Martin Ebert

A career in golf became Martin's goal following a year long organisation of the Cambridge University Golf Club’s tour to the United States in 1989, the year of the 100th Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge. He was privileged to have visited such a great array of the traditional, old courses and clubs of the North Eastern US and it reinforced his views of how golf courses should be eased into the landscape. This appreciation was forged from playing many of the great seaside links and inland courses of the UK with the Cambridge team.

Ebert's golf at university was mixed with studying Engineering, firstly to gain a degree but this was followed by a postgraduate year with the main advantage being another year of golf. However, the engineering discipline proved to be extremely useful in supporting the drawing skills and technical abilities required of a golf course architect. Even with the most accurate plans, Ebert believes that the communication of ideas between the architect and shaper is the key to obtaining the best results.

Donald Steel offered him a welcome opportunity to provide assistance with the design of courses around the world in 1990. That has led to fascinating working experiences in 18 countries.

The principals of M&E are Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert. They worked together for 15 busy and enjoyable years as lead designers with Donald Steel & Company and inaugurated Mackenzie & Ebert Ltd. in 2005. Between them, Tom and Martin have over sixty years of experience in the field of golf course architecture, working not only on new courses but also advising the acknowledged classics.