Firm’s extensive renovation replaced turf, rebuilt bunkers, opened playing corridors
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) – Schmidt-Curley Design – one of golf’s most active and innovative design firms – announces its extensive renovation of Siam Country Club’s Old Course will be showcased during the Honda LPGA Thailand, Feb. 21-24.
Originally opened in 1971, the Old Course was rebuilt from tee to green by the Schmidt-Curley team in 2006-07. While the routing remained intact, the project required construction of new greens and bunkers, installation of new turf, expansion of water hazards and removal of approximately one quarter of all trees.
“We are experts not only at building new courses from scratch, but also fixing poorly designed or outdated layouts,” says 40-year industry veteran and firm co-founder Lee Schmidt. “At Siam Country Club, our work on the Old Course has been so well received that the LPGA will bring its only Thailand event there for the fourth time since 2007.”
Eighteen new greens were built to eliminate issues with standing water and reclaim pin locations. All bunkers were tiled to assist with drainage and high flashed to help give the course a distinctive, uniform look. The extensive tree removal not only improved strategic options on many holes, but also enhanced turf health by increasing air flow and sunlight exposure.
The Old Course is a par 72 and will play 6,469 yards for the Honda LPGA Thailand. In 2012, Yani Tseng successfully defended her title capturing a one-shot victory over 2010 champion Ai Miyazato.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, Schmidt-Curley Design has two fully-staffed Asia offices (in Haikou and Kunming, China) to promote quicker mobilization, lower travel costs and other valuable advantages over competitors.
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 in 1997 by partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, Schmidt-Curley Design (www.schmidt-curley.com) is a full-service, international golf course architecture and master-planning firm. The tandem – leading fully-staffed offices in the USA (Scottsdale, Arizona) and China (Haikou, Hainan Island and Kunming) – has been named GOLF Magazine’s “Architect of the Year” and Asian Golf Monthly’s “Best Golf Course Architects.”
Schmidt-Curley has designed more than 150 layouts in 25 countries. High-profile credits include 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Shenzhen – the “World’s Largest Golf Club” – and all 10 at Mission Hills’ new Hainan Island resort. Mission Hills Hainan’s Lava Fields Course is the only Chinese design ranked among Golf World’s “Top 100,” and was named GOLF Magazine’s “Best New International Course” of 2011.
Other award-winning results include Mission Hills Hainan’s Blackstone Course; Thailand’s Siam C.C. and Amata Spring G.C.; Southern Dunes G.C. (Arizona, USA); The Wilderness Club (Montana, USA) and French Lick Resort’s Donald Ross Course (Indiana, USA). The recently unveiled 54-hole Stone Forest International C.C. near Kunming is also garnering global acclaim.
Schmidt-Curley has worked extensively with golf’s biggest names – including Pete Dye, Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples on numerous noteworthy projects – and boasts five ASGCA members (Schmidt, 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
