what people are saying…
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"We hired Smelek Design for our landscaping design project and so glad we did. Mike's expertise and professionalism was superior. Smelek Design listened to our desires and was able to utilize their creativity to bring the project to life. They really were pleasant to work with as well."
Sandra Brawner
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“Their attention to detail and willingness to work with our membership from start to finish went a long way. This type of project, renovating tee surrounds, greens, and sand bunkers is an extremely difficult task. They were a thorough, patient and a true professional at all times.”
Golf Course Renovation Client
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"Mike and his team are professional and talented landscape architects. They were attentive to our wishes and turned our vision into reality. Smelek Design provided the extra touches and attention to our project. We HIGHLY recommend Smelek Design."
Amy Lim
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"Great Vision. Knowledge of plants, hardscape and landscape lighting that compliment each other and creates great curb appeal. Works within the budget. Coordination and Professionalism is outstanding. Easy to work with and definitely a team player."
Mark Ward
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“Speaking of 'pleased with results', I’ve received a number of compliments on your behalf from several local government officials. Their feelings seemed to focus not only on the finished product, but on your ability to understand and your willingness to deal effectively with their priorities and mitigation requirements during the construction process. To earn this kind of praise from people as environmentally sensitive as those in our local government is indeed commendable.”
Commercial Master Planning Client
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"Excellent Design Team! I have worked on couple of projects with them and they are always a joy! Very responsive and excellent Designs Highly Recommend them!"
Graham Land Designs
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"Mike & Bobby have done a phenomenal job. They architected a landscape project and managed it as it was implemented. As the plans moved forward, communication was constant. They are hands on and always willing to go the extra mile. We are very pleased with their knowledge and skills. No project is the same so there will always be a unique feature in whatever they develop. Thank you for all your hard work. We appreciate you."
Doxies
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"It's been a sincere pleasure to work with the team at Smelek Design. They sat down with us in the concept phase and understood the vision we had trouble articulating. It only took a few iterations before we arrived at our final design. They were always patient and always willing to work with Type A clients with grace and humility. Beyond the walls of our home, they designed everything from the driveway, to the landscaping, and the pool. They then worked with the subcontractors to make sure our vision became our reality. When it wasn't executed to perfection, they would make them redo it. Mike and his team have a genuine gift for art and landscape architecture. I couldn't recommend them more."
Wes
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"I would highly recommend Smelek Designs. We hired them for a large back-yard pool project and it was the best decision we ever made. The first thing that should be mentioned about this company is their design skills. They constantly updated the design in order to address our own concerns and to address budget issues. Now finished, our pool, deck and pergola takes the breath away for anybody who comes to look at it for the first time. The design is at a level that, so far as I know, is not available from pool companies' in-house designers. It is in a different class -- you can see it immediately. In addition, their attention to the daily detail of getting the job done was first-rate. At first I thought they would be over-qualified for our project but they quickly dispelled that notion. They conducted all negotiations with the pool company and kept a constant check on the contractors, correcting inevitable errors in real time. We would have never had the success we did with our project without them. We could not be happier."
Mark Thurber
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“Your placement of special features, such as bunkers, is not only strategic to play; it creates picturesque views that make one forget that the course was carved out amidst a residential community.”
Golf Course
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“The way you integrated the housing and the golf course creating 88% amenity frontage for the lots, is aesthetically gorgeous and word of mouth has spread the news quickly..”
Golf Course Master Planning Client
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"My wife and I live in Bellaire, TX. Our house is built on pier and beams, and the lots are not very large (ours is roughly 9,000 sq ft), so we were very limited with space. From the very 1st meeting with Mike and Bobby, they listened to our wants and requests, and did a tremendous job of working within the constraints of property lines, the house, and an 80+ year old oak tree. They had the brilliant idea of demoing the existing veranda and lowering it a couple feet in order to put the outdoor kitchen and spa under the existing roof. This keeps the spa out of the sun, and also out of the rain. They kept a watchful eye on an existing 80+ year old oak tree, and took extra precaution to stay out of its water line by designing a raised wood deck to allow rain and water to drain through. We hired Mike and Bobby to do the detailed design, to create a bid package and bid out to multiple pool and landscape companies, help select and coordinate the multiple contractors, and make sure all of them understood the plan and performed in accordance with the design. The end result is we have an infinity edge spa with seating for 10 and an L shaped pool measuring 40' x 20' on the long ends with a 10' x 8' sunning shelf. Both are much larger than we ever envisioned would fit, and it's all because of the expertise and vision that Mike and Bobby had. We've been in the pool for about a month now, and we could not be any happier and satisfied."
