The new course is set in the foothills of Gunung Liman mountain and features prominent ridgelines with plenty of elevation changes and a network of streams in play. Holes feature wide corridors with bold shaping and large hazards meant to emphasize the property’s giant scale. 

“This property offers substantially varied terrain and backdrops,” Brian Curley, principal architect of Curley-Wagner, said in a media release announcing completion of the build. “The result is a design with wildly different and unique holes that create a great memorability. … The grand scale of the property demands a combination of fairway width and massive bunkering at times, punctuated with Bahia grass islands. The streams dominate many holes and the overall landscape, as they can be seen from many angles due to the elevation change.” 

Curley described the course’s greens as among the most dynamic he has built. “These may be some of the largest, most varied and wild green surfaces I have ever done on 18 holes, and they create a unique ground-game experience,” he said.

Johnson, 48, has worked with Silva, 72, continuously since 2009. Johnson earned experience with Silva even before that, having first been hired out of college at Iowa State by the firm of Cornish, Silva & Mungeam in 2001. Johnson left four years later to work for another firm for several years. Silva said in a media release he was thrilled to now partner with his longtime associate.

“More than 40 years ago, Geoffrey Cornish – who got his start as an agronomist working for Stanley Thompson in the 1930s – extended to me the same sort of partnership opportunity,” Silva said. “I’ve worked alongside Brian Johnson for 25 years now. He’s as good a strategist as there is working today, but I might not have recommended this move 10 or 15 years ago. There wasn’t enough work out there. Today there is. This move means Brian, who brings so much to the table, can really spread his wings – and we can accept commissions that previously did not make sense, not for a lone ranger with grandkids. I’m excited to pass the torch while there’s still time to work together in earnest.”