Like many young and passionate golfers raised in Massachusetts, Jim was inspired by the natural and rugged beauty of the New England landscape and its golf courses. These landscapes are what triggered Jim’s passion for golf and a future in the profession of Golf Course Architecture. Prior to graduating from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 1999, Jim spent his teen years working in the bag room and caddying at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield, Massachusetts. As his desire to chase the dream of becoming a Golf Course Architect grew, Jim worked maintenance and construction throughout his time at UMASS before securing his first job in the design business with Bob Cupp in Atlanta, Georgia. After his departure from Bob Cupp’s office, Jim was fortunate to have spent the next 23 years at Nicklaus Design. After relocating to Nicklaus Design’s Hong Kong office in 2004, Jim later established an office in Manila, Philippines in 2012 before moving back to the US in 2021. During his time with Nicklaus Design Jim was the lead designer on numerous projects in Asia and from 2021 to 2023, Jim lead the design effort on several new course projects and renovation projects in the US. In 2024 Jim moved on from Nicklaus Design to form Curley-Wagner Golf Design with Brian Curley and has since relocated back to Manila, Philippines to service Curley-Wagner projects in the Asia region. Jim is the 289th Member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects with 25 years of design experience.