Interview With Brian Curley Golf Course Architect Schmidt-Curley Design

Below is an interview with Brian Curley, the Golf Course Architect at Schmidt-Curley Design. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Brief biography Much of his early years in design were spent working alongside golf course designer Pete Dye and future design partner, Lee Schmidt, while working with Landmark Design Company from 1984 to 1992.

In 1997, he and Schmidt formed Schmidt-Curley Design, working primarily in the southwest United States.

Schmidt-Curley soon focused much of its business interests on the burgeoning Asian market with a strong emphasis on China. They are considered leaders of the China golf course development movement and were subsequently cited by Golf Inc. in 2011 as one of golf's most influential architects. Schmidt-Curley was also named "Architect of the Year" by GOLF Magazine in 2011 and "Best Golf Course Architect - Asia-Pacific" by Asian Golf Monthly in both 2011 and 2012. Curley's design credits include 20 courses at China's Mission Hills Golf Club.[6]

Schmidt-Curley designed the 10 courses at Mission Hills Haikou, "World's Largest Golf Club", which opened in 2010 and is located one hour north of Hong Kong.[7][8] The resort's Lava Fields Course was named the "Best New Course" in the International category by GOLF Magazine in 2011. The Blackstone Course was voted the "No. 1 Course in China" and "Best Championship Course - Asia-Pacific" in 2012 by Asian Golf Monthly.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I grew up playing on Pebble Beach as a kid. I also caddied, cleaned the range, worked the carts there. I've been around golf since I was 12.

What is your current home course?
Whisper Rock

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
Developing courses in China on very difficult and severe lands. And to create golf on something that is that incredibly difficult of a property to begin with, there aren't too many people that can do that, and I know that those courses don't get the same attention that you get on some of the more natural course, but to me I think that when you can take something that has no business being a golf course and turn it into something that is world class golf is a huge accomplishment

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
My biggest pet peeve is how golf is viewed in the United States. If we played golf in Scotland, you walk into the clubhouse, someone in the bar will ask "how'd you play?"

You walk into the bar anywhere in the US, what's the question? "What did you shoot?"

The game was never meant to be stroke play, medal event. It was meant to be played hole by hole, match play, you against me. If I make an 8 and you make a 12, it doesn't matter, you go on to the next hole and you start again. Pace of play is much faster in match play.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Probably the putter. I have a good short game. I grew up in Pebble Beach, and I'd hit all the balls on the range, out of the woods. So I would just hit a thousand balls, little chip shots from here, little chip shot from there. So my short game has always been solid. I'm horrible off the tee.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Ireland.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Cypress Point

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? S
troke and distance when hitting out of bounds.

Dream foursome (living)?
Fred Couples (We have worked on 7 golf courses together), Ernie Ells and my cousin - he is a goof player. If we could make it a five-some I would add Bob Dylan. I read that he plays occasionally and I am a huge fan. I play music and named my first born after him!

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Alister MacKenzie, Harry Colt, and my Dad.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Hit a long drive, I never do it.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Hole in one.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight no doubt.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
I'm working on the baby fade.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Hot Dog

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
I have no problem in the sand.

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Oh Hybrid. They should be illegal they're so easy to hit.

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 3 as long as it's got a feeder slope.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Oh wow, I'd have to go Palmer on that.

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beetles

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Oh Fun, I hardly ever play for money.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
I'm a flopper.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
I didn't come to knit, I came to gamble.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36.