Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Stone Valley opens third nine from Brian Curley

Stone Valley Resort near Hanoi, Vietnam, has opened its third nine, designed by Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design.

The resort, developed by Truong An Golf Company, opened its first 18 holes, also designed by Curley, in 2018. The new nine plays within a landscape that includes towering Karst rock formations that rise vertically above the valley floor.

“Whereas the first 18 holes play largely within a wide, sweeping valley, the new nine mostly plays as single corridor holes framed on most sides by densely vegetated jungle with rock formations serving as massive backdrops,” said Curley.

“In addition to the landscape that evokes a King Kong-themed movie scene, the holes also feature significant elevation change, especially the tee shot on the ninth hole, which descends some 40 metres to the green, and offers views to the valley and mountains well beyond.”

Curley highlights the third to fifth stretch as some of his favourite holes. The third is a mid-length par four with a wide landing area and a fairway that narrows as players get closer to the green. Behind the green is a towering jungle and rock formations. The par-five fourth wraps around a creek to a reachable green fronted by the creek and rock outcrops. And the long par-four fifth offers what Curley calls “the most stunning backdrop of all”. It has a slightly elevated green with a creek to the front and is backdropped by the tallest rock-faced mountain found on the site.

“Since its opening, golfers have been very favourable of the new nine and its intimate yet overpowering setting that certainly offers a golf experience unparalleled in the Hanoi marketplace,” said Curley. “There are a number of very strong golf experiences in the greater Hanoi area but for those who desire a one-of-a-kind experience, I strongly suggest the Stone Valley complex.”

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Slideshow HTML
  • Stone Valley
    Schmidt-Curley Design

    Stone Valley Resort near Hanoi, Vietnam, has opened its third nine, designed by Brian Curley

  • Stone Valley
    Schmidt-Curley Design

    The par-four third has a wide landing area and a fairway that narrows towards the green, which is backdropped by a towering jungle

  • Stone Valley
    Schmidt-Curley Design

    The long par-four fifth offers what Curley calls “the most stunning backdrop of all”

  • Stone Valley
    Schmidt-Curley Design

    Dense jungle frames every hole

  • Stone Valley
    Schmidt-Curley Design

    Curley says the new nine has proven very popular since opening

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Schmidt-Curley Design
Richard Humphreys

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