Schmidt-Curley Design – the full-service golf-course architecture, master-planning and construction-management firm – announces two of its golf course designs, Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, Calif., and Marriott’s Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz., have been awarded Audubon Certification.
Marriott’s Shadow Ridge, a collaborative effort with Nick Faldo, was the six-time major winner’s first golf course design in the United States. Set against the Santa Rosa Mountains and opened in 2001, the par-71, 7,006-yard layout offers a series of picturesque holes featuring bold “Melbourne Style” bunkering and large, sand waste areas that transition seamlessly into native grasses. The greens are surrounded by collection areas and feature subtle undulations that encourage a variety of approach shots.
Marriott’s Desert Ridge is another Schmidt-Curley / Faldo project and sits on 174 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert. Opened in 2002, the course is set against the backdrop of the surrounding McDowell Mountains of North Phoenix. A staunch test of golf, the par-71, 6,846-yard layout features over 100 high-flashed bunkers and engenders comparisons to the courses of Australia’s famed “Sandbelt” region. Severe greens will also test the short game of all players.
“We’re very cognizant of the importance of taking steps during the design stage to create environmentally-friendly golf courses,” says Brian Curley. “We’re careful to ensure our projects have the most-limited environmental impact possible and will blend seamlessly with their surrounds. These measures are important from both a fiscal and ecological standpoint for our clients.”
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses helps protect the environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. It emphasizes maximizing efficiency and minimizing the potentially harmful effects golf operations can have. To merit Audubon Certification, a golf facility must exhibit excellence in areas such as Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.
Schmidt-Curley’s sister company, Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management, also played a major role implementing the ecologically-sensitive development of the Shadow Ridge and Desert Ridge courses.
The challenges an owner faces to construct a golf course on time, on budget, and to world-class standards are daunting, which makes Flagstick’s range of services invaluable. Flagstick’s pre-construction preparation ensures clients will have a precise understanding of the overall construction process, which reduces the inherent risks involved in the project and maximizes efficiency and project execution, making it more rewarding for all involved. Additionally, Flagstick’s ability to manage the myriad administrative tasks associated with any golf course construction project, such as staffing, budgeting and scheduling, is unmatched.
For more information about completed and current projects, visit www.schmidt-curley.com or call 480-483-1994.