MJS

MICHAEL J. SMELEK  ASLA

Vice President

von Hagge, Smelek and Baril

Since learning to play golf at the age of eleven, Mike Smelek has been fascinated by both the complexity of the game and the diverse beauty of the environment in which it is played.  This appreciation for the outdoors and an emerging talent for art led him to pursue a career in Landscape Architecture.  While attending the University of Idaho, he set a goal of specializing in golf course design and shortly after graduating in 1980, was given an opportunity to fulfill this passion.  In March 1981, he moved to Texas and began his apprenticeship with Robert von Hagge.

Mike Smelek, now a Principal, has primary responsibilities in the United States and Mexico, as well as the Pacific Basin Region.  His most recently completed projects include Ube Country Club, in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.  Ube currently hosts the JPGA Ube Kosan Open. The tournament has been an overwhelming success and this will be its venue for years to come.   Also opened for play in 2001 was the third 9 holes of the 36-hole Torreon Golf Club in Show Low, Arizona.  Additionally, Los Lagos Golf Club was opened in January 2001 for the City of Edinburg, Texas.  This promises to be the premiere golf course in the south Texas region.   In 2002 Bosque Real Country Club opened.  This will be the most significant residential golf course community to be created in Mexico City.  It will also host the PGA Senior Event in 2003.

Mike’s current responsibilities include La Herradura Golf Club, an 18-hole private course in Monterrey, Mexico scheduled to open in the fall of 2004; Grey Hawk Golf Club, an 18-hole daily fee golf course in Cleveland, Ohio; El Campanario Country Club in Queretaro, Mexico and the renovation of our Tres Vidas Country Club in Acapulco, Mexico.  Additionally, Mt. Rainier Resort, an 18-hole destination resort on the south side of Mt. Rainier, near Elbe, Washington is scheduled to begin construction late in 2004, after eight years of design and permitting; And, two municipal courses for the City of Plantation, Florida and the City of Henderson, Nevada.

Other notable projects with which Mike has been involved include:

Walden on Lake Houston                                           Houston, Texas

Crystal Springs Golf Course                                       Hardyston, New Jersey

Sonterra Country Club                                                 San Antonio, Texas

The Ridge Club                                                           Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Bajamar Resort                                                           Ensenada, Mexico

Isla Navidad                                                               Manzanillo, Mexico

Arima Royal                                                                Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Katsuragaoka                                                              Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

Columbine Country Club                                            Columbine Valley, Colorado

Northgate Country Club                                             Houston, Texas

Maoi Resort                                                                Hokkaido, Japan

Horai Country Club                                                    Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Nishinasuno Country Club                                         Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Minobu Golf Club                                                      Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

Malibu Golf Club                                                        Kobe, Japan

La Vista Country Club                                                           Puebla, Mexico

Bay Colony Country Club                                          Naples, Florida

Ube Country Club                                                      Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan