Brian Curley has been named to the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Board of Governors. Curley, who started Schmidt-Curley Design with Lee Schmidt in 1997 and has more than 25 years of design experience, will serve a three-year term. It will begin following the March 2010 ASGCA Annual Meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
"It's an honor to be so well-regarded by peers," says Curley. "The ASGCA is America's oldest and most prestigious professional organization for golf course architects. I look forward to continuing its important role effecting positive change in our industry."
With offices in Scottsdale, Ariz. Haikou, China and Kunming, China, Schmidt-Curley has more than 100 design credits in 24 countries. The firm master planned China's massive Mission Hills Golf Club and is architect of record for 10 of its 12 courses including the acclaimed Olazabal Course, host of the last three Omega Mission Hills World Cups. Other heralded Schmidt-Curley projects include Amata Spring C.C. (Chonburi, Thailand), The Wilderness Club (Eureka, Montana), Oak Quarry G.C. (Riverside, California) and Siam C.C. (Pattaya, Thailand).
Raised in Pebble Beach, Calif., Curley developed his appreciation of golf course architecture from the area's iconic layouts as a player and caddy. Upon graduating from the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo School of Architecture in 1982, he joined Landmark Golf Co. as a land planner, eventually focusing entirely on course design and construction. He then left Landmark to work with Ron Fream on several international projects. Curley returned to Landmark in 1988 where he worked with future partner Lee Schmidt until 1991. The duo joined forces to found Schmidt-Curley in 1997.