About
Edwin Roald co-announced the Why18holes.com project with the USGA in Tokyo in 2019, sparking international discourse on the tradition of eighteen-hole golf courses and how altering this norm could expand participation and sustainability.
Edwin Roald is an Icelandic-born golf course architect renowned for his innovative and environmentally conscious approach to golf design. With over twenty years of independent practice across Europe and North America, Roald has become a leader in climate-focused golf architecture, pioneering research into carbon sequestration on golf courses and promoting the integration of golf with broader environmental and social benefits. He is the founder of Eureka Golf and the Carbon Par initiative, which track and reduce emissions in golf course construction. Roald is also known for challenging traditional limits in golf, most notably through his Why18holes.com project, which questions the necessity of the eighteen-hole standard and explores alternatives for more sustainable golf experiences. His work uses advanced technological tools such as drone photogrammetry and GPS, and he frequently collaborates with stakeholders to promote multi-purpose land use, making golf courses more inclusive for communities.
