RICHARD A. BARIL
Vice President VHSB-GOLF LLC von Hagge, Smelek and Baril
Rick Baril graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1981. Rick worked at a Landscape design/build firm during college and following graduation.
In 1982 he joined von Hagge & Devlin. Becoming a Registered Landscape Architect in 1983, Rick simultaneously assumed increased responsibilities with various U.S. projects.
When von Hagge, Smelek and Baril ventured into the European market in 1986, Rick was designated project architect and he has been responsible for the design of all vHS&B courses in Europe.
In 1994, Robert von Hagge invited Rick to become a partner and owner in von Hagge, Smelek and Baril. In Europe, Rick’s efforts helped von Hagge, Smelek and Baril garner a nomination for the Gold Medal Award for European Excellence. The Puegeot golf guide of “France’s Finest Golf Courses” listed von Hagge designed courses in the #1, #2, #3 and #4 positions (out of more than 350 golf courses).
Some or Rick’s noteworthy accomplishments include:
- Golf International Les Bordes – #1 in Europe (Golf World)
- Golf de Seignosse – Honored as “Best Golf Course of the Year – France (1990)”
- Golf Club National – 2018 RYDER CUP VENUE and “Best Golf Course of the Year – France (1991).
- Circolo Golf Bogogno – Honored as “Best Golf Course of the Year – Italy (1998)”
- Stensballegaard Golf Club – “Development of the Year” GolfInc magazine (2010)
- Atchafalaya Golf Course – Golfweek Top 25 new golf courses in the US (2007)
Rick has been involved in the design of courses in the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean and Europe. Some of the more notable courses (in addition to those previously mentioned) are:
Gleneagles Dallas, Texas (36 holes)
Chase Oaks Dallas, Texas (27 holes)
Preston Trails Dallas, Texas (renovation)
Northgate Country Club Houston, Texas
Falcon Point Katy, Texas (1985)
Golf de Courson Monteloup Paris, France (36 holes)
Golf Le Kempferhof Strasbourg, France
Royal Mougins Golf Club Mougins, France
Emporda Golf Club Costa Brava, Spain (36 holes)
Royal Benslimane BenSlimane, Morocco
Red Tail Cleveland, Ohio
Raveneaux Country Club Houston, Texas
Bouznika Bay Golf Course Casablanca, Morocco (9 holes)
Real Sociedad Hipica Espagnol Club de Campo Madrid, Spain (36 holes)
Is Arenas Sardinia, Italy
White Witch – Ritz Carlton Montego Bay, Jamaica
Houston National Houston, Texas (27 holes)
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course Montego Bay, Jamaica (renovation)
“El Tigre” Paradise Village Resort Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
Los Azulejos Torreon, Mexico
Pine Lake CC Detroit, Michigan (renovation)
Atchafalaya Golf Club Patterson, Louisiana
St. Anna Golf Club Genoa, Arenzano, Italy
Anfi Tauro Gran Canaria Island, Spain
Falcon Point Golf Club Katy, Texas (renovation 2005)
El Encin Golf Hotel Madrid, Spain
Lyngbygaard Golf Club Aarhus, Denmark
Stensballegaard Golf Club Horsens, Denmark
Membership Affiliations (present and past):
American Society of Golf Course Architects Associate Member – ASGCA #224
American Society of Landscape Architects – ASLA
Registered Landscape Architect – Texas Board of Architectural Examiners – TBAE #1205
President, Board of Directors – International Foundation for Junior Golf (IFJG)
Member – Urban Land Institute
Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of America (GCSAA)