For the third straight year and the fourth time in eight years, the readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine have named Nicklaus Design as “Golf Course Architect of the Year in Asia Pacific.” The honor was announced recently at the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, before more than 475 delegates representing 23 countries.
As Asia has become arguably the most important market in the game’s future, Nicklaus Design continues to be lauded for its impact on golf’s past, present and future there. The 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit not only recognized the top course architect, but honored the top courses in different countries and regions throughout Asia Pacific. Nicklaus Design took top honors in two countries—China and Korea—as well as the Best Golf Resort in Asia Pacific, with Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei, which is anchored by a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The Mountain Course at Spring City Resort in Kunming, a 1997 Jack Nicklaus design, repeated as Best Golf Course in China. For the third year in a row and just three years after opening, The Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf Club was named Best Golf Course in Korea. Located in Incheon, this Nicklaus Design layout plays host this week to the LPGA’s Hana Bank Championship.
Three other Jack Nicklaus-designed courses were named in the top three of their respective countries: Miramar Linkou Golf & Country Club (No. 2 in Chinese Taipei); Bumi Serpong Damai Course at Damai Indah Golf & Country Club (No. 3 in Indonesia); and The Kinloch Club (No. 3 in New Zealand), which is only 3 years old and was named in 2007 to Travel & Leisure Golf’s Best New Courses in the World.
“We are honored and want to thank everyone associated with Asian Golf Monthly, especially its readers, for again recognizing Nicklaus Design as Asia’s Golf Course Architect of the Year,” said Executive Vice President Paul Stringer, who accepted the award on behalf of Nicklaus Design. “Having the support and confidence of the golfers in Asia is a tribute to Jack Nicklaus and to our designers in Asia. To be recognized three years in a row with this honor is a reflection of the hard work of all the personnel we have throughout the Asia Pacific region. Our Nicklaus Design team has done a terrific job in providing great customer service and quality design for our Asian clients. This recognition will inspire our team to continue to create great golf experiences and to further the mission of growing the game throughout Asia Pacific.”
Nicklaus Design Asia has offices or representation in Hong Kong; Beijing; Seoul, Korea; Manila, Philippines; and the burgeoning golf market of India.
Nicklaus Design has 19 courses under construction in Asia, including 14 in China, three in Korea, one in India and one in Cambodia. The firm also has another 25 signed and active projects spread throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, representing China, Korea, Japan, India, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Australia.
Jack continues to take the lead in the growth and development of golf in Asia, having made multiple visits this year to projects from China to South Korea. These include the recently opened Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in New Songdo City, South Korea, which last month hosted Asia’s first full-field PGA Tour event, and more than a half-dozen projects spread throughout five cities in China, including Beijing, Kunming, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Changbaishan.
