Indio, California, United States: Nearly 30 years after he teamed up with Fred Couples on its design, Brian Curley has completed upgrades to The Plantation Golf Club, where major bunker renovations wrapped up last week ahead of schedule.

Designed by Curley, with input from former Masters champion Couples, the bunker plan revolved around subtle adjustments to modernise aesthetics, enhance strategic play, and address the demands of the modern game.

Curley, Principal at Curley-Wagner Golf Design, said: “Over the years, the course has gone through minor and major adjustments, including land acquisition, to ensure a core golf experience with no surrounding housing, a rarity in the Coachella Valley.

“With this new work, Fred and I believe the course is at its peak quality and is well positioned as one of the finest pure golf experiences in the country.”

Throughout the project, which began in June, Curley worked closely with LaBar Golf Renovations to shape bunkers that reflect today’s architectural tastes, while retaining the integrity of the club’s original design as well as a challenge suitable to the members.

Drainage in all the bunkering has been upgraded, along with the addition of Billy Bunker liners. Some bunkers have also been repositioned to better defend against today’s equipment.

The most significant course change has come on the par-four 14th hole, which has been modified to revive its original strategic challenge and aesthetics. Those changes include removing palm trees to provide a better view of the fairway, green and distant mountains, along with the addition of two carry bunkers on the left side of the fairway. Curley and Couples both feel that those modifications enhance the hole’s playability and visual appeal.

The Plantation Club work comes amid a busy time for Curley, whose firm has projects in various stages of completion in Southern California, Nevada, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Initially founded in 1997 as Schmidt-Curley Golf Design, Curley-Wagner Golf Design is a full-service, US-based golf course and master-planning design firm with a global portfolio of critically acclaimed and award-winning courses spanning 25 countries.

Its work includes 20 courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in China as well as projects throughout the US, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Mexico, Sweden, and beyond.

*Curley-Wagner Golf Design is an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.