent growth and popularity. From a design perspective, we are seeing a return to the essence of the game, embracing the principle of ‘Less is More’,” he says. 

“We are certainly seeing a boom in the U.S. again, alongside significant growth in Europe. As a continent, Africa tends to follow these trends by about 10 to 15 years, so I believe some very exciting times lie ahead for us.”