Schmidt-Curley Design — one of the world’s most active and innovative golf-course design firms — was honored as Asian Golf Monthly’s “Best Golf Course Architect” at the 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
After four consecutive years of top-three finishes, Schmidt-Curley topped the category for the first time. Co-founded by Pete Dye proteges Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, the firm has been at the forefront of Asia’s golf industry for almost two decades.
“We’re honored to be ranked Asia-Pacific’s No. 1 design firm by Asian Golf Monthly,” says Curley. “It’s a testament to the skills and tireless dedication of team members in the Haikou, Kunming and Scottsdale offices. Without their outstanding contributions and commitment, we couldn’t have achieved this milestone.”
Accolades for courses at Mission Hills Hainan, Stone Forest International C.C. and Siam C.C. cemented Schmidt-Curley’s stellar showing.
Mission Hills Hainan’s Blackstone Course, site of this month’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup, was ranked the “Best Course in China” and No. 3 championship course in the Asia-Pacific region. The entire, newly opened 10-course facility — master planned and designed by Schmidt-Curley — was named Asia-Pacific’s No. 2 golf resort.
Stone Forest International was first runner-up in China’s “Best New” category, while the Plantation Course at Siam C.C. won acclaim as Asia-Pacific’s “Best Conditioned Course.” “With our fully-staffed, state-of-the-art Asia offices, in-house design talent, Green Dynasty construction management arm and a tight network of industry connections, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver on-time and under-budget service of the highest quality,” states Schmidt.
For more information: www.schmidt-curley.com, Twitter, Facebook, 480.483.1994.
To view select project images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60163396@N04/.
About Schmidt-Curley Design
Founded by partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Haikou, Hainan Island, China and Kunming, China, Schmidt-Curley is a full-service, international golf course architecture and master-planning firm with more than 100 layouts in 24 countries. The tandem is responsible for crafting 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Shenzhen — the “World’s Largest Golf Club” — and designed and built all 10 golf courses at Mission Hills’ new Hainan Island resort. The facility’s Lava Fields Course is the only Chinese design ranked among Golf World’s “Top 100.” Schmidt-Curley’s recently unveiled 54-hole Stone Forest International C.C. near Kunming is also garnering global acclaim.
Other high profile, award-winning projects from Schmidt-Curley include Bali Hai and Siena Golf Clubs (Las Vegas), Amata Spring Golf Club (Chonburi, Thailand, four-time host of the PGA European Tour’s Royal Trophy), Terra Lago Golf Club (Indio, California, site of the Skins Game from 1999 – 2002), Twin Creeks Golf Club (Cedar Park, Texas) and Crosby National Golf Club (Rancho Santa Fe, California).
Schmidt-Curley has also worked extensively with golf’s biggest names — including Pete Dye, Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples on numerous high-profile projects — and boasts five ASGCA members (Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley, Grant Haserot, Andy Raugust and Shane Witcombe).
Producing demanding yet beautiful and enjoyable courses, Schmidt-Curley strives to create golf experiences that stir the senses and elevate golfers’ appreciation for the land and the game. By balancing classic golf course architecture with ever-changing contemporary technology, Schmidt-Curley places an emphasis on site-adaptive courses, memorable and satisfying for all levels of play and always designed for cost-efficient maintenance and operations.