Firm Accolades Also Include Runner-up Finish in ‘Best Golf Course Architect’ Category
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) – Schmidt-Curley Design – one of the world’s most active and innovative golf-course design firms – announces its Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Resort Haikou was named Asia’s “Best New Golf Course” at the 2010 Asian Golf Monthly awards.
The par-73, 7,808-yard layout is the centerpiece of Mission Hills’ new luxury retreat on tropical Hainan Island, Mission Hills Resort Haikou. Set on 350 acres, Blackstone is a core golf course featuring an immaculate blanket of fairway-length paspalum turf punctuated by wild, irregularly-shaped bunkers.
Holes meander through a dramatically-contoured, yet very walkable, site and are framed by lava rock, lush ground cover and ancient trees. Designed to host the world’s biggest tournaments, it offers exceptional spectator vantage points and a back nine with myriad risk / reward holes.
This week the Blackstone Course hosts its first major international event, the Mission Hills Star Trophy. It is also slated to become the official home of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup beginning in 2011.
“We’re extremely pleased with our work on the Blackstone Course and honored it’s been recognized by Asian Golf Monthly,” says Brian Curley. “It seamlessly blends with the volcanic surrounds and is a rarity in that it can be enjoyed by high-handicappers while also challenging the best touring professionals.”
For the second consecutive year, and third time out of four, Schmidt-Curley Design was named first runner-up in the “Best Golf Course Architect” category. The firm has been a fixture in Asia for more than 15 years. With fully-staffed offices in both Haikou and Kunming, it is the American design practice best positioned to efficiently and optimally serve the booming market.
“Dependability, creativity and playability are hallmarks of our firm,” says Curley. “These attributes are reflected by our consistently high finishes.”
Further evidencing its commitment to quality, Schmidt-Curley’s Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen was also recognized. The host of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup from 2007-2009, it was named second runner-up in the “Best Courses in China” group.
For more information about completed and current projects, 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. The tandem is responsible for crafting 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Shenzhen – the “World’s Largest Golf Club” – and is currently designing and building all golf courses at new Mission Hills Resort Haikou on Hainan Island.
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 four ASGCA members (Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley, Grant Haserot and Andy Raugust).
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@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
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Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
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