Michael Hurdzan - Principal     Click Here for Full Resume

Dr. Michael Hurdzan has been selected the winner of the 2002 Donald A. Rossi Award by the Golf Course Builders Association of America; he was Golf World Magazine’s 1997 “Architect of the Year;” and The Board Room Magazine’s 2001 and 1999 selection for the same honor.  Dr. Hurdzan has designed some of golf’s most famous courses, including Devil’s Pulpit and Devil’s Paintbrush in Caledon, Ontario.  GOLF DIGEST named these two masterpieces the Best New Course in Canada in 1991 and 1992.  Some other award winners include: Naples National (Florida) ranked among the Top 100 modern courses by GolfWeek, Lassing Point ranked by GOLF DIGEST as the number one public course in Kentucky, and Ironhorse ranked number one in Kansas.  In addition, Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton, NJ is one of the “Top Ten You Can Play” (GOLF MAGAZINE). 

An internationally recognized authority on golf course environmental issues, Dr. Hurdzan studied turf management at Ohio State University and earned a Masters degree in landscape architecture and a Ph.D. in environmental plant physiology at the University of Vermont.  Dr. Hurdzan doesn’t just design great golf courses; he is also extremely active in serving his profession and industry.  He teaches 2-day seminars for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, (GCSAA) on “Design, Construction and Renovation for I.P.M.” and “Golf Greens: Theory, Design, Construction and Maintenance,” in addition to “Environmental Impacts of Golf Courses” for the Harvard Graduate School of Design.  He is a Golf Digest panelist for their environmental awards program, a selected delegate for the “Golf and Environment” conferences, and serves on the education review committee for GCSAA.  He is a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, current chairman of the professional development committee, and a member of the Past President’s Council.  He is contributing to the professional development program for the Golf Course Builders Association of America, and the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA).  Some reviewers are heralding Dr. Hurdzan’s 400-page book on golf course architecture as “the modern bible of golf course design.” Links Magazine says, “Hurdzan takes you through the design process as no one ever has, the book is so complete, it is probably all you’ll ever need on this topic.”

Dr. Hurdzan says, “Besides its sporting requirements, I believe that a truly great golf course must either enhance the natural habitat or create a new environmentally sound one.  The more we harmonize natural surroundings into a golf course, the more aesthetic and memorable it will be.” 

Dr. Michael Hurdzan’s credentials are impressive.  GOLF DIGEST architecture editor Ron Whitten says, “he has taken a place among the best in the world now.”  But more than that, Michael Hurdzan offers what only a precious few golf course architects can offer, a considerable measure of genius, built upon immense technical knowledge and experience, coupled with an enduring love of the game. 

Dana Fry - Principal

 Dana Fry has worked with Dr. Michael Hurdzan since 1988, and became a full partner in 1997.   He is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and on its Board of Directors.  Golfweek magazine selected Dana among the TOP FIVE in their 2001 “40 under 40” list of people in leadership positions within the golf industry who are likely to shape the business for years to come.  Columbus Business First Newspaper has also honored him as one of its “40 under 40” Award winners for 2000.  The Business First award honors those individuals who have excelled in their careers and their community involvement to make a positive, lasting impact upon the city of Columbus. 

 Dana is perhaps the most passionate person in the firm about the game, and the best player.  He was a junior golf champion in the Kansas City area before going to the University of Arizona to play golf.  He set several course records including shooting a 62 at Randolph Park in Tucson.  But he realized he never had all of the skills necessary to be the best on tour, so he chose instead to become the best in golf course design.  His talent for visualizing a design and his relentless pursuit of making it become real elevate him above his colleagues, both contemporary and past.  Ohio Golf Legend Jack Kidwell says, “Dana has a rare genius for producing consistently dramatic golf holes, on widely varying sites, with each one having a distinct character.  He is always pushing the limits of design and construction, but he never steps over the line into absurdity.”

 Fry learned his craft working as a field designer for Tom Fazio, and was instrumental in the creation of several award-winning courses for the Fazio organization.  Included in his portfolio is the Wade Hampton Golf Club in North Carolina selected by GOLF DIGEST as America’s Best New Private Course in 1988, Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, and the highly regarded Black Diamond course in Lecanto, Florida.  All are ranked among GOLF DIGEST’S Top 100 in the U.S. 

