Lee Schmidt elected president of American Society of Golf Course Architects

Chattanooga, Tennessee, resident calls on members to answer today’s design challenges

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – Lee Schmidt, ASGCA, was elected President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) at the organization’s recent 68th Annual Meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Carmel, Indiana, native and Purdue University graduate has 40 years of experience as an architect. He is a Principal in Schmidt-Curley Golf Design with Brian Curley, ASGCA. The firm has offices in the United States and China, and Schmidt is one of the best-known architects in both Asia and North America.

He worked for ASGCA Past President Pete Dye as design associate on numerous projects, including Kingsmill Country Club, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic. During 12 years with Landmark Land Company, Schmidt headed the Design & Construction Division on such prominent jobs as PGA West and La Quinta Hotel & Resort in La Quinta, California, and Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Seven years as senior design associate with Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA Fellow, enhanced Schmidt’s international experience.

To date, Schmidt Curley Golf Design has also designed courses in Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand. Schmidt has designed and renovated more than 100 courses in his career.

Speaking to his fellow-ASGCA members, Schmidt said, “I am proud of how we at Schmidt Curley Design, in a small way, have helped grow the game in other parts of the world. In just 20 years the growth of golf throughout Asia has been amazing.

“I am also proud that ASGCA members continue to work together to provide suggestions, solutions and innovative design concepts to make the game of golf better for future generations. Our new designs need to be creative, problem solving and adaptive in order to meet the environmental, economic and social needs of today’s projects.”

Schmidt will serve as ASGCA President through March 2015.