Indian golf course architect Aashish Vaishnava has become the first Indian golf course architect to win Golf Course Designer of the Year at the World Golf Awards, sharing the 2026 world title with UK design partner Jon Hunt under the banner Aashish Vaishnava & Jon Hunt – AV IDG. The award was announced at the programmeʼs 13th annual gala ceremony at Madinaty Golf Club, Egypt, on 7 November.
The official World Golf Awards winners list names “Aashish Vaishnava & Jon Hunt – AV IDG” in its WORLD section, confirming the global designer category rather than a national or regional award.
In the history of this award — recorded annually from 2015 through 2026 — no individually named Indian golf course architect had previously been listed as a winner. The published roll of honor names 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). The 2022 winner was a design company, not an individually named Indian architect. These names provide historical context only; they do not imply affiliation, endorsement or mentorship with 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
The partnershipʼs expression of that collaboration is “Designed Together. Honoured as One.”: Indian design ambition and British design experience working as one practice. AV IDG brings together AV from India and International Design Group (IDG) from Bristol, UK — golf design, luxury real estate masterplanning, golf resorts architecture and aesthetically appealing landscape, built over a 20-plus-year India–UK relationship. The IDG Team includes Bob Hunt, Jon Hunt, Andrew Craven and Aashish Vaishnava.
“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
Beyond the designer title, 2026 also delivered further World Golf Awards recognition: Prestige Golfshire Club won Indiaʼs Best Golf Course 2026, and Al Dhannah Golf Club won Middle Eastʼs Best 9 Hole Golf Course 2026. Across the verified archive from 2014 to 2026, projects associated roles total 33 wins — 14 on design-credit work and the designer title, and 19 on associated projects where AV IDG held project management or rebuild roles or consulting .
Golf Design-credit wins: Golf Course Designer of the Year 2026 (World); Prestige Golfshire — Indiaʼs Best Golf Course in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2026; Tobago Plantations — Trinidad & Tobagoʼs Best Golf Course in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025; Al Dhannah Golf Club — Middle Eastʼs Best 9 Hole Golf Course in 2024, 2025 and 2026; and The National Azerbaijan Golf Club — Azerbaijanʼs Best Golf Course in 2025.
AV IDGʼs some of the key Indian clients include Prestige Group, Adani Group, M3M, Ambuja Neotia Group, GMR, VCNR, Panchshil Group, Karamchand Group, Bakeri Group, Central Park, Krisala, Max Group, Tata Group, ATS, Rise Resort Residences, RLD Group, Arka Grand and many more.
ABOUT AV IDG
AV IDG is an India–UK design partnership offering consultancy in golf design, real estate masterplanning, architecture, landscape, sports and tourism. Its published approach begins with site evaluation, feasibility and project concept, connecting golf design with the wider development. The IDG Team comprises Bob Hunt, Jon Hunt, Andrew Craven and Aashish Vaishnava. Website: https://www.avidg.co/
ABOUT WORLD GOLF AWARDS
World Golf Awards recognizes achievement in golf tourism and related businesses through an annual awards program. Its inaugural edition took place in 2014. The 2026 event was its 13th annual gala, held at Madinaty Golf Club, Egypt. The designer categoryʼs official archive records winners from 2015 onward. Voting is open to registered public and industry voters under published rules.
