BRIEFS Not your normal backyard

Poellot maintains presence — for now

CURLEY, SCHMIDT PARTNERS By MARK LESLIE SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — course UALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — architects Lee Schmidt and Brian Cringing from the threat of civil Curley have agreed to form a new golf Kwar in Indonesia and the course design company. The new alli- continuing economic woes stifling ance, Schmidt-Curley Design, will be development throughout Asia-Pacific, based here. The two designers are many architects and others reunited after having worked together are pulling out of the region. Others in One of three greens Carter Morrish designed for Bill O'Connor on an estate overlooking Malibu. in the 1980s at Landmark Land Co., the industry are maintaining a toehold, where Schmidt was the director of hoping to ride out the crises. One of 'Seven or eight years ago, when the madness was at its golf course design and construction. those is J. Michael Poellot, who has height\ many so-called courses were laid out Since 1991, Schmidt has been a senior been designing golf courses in Asia design associate for , since the early 1970s. over private grounds...' "We have weekly partners' meetings — Van Tassel Sutphen in The Outing Magazine, 1906 responsible for numerous projects and we have to constantly discuss worldwide. Curley recently made news whether it makes sense to keep this By MARK LESLIE "There is a big push everywhere to with his buy-out of the Design Divi- office going," said Poellot, who has The current rage of building put- put in golf greens," said Rees Jones, sion of Landmark Golf Co., which he maintained headquarters here since the ting greens, and entire golf holes, on who designed a course for an Atlantic headed since 1992. early 1990s. "We've committed to hang a person's property is not new, but Golf Club member across the road RESORT SIGNS MCCUMBER in there another 3-1/2 months and give rather a second coming of sorts. Two from the club itself in Bridgehampton, SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The latest the economy a chance to pick up." decades after Sutphen wrote those Long Island. 'The impetus is not pres- venture for McCumber Golf and Mark At this point, Poellot said, "virtually words in The Outing Magazine, tige. It's the love of the game. They McCumber & Associates will be the all of our projects in Asia are shut down laid out Overhills Golf love golf, and if they have enough prop- design of a golf learning center for Re- except on mainland China, which Course on the Rockefeller estate at erty and money to do this... People naissance Park in seems to be somewhat immune to what Pinehurst, N.C. But in the ensuing 70 landscape their yards and build patios the city's down- is happening around it." years not much was heard of per- or gardens. This is just another form town. Renaissance Although he had not predicted the sonal practice greens — until now. of landscaping, but it's usable." Park will also in- economic downturn, he said: "We had a Today's second coming of "estate Others who have designed greens clude a Double- sense that it was coming because the golf courses" is one of often more and short "backyard courses" agree. tree Hotel, confer- market was over-heated. There was too modest pretensions and dimensions "I think these are people working on ence and exhibit much development too quickly, and you than their predecessors. While the their game, to develop their skills," see that happen everywhere. We saw it very wealthy operate in their own said architect Ron Kirby who, when he hall and amphithe- stratosphere (see page 1 story), more worked with Denis Griffiths, enjoyed Mark McCumber . ater. The learning in Japan." center will include Poellot said that in recent history the people have the land for and can af- a 1,000-square-foot green and a hand- a 300-yard practice range, short-game Asian-Pacific economy has been ford a single putting green, or a three- ful of tees 30 yards away outside their area with bunker, putting course and cyclical, going up or down every seven or six-hole practice facility. Continued on page 42 nine-hole short course. Provisions will Continued on page 50 be made to incorporate nature trails around the perimeter of the course. GRIFFIN JOINS FOUGHT DESIGN TEAM Lohmann, Mr. Renovation, AURORA, Ore.—Jimmie Griffin has takes ASGCA reins joined John Fought Design, a division MARENGO, III. — Bob Lohmann as- of OB Sports, as design/construction sumed the reins of the American Society of manager. Working with Bob Cupp De- Golf Course Architects from outgoing Presi- sign in Atlanta since 1989, Griffin was dent Alice Dye at the ASGCA's annual primarily responsible for the contract meeting in late April in Los Angeles. Well management of projects in Canada and known for his renovation work in the Mid- the United States. He has also worked west, Lohmann also has designed a num- with Jack Nicklaus Golf Services. ber of new courses. Forest Preserve Na- tional in Oak Forest, for which he worked KAY INKS 5 COURSES as principle designer, was selected as one of BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Stephen Kay the top new public courses in 1984. He has been contracted to begin design on graduated in 1974 with a degree in land- five courses. He will design three Jersey scape architecture from the University of projects: Scotland Run National Golf Wisconsin. We caught up with Lohmann at Club in Gloucester County, which is his offices here just before he succeeded scheduled to open in the summer of Alice Dye for the ASGCA. 1999; the Heritage Golf Club in Golf Course News: What will you be Randolph, which will get underway this focusing on as president of the ASGCA? year; and The Grande at Holmdel — a Bob Lohmann: We will keep going housing development with an executive with what we've been doing the last couple course, scheduled to begin construc- ofyears when Denis [Griffiths, 1996 presi- tion in 1999. Kay will also design Logan's The Merit Club, above, designed by Bob Lohmann, right, was named 5th Best dent] talked about affordable and acces- Reserve in York, Pa., and an 18-hole New Private Club in 1995 by , and will host the U.S. Women's Open sible golf and Alice [Dye, 1997 president] course for the I.G.A. Membership Co. in in 2000. picked up on that and added a stress on Dutchess County, N.Y. Continued on page 44 GOLF COURSE NEWS