Indian golf course architect Aashish Vaishnava has made history by becoming the first Indian golf course architect to win the World Golf Awards’ Golf Course Designer of the Year title. He shares the 2026 global award with British design partner Jon Hunt under AV IDG. The award was announced at the 13th annual gala ceremony, held at Madinaty Golf Club, Egypt, on 7 November 2026.
A Global Award Marks a Milestone for Indian Golf Design
The official World Golf Awards winners list names “Aashish Vaishnava & Jon Hunt – AV IDG” in its WORLD category. This confirms the global title, rather than a national or regional award.
Moreover, the result marks a milestone in the award’s history. Since the category’s first recorded winners in 2015, no individually named Indian golf course architect had appeared on the published roll of honour.
Previous winners include Ernie Els (2015), Sir Nick Faldo (2016), Jack Nicklaus (2017), Gary Player (2018), Colin Montgomerie (2019), José María Olazábal (2020), Henrik Stenson (2021), IMG Golf Course Design (2022), Greg Norman (2023), Peter Matkovich (2024) and Sir Nick Faldo again (2025).
Notably, the 2022 award went to a design company, rather than an individually named Indian architect. These names provide historical context only. They do not imply any affiliation, endorsement or mentorship involving AV IDG.
“For me, this is a moment to put Indian golf design in the international conversation. It belongs to the people who have trusted our ideas, our team and the partnership Jon and I have built. I hope it encourages more young Indians to see golf as a profession in which they can contribute on the world stage.” — Aashish Vaishnava
AV IDG Brings Indian and British Design Experience Together
The partnership’s guiding expression is “Designed Together. Honoured as One.” It reflects a shared approach that combines Indian design ambition with British design experience.
AV IDG brings together AV from India and International Design Group (IDG), based in Bristol, UK. Its work spans golf course design, luxury real estate masterplanning, golf resort architecture and landscape design.
Furthermore, the partnership builds on more than 20 years of collaboration between India and the UK. The wider IDG team includes Bob Hunt, Jon Hunt, Andrew Craven and Aashish Vaishnava.
Jon Hunt said the partnership draws on different perspectives and a common design ambition.
“Our partnership brings different perspectives to the same ambition: golf courses with character and a strong sense of place. Sharing this recognition with AV is a chance to celebrate what sustained collaboration between India and the UK can achieve.” — Jon Hunt
Further World Golf Awards Recognition in 2026
The 2026 awards also brought recognition for two golf courses associated with the partnership. Prestige Golfshire Club was named India’s Best Golf Course 2026. Meanwhile, Al Dhannah Golf Club received the Middle East’s Best 9 Hole Golf Course 2026 title.
According to the supplied project record, projects associated with AV IDG have received 33 World Golf Awards wins between 2014 and 2026. This total includes 14 awards for design-credit work and the designer title. A further 19 relate to projects where the team held project management, rebuilding or consultancy roles.
The listed design-credit awards include:
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Golf Course Designer of the Year 2026 (World): Aashish Vaishnava and Jon Hunt – AV IDG.
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Prestige Golfshire – India’s Best Golf Course: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2026.
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Tobago Plantations – Trinidad & Tobago’s Best Golf Course: 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
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Al Dhannah Golf Club – Middle East’s Best 9 Hole Golf Course: 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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The National Azerbaijan Golf Club – Azerbaijan’s Best Golf Course: 2025.
