Golf course architects Brian Curley and Jim Wagner have formed a new golf design firm, Curley-Wagner Golf Design.

Curley was previously a partner in Schmidt-Curley Design and Wagner was a senior design associate at Nicklaus Design. Their new firm will have its base in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and offices in Vietnam and the Philippines.

“With the retirement of Lee Schmidt a few years ago, I have been able to continue to explore new markets and have increased our workload substantially, necessitating the need for added help,” said Curley. “Rather than just add staff, I am looking at a long-term solution to not only best serve existing projects but continue well into the future with Jim’s vast experience. I spent a great amount of time looking for the perfect partner and have undoubtedly found just that with Jim.”

Wagner joins Curley after more than 20 years at Nicklaus Design, where he has worked on many projects in Asia. “I am very thankful for my years spent with Nicklaus Design and all the great courses I was able to work on with a great team,” said Wagner. “I am also very enthusiastic about the new venture and what that means for me in the years to come, working alongside a great new team with an incredible reputation for world-class courses.”

Curley has worked in Asia for more than 30 years, and continues to design new golf courses, including Dhoho Golf Club in Indonesia, which Wagner is now working on, too.

“Having Jim based in the Philippines will enable us to both accommodate our existing and future Asian clients but also free my time up to attend to the substantial and prominent workload I have recently acquired in the Middle East,” said Curley. “While I will continue to be based in Arizona, I can now focus more on domestic work as well.

“No doubt I needed help with the workload. And adding Jim is a great coup for me as he is a very accomplished designer with a passion for excellence.”

The pair have ongoing projects in eight countries, including Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.