About Us
ROBERT VON HAGGE, SENIOR PARTNER/ARCHITECT
Robert von Hagge was literally born and raised on a golf course. For six years in the 1920's, his father, Ben F. von Hagge, was associated with Donald Ross, the famous Scottish golf course architect. Ben then became a country club manager and developer of club facilities in and around the Chicago area. He won the Chicago District Golf Association Top Turf award seven times in a period of fourteen years in which he competed, while simultaneously managing the various clubs with which he was then affiliated.
Before his 17th birthday, Robert von Hagge had worked as a caddy, a shop boy (cleaning and repairing golf clubs), a caddy master, a golf course maintenance crewman, an assistant greens superintendent, assistant golf professional, and as a commercial illustrator for sporting magazines. After graduating from high school, he entered Purdue University Agriculture School, and majored in landscape architecture. Additionally, he served in the United States Navy's advanced V-12 O.C.S. program. While attending Purdue studying spatial planning and design, he subsidized his student income by freelancing as a commercial artist for outdoor magazines.
In 1955, Dick Wilson, one of America's foremost golf course architects, employed him as an apprentice golf course designer. By 1959, Robert was recognized within the profession as a principal designer with the Wilson firm. By the year's end in 1962, he had been involved in all or part of the design of 40 golf courses in the U.S. and the Caribbean and four foreign countries. Later that same year, he resigned his affiliation with the Dick Wilson Company in order to start his own golf course architectural and design firm.
Today, as Founder and Senior Partner/Architect of von Hagge Smelek & Baril, Robert can boast being intimately involved in the design of more than 240 golf courses world-wide. He continues to hone his skills and maintain hands-on involvement in the creation of distinctive designs all over the world. As part of the award-winning global design team at von Hagge Smelek & Baril, the name Robert von Hagge is synonymous with “premier global golf course architect.”
MICHAEL J. SMELEK, ASLA , ASGCA, SENIOR PARTNER/ARCHITECT
Since learning to play golf at age eleven, Mike Smelek has been fascinated by both the complexity of the game and the diverse beauty of the environment in which it is played. This appreciation for the outdoors and an emerging talent for art led him to pursue a career in Landscape Architecture. While attending the University of Idaho, he set a goal of specializing in golf course design and shortly after graduating in 1980, was given an opportunity to fulfill this passion. In March 1981, he moved to Texas and began his apprenticeship with Robert von Hagge.
In January of 1995, Mike forged a more definitive relationship with von Hagge Golf Course Architects by becoming a Senior Partner, with the distinctive honor of being added to the firm’s name. Now, after nearly three decades and the design of countless golf courses all over the world, Mike continues to utilize his extraordinary talent in all areas of the design and implementation process at vHS&B. His meticulous attention to detail as well as diligence in performance and service continues to garner praise from clients all over the world. As part of the award-winning global design team at von Hagge Smelek & Baril, the name Mike Smelek is synonymous with “premier global golf course architect.”
Education:
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture – University of Idaho
Professional Status:
- Registered Landscape Architect - #1090 Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
- Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- Associate Member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
RICHARD BARIL, ASLA, ASGCA, SENIOR PARTNER/ARCHITECT
Rick Baril graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1981. Rick worked at a Landscape Architectural design/build firm during college and following graduation. In 1982 he accepted a position with Robert von Hagge. Becoming a Registered Landscape Architect in 1983, Rick simultaneously assumed increased responsibilities with various U.S. and Mexico projects.
When von Hagge, Smelek & Baril ventured into the European market, Rick was designated project architect for that theater. As such he has been instrumental in the design of world-renowned golf courses in France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Morocco. His efforts have helped von Hagge, Smelek & Baril garner a first ever nomination for the Gold Medal Award for European Excellence (for more see Awards).
In January of 1995, Rick accepted an offer to become a Principal. By doing so, his name was added to the company name. With close to three decades of intimate involvement in every area of golf course design and implementation, Rick continues to bring his enthusiasm and extraordinary eye for design to the forefront of the golf course architecture world. As part of the award-winning global design team at von Hagge, Smelek & Baril, the name Rick Baril is synonymous with “premier global golf course architect.”
Education:
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture – University of Idaho
Professional Status:
- Registered Landscape Architect - #1205 Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
- Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- Associate Member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
- President, Board of Directors - International Foundation for Junior Golf (IFJG)
- Member - Urban Land Institute
- Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA)
JAMES A. BOORMAN, IV, ASSOCIATE
James Boorman graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1995. James entered his career with Carter & Burgess, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm in Dallas, Texas as a junior Landscape Architect in the Planning and Landscape Architecture group. He worked on a variety of different projects in numerous sectors of the profession such as the Dallas/ Fort Worth National Cemetery, City of Hot Springs, Arkansas parks and open space master plan, and Timmaron, a master-planned golf course community in Dallas, Texas.
James later relocated to Austin, Texas and joined the prestigious firm of The Broussard Group where he expanded his knowledge of Landscape Architecture and Land Planning by participating in such projects as the Texas State Capital Historical/Architectural and Grounds Renovation, Samsung Corporate Headquarters in Austin, Texas, as well as New Territory a master-planned community in Houston, Texas.
In 1998 James brought his experience in Landscape Architecture and Land Planning to von Hagge, Smelek & Baril. Since becoming a registered professional Landscape Architect in the State of Texas in 2001, he has assisted in the completion of virtually every golf course project in the firm’s dossier. Additionally, he has successfully implemented the Computer Aided Drafting program enabling the firm to communicate faster with our foreign clients.
Education:
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture – Texas A&M University
Professional Status:
- Registered Landscape Architect - #2075 Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
ROBERT BALCHUS, JR, ASSOCIATE
Robert (Bobby) Balchus is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he completed his degree in Landscape Architecture in 1998. His professional career started with the charge to implement a landscape division for the company Brockette, Davis, Drake, a Civil Engineering firm in Dallas, Texas.
In 1999 Bobby was employed by Lamberts, a residential landscaping company in Dallas, where he worked as a project manager for large, upscale residences. His projects involved using hand sketches to present the proposed improvements in order to best show the design. He then oversaw the construction process to insure that concepts were transformed into reality.
In October 2001 Bobby relocated to Houston, Texas, to work for KGA/Deforest Design, a land planning/landscape architectural firm specializing in designing entry monuments and features, recreational centers and other significantly important aspects that help visually establish a development into a community. He had a hand in designing some of the largest and fastest growing communities in Houston during his five years at the firm, including Cinco Ranch and Shadow Creek Ranch, two of the city’s most sought-after master-planned communities.
Bobby joined von Hagge, Smelek & Baril in April 2006 where he has been able to utilize his combined experience to aid in the golf course design and construction process. His civil engineering experience provides a very important facet of drainage and grading that is incorporated into every course design. His hand drawing and design implementation skills are valued in portraying golf hole characteristics. Additionally, his land planning skills help to insure that a golf course interacts seamlessly with the surrounding development, which is a fundamental element of golf course design.
Education:
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture - Texas Tech University