Mowing of the east course of the new club “City Golf” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which was announced in the October 2022 issue, is almost completed. GCA.
City Golf has two 18-hole layouts designed by Brian Curley of Schmidt Curley Design. East is scheduled to open in January 2024, with West expected to follow in 2025.
“We aim to make the two courses as different as possible,” Curley said. “The east offers a more traditional design with formal bunkering, while the west is more rugged and natural.”
The project requires extensive earthworks, and Curley prefers large terrain over small-scale embankments to create a more natural golf experience.
“The site was in a flood plain, so a fairly extensive soil transfer involved raising two courses and excavating five lakes to create fills,” Curley said. “There's a lot of water, but my intention was to provide enough space for golf and not have water running all the time.”
The architect offers versatility in terms of setup and strategy with multiple teeing options and substantial contours, including the driveable par-4 15th (pictured) with a variety of angles of attack.
The two courses are connected by number 18. “The last hole on the east side is a par 5 with water flowing from the tee to the green,” Curley said. “This hole is played from the highest point on the property, on a huge piece of terrain that is home to the 18th tee of both courses. From here you can see a large lake and an island that is a par-3 bonus hole that can be accessed by boat. It offers expansive views of the green 19th hole.
This article first appeared in the July 2023 issue of the magazine. golf course architecture. For a print subscription or a free digital edition, please visit our subscription page.
