Schmidt-Curley Design earned the title of Asia-Pacific’s Best Golf Course Architect for the fifth year in a row.
Since 2010, Schmidt-Curley Design has received the top prize in the Asia Pacific Awards’ Best Architect category and the ninth straight year that the company has claimed a top-three finish.
Co-founded by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley in 1997, the Schmidt-Curley team is has designed more than 150 layouts in 25 countries with 80 courses across the Asia-Pacific region.
“We greatly appreciate the honor and recognition,” said Curley, who recently finished in the top 20 of Golf Inc.’s 2015 ranking of the Most Powerful People in Golf in Asia.
For nearly 20 years, Schmidt-Curley Design has been actively involved with the Asian golf industry. The firm’s extensive work at China’s Mission Hills also received praise during the Awards ceremony in Singapore.
Ten-course Mission Hills Haikou — entirely master-planned and designed by Schmidt-Curley — maintained its position as the Best Golf Resort in Asia-Pacific.
Its Blackstone Course, host of the 2011 World Cup of Golf and the World Celebrity Pro-Am, retained its Best Course in China title and was also named runner-up in the Best Championship Course in Asia-Pacific segment.
“The Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Haikou has established itself as one of the ‘must play’ venues in Asia,” said Curley. “Its striking contrast of golf within a black lava field terrain is equally scenic and demanding and with risk/reward opportunity at the final holes, this course should prove to be one of the premier tournament courses in the world.”
Furthermore, Mission Hills’ Rose-Poulter Course was named Best New Course in Asia Pacific. European Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Ian Poulter worked on the design in conjunction with Curley. No fewer than five high-profile Schmidt-Curley Design courses have hosted a major professional event in 2015.
“These awards are testament to the quality of our outstanding and highly talented team and the professional service we provide,” Curley said.