Scott W
Awards & Recognitions
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Reader’s Choice Award Winner in the Arts & Entertainment Category for East River 9
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2018 Award for Top 10 Designers
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“The Architects of Golf”
“Secrets of the Great Golf Course Architects”.
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vonHagge, Smelek & Baril (vHSB), Smelek Design (a legacy company of vHSB) has received numerous awards over the past 40 plus years. The most notable of which are featured below:
– Le Golf National– co-designed by vHS&B was the named the host of the 2018 Ryder Cup & 2024 Golf Olympics
– The Hideaway at Arrington– “4th Best New Course In America 2018” – by Golf Digest
-Pelican Marsh Golf Club – Naples, Florida. Named “2012 International Best Golf Course Renovation Finalist” by Golf, Inc Magazine.
-Golf International Les Bordes (1987)- One of only two courses in Europe given a 5-Star rating #1 rated course in France in the categories of design, maintenance and facilities #2 in Continental Europe as rated by Golf World Magazine 2003. 19/20 Peugeot Golf Guide 2004-2005
-Golf International Les Bordes, Le Kempferhof, Le Golf National, Royal Mougins and Seignosse* –The top five rated golf courses in France by Peugeot Golf Guide 2004-2005.
-Le Golf National (Albatros course) – Paris Ile de France, France(1990). Best new golf course of 1991 #14 rated course of Europe’s Top 25, 2003 Golf World Magazine (UK). Selected as Ryder Cup venue for 2018.
-Seignosse Golf Club– (1989) Cote d’Argent, Aquitaine, France. Best new golf course 1990 . Rated #22 of Europe’s Top 25 Golf Courses 2003 Golf World Magazine (UK). 18/20 – Peugeot Golf Guide
-Emporda Golf Club – (1991) Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain. Rated #54 of Europe’s Top 100 Courses by Golf World Magazine (UK) 2003. 17/20 – Peugeot Golf Guide
-Bogogno Golf Club- (1996) Lombardia, Italy. Rated #63 of Europe’s Top 100 Courses by Golf World Magazine (UK) 2003. 17/20 – Peugeot Golf Guide
-Royal Mougins Golf Club - (1993) Cote d’Azur, France. Rated #73 of Europe’s Top 100 by Golf World Magazine (UK) 2003. 17/20 – Peugeot Golf Guide
-Le Kempferhof Golf Hotel & Academy – (1989) Strasbourg, France. Best new golf course 1992. Rated #76 of Europe’s Top 100 by Golf World Magazine (UK) 2003. 18/20 – Peugeot Golf Guide
-RSHECC (Real Sociedad HipicaEspanola Country Club ) (North Course) (1997)– Rated #96 of Europe’s Top 100 Courses by
-Nishinasuno Golf Course- (#1) in Japan and Horai Country Club(#2) rated by American Express Travel as the “Very Best Golf Courses Designed by a U. S. Architect”
-Isla Navidad Golf Course – Manzanillo, Mexico has received Golf Magazine’s Gold Medal Award as “Best Resort Golf course.”
-Buenos Aires Golf Club- Chosen as the “Best South American Course” by Golf Digest Magazine and hosted the millennium 2000 World Cup Matches, won by the U. S. team of Tiger Woods and David Duvall.
-Grey Hawk Golf Club – Lagrange, Ohio. Rated by Golf Digest Magazine as one of 2005 “Top 10 Best New Affordable Public Golf Courses”.
-Crown Colony Golf Club- Consistently voted one of the top golf courses in Texas by the Dallas Morning News (panel comprised of PGA pros evaluating over 1000 courses statewide).
-Walden on Lake Conroe- Rated by TheHouston Chronicle as the #1 private course in Houston, Texas.
-The TPC at the Woodlands– Rated by The Houston Chronicle as the #1 public golf course in Houston, Texas.
-The White Witch – Montego Bay, Jamaica, for the Ritz-Carlton. Rated #1 in the Caribbean by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.
Clients & Collaborators
