By Design - Fall 2016

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DIGEST
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Schmidt-Curley creating
new Vietnam course
Vietnam
Schmidt-Curley Design (ASGCA
Past President Lee Schmidt and
Brian Curley, ASGCA) has been
hired to create a new 18-hole golf
course near Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
Working alongside FLC Group for
the second time, the new course will
be built on a mountainous site with
views over Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO
World Heritage site.
The site features significant elevation
change, a number of rocky outcrops
and mature native vegetation.
“We are very fortunate and
honored to continue our maiden
efforts into the Vietnam golf market
with the FLC Group, a team with
enormous vision that has its sights
set on creating fantastic golf on
world-class properties that will
soon be at the forefront of the
traveling golfer’s list of must-play
destinations,” said Curley.
The course is expected to be
completed by the end of 2016, with a
scheduled opening in 2017.
Schmidt-Curley’s new course will overlook the Ha Long Bay UNESCO World Heritage site
Wilcynzski adding new holes
at Indian Trails
Chris Wilcynzski, ASGCA, is
leading a project at Indian Trails
Golf Course in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, which will see the
construction of five new holes. The
Saline-based architect has drawn
up plans that also include the
creation of a new practice facility.
East Orange project
reaches completion
Stephen Kay, ASGCA, has
completed an extensive project at
East Orange Golf Club in New
Jersey. “The goal of the renovation
was to restore the old-fashioned
charm of the golf course and
make it appealing to players of
all abilities,” said Kay. “We have
recreated a player-friendly and
aesthetically appealing golf course
that is affordable and allows for a
relatively brisk pace of play.”
Golf makes successful Olympic return
Olympic golf
Golf’s return to the Summer
Olympics was met with wide
acclaim, following gold medal
wins for Justin Rose and Inbee Park.
Sports Media Watch reported that
a 90-minute window of final round
coverage on NBC and the Golf
Channel recorded a 6.3 overnight
rating, the second-highest rating for
golf in 2016. Only April’s Masters
tournament scored higher.
Two of the higher-profile absentees
from the Olympic golf tournament,
Rory McIlroy and Jordan Speith, were
positive following the Games. “To see
the crowds and see the turnout, I was
glad to be somewhat proven wrong,”
said McIlroy. “The golf course was
beautiful, and then the Olympic glory
at the end of it,” Speith told USA Today.
The Olympic golf course, designed
by Gil Hanse, ASGCA, was well
received by players. “I think it
exceeded everyone’s expectations,”
said Canada’s Graham Delaet.
It also proved to be a wildlife haven,
with carujas (owls) burrowing
in the bunkers, capybaras (large
rodents), snakes, small crocodiles
and monkeys all spotted during
play. The course achieved Golf
Environment Organization (GEO)
Certified Development status for
its commitment to improving the
environment and golfing opportunities
for local communities in Rio.
In a report by Alan Shipnuck
on Marcio Galvao, the
executive director of the Brazilian
Golf Confederation, says the
course will be “a vehicle for social
inclusion.” The report explains that
teenagers from the favela will be
steered towards a caddie-training
program and highlights the career
opportunities created. “We have
never seen Brazil so excited about
golf,” continued Galvao. “A legacy has
been created for us, and we intend to
honor it.” The course will open to the
public in October 2016.