Historic Golf Destination Ranked Among North America’s Top 75
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) – Schmidt-Curley Design – the full-service golf-course architecture, master-planning and construction-management solution – announces its renovation of the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort was recognized in the October issue of Golf Digest.
French Lick Resort, located in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, was named one of North America’s Top 75 Resorts after undergoing an extensive, $500 million dollar expansion and facelift. This was Golf Digest’s first “Top Resort” ranking since 2006. More than 900 members of the magazine’s Course Ranking Panel submitted ballots rating 400-plus resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Schmidt-Curley spearheaded a multi-million dollar restoration of the Donald Ross Course, formerly known as the Hill Course at French Lick Springs C.C. Site of Walter Hagen’s 1924 PGA Championship victory and known for its wildly undulating greens, the course is considered an iconic Ross design by many architecture aficionados.
After examining archived photos and blueprints of the course, Schmidt-Curley reclaimed 35 original bunkers and returned greens to their original square or rectangular shapes. It also tiled all bunkers, added new sand, installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system, made cart paths less conspicuous and returned the course to a Par 70. The project was completed in 2007.
“It’s gratifying to know our meticulous work at French Lick has been so well received,” says Indiana-native Lee Schmidt. “We took great pains to retain Ross’ signature hallmarks, while adapting the course for today’s modern game. We’re extremely pleased with how the job turned out.”
For more information about Schmidt-Curley’s extensive design portfolio, visit www.schmidt-curley.com or call 480.483.1994.
About Schmidt-Curley Design
Founded by partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona; 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, including the U.S., Thailand, China, Vietnam, Mexico, Egypt, Sweden and Korea. The tandem is responsible for crafting 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China – the largest golf complex in the world.
Schmidt-Curley teamed with long-time partner Nick Faldo, as well as Pete Dye, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els, David Duval, Annika Sorenstam, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter and Jumbo Ozaki to create a golf experience unlike any other globally. High profile, award-winning projects from Schmidt-Curley include Bali Hai and Siena Golf Clubs (Las Vegas), Amata Spring Golf Club (Chonburi, Thailand, three-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 Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Fred Couples and Faldo on numerous high-profile projects – and boasts four ASGCA members (Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley, Grant Haserot and Andy Raugust).
Flagstick Golf Course Construction, Schmidt-Curley’s sister company, offers a range of invaluable services. Its pre-construction preparation ensures clients will have a precise understanding of the overall construction process, which reduces the inherent risks involved in the project and maximizes efficiency and project execution, making it more rewarding for all involved. Additionally, Flagstick’s ability to manage the myriad administrative tasks associated with any golf course construction project, such as staffing, budgeting and scheduling, is unmatched.
Producing demanding yet beautiful and enjoyable courses, Schmidt-Curley strives to create golf experiences that stir the senses and elevate golfers’ appreciations 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 enjoyable for all levels of play and always designed for cost-efficient maintenance and operations.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381 (cell)
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
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Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@billycaspergolf.com
