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Schmidt-Curley Opens Mexico's New Amanali Country Club

(MEXICO CITY, MEXICO) -- Schmidt-Curley Design, a leading golf course architectural firm, recently celebrated the opening of the front nine holes and practice facility at Mexico's Amanali Country. Amanali is a luxury, master-planned community.

The back nine of the 18-hole, par-72, 7,100-yard golf course is currently under construction, as are a clubhouse, tennis and fitness center, and marina.

Located less than one hour north of Mexico City in Tepeji del Rio, the course is routed through a high-desert landscape of cactus and Mesquite. Dramatic bunkering, spectacular elevation changes, shots over rugged canyons and sweeping, ever-present views of Lake Tepeji are highlights from Brian Curley and Lead Designer Grant Haserot. Hybrid-Bermuda grass was used on the tees, fairways and roughs, while putting surfaces are bentgrass.

The drivable par-4, 352-yard ninth embodies the above attributes. With the lake as a backdrop, the gambling golfer can risk a downhill, 285-yard carry over a vegetation-filled gorge to reach the well-bunkered green for a putt at eagle. A more prudent approach, however, may be to drive down the fairway on the right and take bogey out of play.

"Amanali is a strong example of our firm's global reach and emphasis on creativity and shot values," says Curley. "We have several exciting ongoing projects in Mexico, a country poised for future growth and easily accessible from our Scottsdale headquarters."

Other current Schmidt-Curley Design projects in Mexico include Ventanas de San Miguel (San Miguel de Allende), Kanai Golf Resort (Playa del Carmen) and Maravia Golf Club (La Paz).

Founded by partners Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona; Haikou, Hainan Island, China and Kunming, China, Schmidt-Curley is a full-service, international golf course architecture and master-planning firm with more than 100 layouts in 24 countries, including the U.S., Thailand, China, Vietnam, Mexico, Egypt, Sweden and Korea. The tandem is responsible for crafting 10 of the 12 courses at storied Mission Hills Shenzhen -- the "World's Largest Golf Club," as accredited by Guinness World Records.

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Julington Creek Plantation Adopts First Tee Program

(ST. AUGUSTINE, FL) -- The Champions Club at Julington Creek Plantation was recently selected by the First Tee St. Johns County as a newest Programming Site in the Jacksonville area. Starting this fall, The First Tee of St. Johns County will offer its nine week Golf and Life Skills Experience Player Level Program on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons at the Champions Club.

"Champions Club at Julington Creek is a great place for a First Tee program," said Tom Lawrence, Executive Director of The First Tee of St. Johns County. "Between their beautiful facility and great history of growing junior golf in the county, it made the decision easy to want to deliver programs in the northwest section of St. Johns County at their club"

This program will be taught by Champions Club Golf Professionals David Palm and Tony Gonzales. Site Director David Palm is a former player at University of Central Florida who has had an impressive amateur golf career, winning an AJGA event as a junior. Assistant Coach Tony has been at Julington Creek for over 20 years and has extensive knowledge delivering junior golf clinics. In 2010, he will also serve as Creekside High School's Men's Varsity Golf Coach.

"We are honored to be selected by the First Tee to extend their programming to Champions Club and our surrounding communities," said Jim Lear, general manager of Champions Club and nearby Windsor Parke Golf Club. "The First Tee has done a tremendous job not only introducing juniors to this great game, but also educating them on honesty, commitment, dedication and other life skills that are so important in everyday life. We are excited to provide the venue to help extend their reach to the youth of the Julington Creek area and surrounding communities."

Through The First Tee's Life Skills Experience curriculum, participants learn valuable lessons about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude; how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences and how to define and set goals from the golf course to everyday life. Ages 7 and up can get involved by becoming a Junior Member of The First Tee of St. Johns County. An annual membership is $105 per child and includes free 9-hole Golf Green Fees for the Junior Member and immediate family at The First Tee of St. Johns County Golf Course in Elkton, Florida, participation in Spring, Summer and Fall Golf and Life Skills Experience class at no additional cost, free use of golf equipment, a First Tee logoed golf shirt, junior membership card, member rates on summer camps and tournaments, invitations to attend Junior Clinics, UNF Golf Camps and The Players.

Located in the relaxed and well-developed Southeast section of Jacksonville, the Champions Club at Julington Creek offers rolling fairways wrapped around sparkling lakes and dense woods. Honored as one of Florida's 100 best courses by Florida Magazine, the Champions Club has a decorated history having been the host venue of the Hooters Tour Jacksonville Open from 1996 to 1998 and the World Junior Championship Finals in 1997.

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