The renowned architect’s work on the North and South courses of Pelican Hill Golf Club will begin next month
Pelican Hill Golf Club, one of Southern California’s premier golf destinations, will begin an extensive renovation of its acclaimed North and South courses this fall under the direction of renowned architect Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner Golf Design.
Located on Newport’s dramatic coastline, Pelican Hill Golf Club has long been regarded as one of the best 36-hole golf resorts in the country. Designed by Tom Fazio and opened in the early 1990s, both courses are praised for their expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, strategic design and year-round playability amid more than 300 days of sunshine.
This marks the first major renovation at Pelican Hill Golf Club since a “two-year re-perfection” effort led by Fazio in 2005. The upcoming project will primarily focus on bunker rehabilitation and realignment, tee expansion and leveling, and improvements to the green environment, ensuring that both courses continue to meet the highest standards of conditioning and design.
Curley, a Pete Dye protégé and veteran designer who began his career nearly 40 years ago at Landmark Land Company, brings deep experience in world-class resort and tournament venues to the project. Its global portfolio includes more than 150 courses across Asia, the Middle East and the United States, including Saudi Arabia’s first island golf course, Shura Links, which opened last month.
“These are two fantastic, expertly designed courses that have aged beautifully,” Curley said. “But as with any golf course, time and play take their toll. This renovation will renew the features, address grass health affected by mature trees, and provide the best possible playing experience for years to come.”
Construction will be carried out by McDonald & Sons, a respected golf course construction company with more than 40 years of experience at renowned locations including Congressional Country Club, Baltusrol Golf Club, Interlachen Golf Club and The Inverness Club.
Work is scheduled to start in November 2025, with an expected construction and development period of 50 weeks. To maintain guest access, nine holes will be closed at a time, leaving 27 holes open throughout the process. Renovations of the South Course will begin, followed by the North Course, with completion expected in late 2026.
While the majority of the work will focus on restoring existing features, Curley noted that selective improvements will increase the visual and strategic appeal of the layouts.
“We plan to make thoughtful adjustments to the visuals and backgrounds, enhancing the already spectacular setting,” Curley said. “It is an honor to build on Tom Fazio’s legacy and ensure Pelican Hill remains one of the most beautiful and enjoyable golf experiences in the world.”
The restoration of the North and South courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club builds on a long-standing relationship between Marriott and Curley, who, in collaboration with Nick Faldo, designed two courses for the hospitality brand – Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, California and Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The Pelican Hill Golf Club project also strengthens Marriott’s growing portfolio of golf properties, which includes dozens of acclaimed championship courses in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world: from California to Costa Rica, Florida, Spain, France, Fiji, Italy and beyond.
“We are pleased to partner with Curley-Wagner Design on this project at Pelican Hill Golf Club,” said James Keane, Vice President of Marriott International’s Global Golf Division. “Brian Curley is a first-rate professional architect and fully understands the importance of combining restoration with modernization to build upon this iconic Southern California property.”
These improvements are part of a larger, year-long renaissance at The Resort at Pelican Hill that will thoughtfully transform the iconic spaces. For more information, visit www.pelicanhill.com/renaissance.
For more information about Curley-Wagner Golf Design, visit curley-wagner.com@curley_wagner (Instagram), @curley_wagner (X).
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