The decision to develop a new golf course is serious business. Time, land, resources , and the steep commitment to fund and oversee the development of a course, are just a few things that come under scrutiny prior to moving forward. With the economy under close watch and the banking and real estate industry making headlines on a daily basis, it is a testimony to our talented team of professional architects and staff that we continue to be awarded new projects and renovations all over the globe. In a time of economic slow-down, we show no signs of it. In fact, we find the demand for our professional services on the rise.

We firmly believe it takes more than just creativity and a decent parcel of land to produce memorable golf courses. The artistry behind each and every course we design doesn't just happen. Our meticulous signature 21-point checklist is an integral part of our strategy which allows us to deliver value-added courses that continue to garner awards and accolades.

In this issue of "Scorecard" you'll get a glimpse of what is going on at the design table of von Hagge, Smelek and Baril. Like the 9-hole Executive course we agreed to design for dear friend and client Sr. Alberto Santos, owner of Tres Vidas and La Misiones. And the 36-hole contract to develop two distinctive courses inMadrid, Spain. Not to mention the two 18-hole private courses in Mexico.

We also reveal a partial list of recent awards. At the top of the list is the phenomenal news that Les Bordes in St. Laurent-Nouan, France was rated #1 in all of Europe. Let us know if a course we designed for you has received any recent awards or special press coverage. We would like to add this news to our website or publish it in a future issue of "Scorecard."

And, as always we hope you will consider teaming up with us on your next project. We remain committed to delivering award winning designs that successfully create a balance of beauty and challenge.

Creating Memorable Golf,
Robert von Hagge Founder, CEO

Earlier this year, we launched our upgraded website. Since that time, we have seen a significant increase in traffic. When you get a chance, check out the new PHOTO GALLERY and expanded PROJECTS sections which feature photos of award winning golf courses all over the world. We still have hundreds of photos to upload in order for you to get a real feel for the beauty of the individual course layouts. We encourage you to send photos of your favorite holes for potential upload.