Firm’s Lava Fields Course at Mission Hills Hainan wins “Best New International” acclaim
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) — Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design — one of the world’s most active and innovative golf-course design firms — have been named GOLF Magazine’s ‘Architects of the Year.’
Their Lava Fields Course at Mission Hills Hainan also topped the publication’s “Best New International” category.
GOLF Magazine reports: “With this year’s Best New International Course and the compelling Stoneforest International Leader’s Peak layout — both successfully created over difficult terrain — it’s time that Schmidt-Curley get to bask in the spotlight. Though based in Scottsdale, Ariz., their firm has blazed a trail in China, with offices in Haikou on Hainan Island and in Kunming on the mainland, and a roster of more than 30 Chinese designs.”
“This award is the culmination of many years of hard work and one that’s shared with all our exceptionally dedicated staff members,” says Lee Schmidt. “We’re incredibly fortunate and honored to work with the best team in golf.”
“Since Lee and I founded the firm in 1997, we’ve been devoted to designing fun-to-play golf courses built on-time and under-budget,” says Brian Curley. “We’re proud of our pioneering ways and very bullish on golf’s future in China and throughout the Pacific Rim.”
Over the last 15 years, the duo has worked on more than 100 courses in 24 countries. Other projects include the other nine courses at Mission Hills Hainan; Thailand’s Siam Country Club and Amata Spring Golf Club; 10 of the 12 courses at Mission Hills Shenzhen; Southern Dunes Golf Club (Arizona, USA); the renovation of French Lick Resort’s Donald Ross Course (Indiana, USA) and many more.
Other recent media recognition for Schmidt-Curley includes being named Asian Golf Monthly’s “Best Golf Course Architects” and one of Golf Inc.’s “most influential” design companies. The Lava Fields Course at Mission Hills Hainan was ranked among the world’s “Top 100” by Golf World magazine earlier this fall.
For more information: www.schmidt-curley.com, http://twitter.com/SchmidtCurley, http://www.facebook.com/SchmidtCurley, 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’ 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 satisfying for all levels of play and always designed for cost-efficient maintenance and operations.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.twitter.com/buffalocomm