 Mr. Fry has been lead designer on most of the firm’s Canadian projects, including the highly acclaimed Devil’s Pulpit and Devil’s Paintbrush near Toronto; Westwood Plateau in Vancouver, B.C.; Le Diable at Mont Tremblant, Quebec; and Dundarave GC on Prince Edward Island.    Fry was project manager for WeaverRidge in Peoria, IL a course that finished within 0.04 of a point of winning the Best New Upscale public course award in 1998 from GOLF DIGEST.  He was also lead designer on Naples National in Florida ranked among GOLF DIGEST’S Top 100 in the U.S.; Colorado’s Keystone Resort “River Course;” Ironhorse in Kansas; Fieldstone in Delaware; Troy Burne in Wisconsin; Hamilton Farm in New Jersey; The Raven at Three Peaks in Colorado; The Ledges in Alabama; and Glenmaura National, Jericho National; Olde Stonewall in Pennsylvania; StoneWater Golf Club near Cleveland; The Sand Barrens in New Jersey named among the Top Ten You Can Play by GOLF MAGAZINE; and on GOLFWEEK’S Top 100 Modern Courses list; St. Albans Country Club “Tavern Creek” course near St. Louis; and The Desert Willow Golf Resort (36 holes) in Palm Desert, California.  

 David Whelchel - Senior Design Associate 

 David Whelchel has worked with Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design since 1990 and serves as Senior Project Design Manager and Assistant to Dr. Hurdzan and Mr. Fry in all phases of various projects.   Whelchel is an agriculture graduate from the University of Arkansas where he also served as men’s golf coach before becoming involved with golf course construction and subsequently design.  Prior to joining Hurdzan/Fry he was a design associate with Links Design in Lakeland, Florida.

 Whelchel has been involved in numerous Hurdzan/Fry projects including being lead designer for the Little Bennett Golf Club, Hyattstown, Maryland; The Meadows Golf Club for Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond, Kentucky.  GOLF DIGEST rates Gibson Bay as one of the Top 40 Courses in the US for golf experience and value.  He has also assisted Dr. Hurdzan on the design of Lassing Pointe Golf Club in Union, Kentucky named the best public course in the state by GOLF DIGEST.  Whelchel assisted Mr. Fry on the design of the Fieldstone Golf Club in Wilmington, Delaware, and in 1998 finished the Tallwoods Golf & Country Club, located about 3.5 hours (by car) north of Sydney, Australia in the resort town of Forster-Tuncurry.

 He was lead designer on the Old English Golf Course in English, Indiana.  The English course is unusual because it is built on the site of the many-times flooded town of Old English, and besides being a good use of the flood-prone land, it will see the reclamation of super fund sites, creek bank protection programs, and wetland creation.  In addition to these environmental improvements, the course caters to and encourages juniors and beginners.  It includes a complete practice facility with 3 practice holes.  According to Whelchel, “Old English is a model for affordable golf.” 

 David brings to the Hurdzan/Fry team and each project a stubborn commitment to detail.  He is not satisfied until all the little, but essential elements of a project are complete.  Hence he is a master specification writer, handles the day to day operations of the office in Dr. Hurdzan’s absence, and is the “go to guy” when a client or contractor needs assistance.

 He enjoys world travel, immersion into new cultures, and learning about new places to introduce our brand of golf course development.  He has become our point of contact for international inquiries that include Italy, Greece, Spain, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Australia, and Indonesia.  David is sensitive to cultural values and as an ambassador for golf he works with clients to introduce the game in the most politically correct way possible. 

 David Whelchel is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Collectors Society and the USGA.

  Bill Kerman - Civil Engineer/Senior Design Associate 

 Bill Kerman has been with Hurdzan/Fry since 1989.  Kerman is a civil engineer by training, a golf course architect by choice.  With his extensive technical background, he specializes in projects with severe site and environmental restrictions.  He has worked on courses from the mountains of British Columbia, (Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club) and Colorado (The River Course at Keystone Resort), to the deserts of southern California (The Mountainview and Firecliff Courses at the Desert Willow Resort), and the tidal marshes of Maryland (Eagles Landing Golf Course). 

 Kerman has demonstrated an ability to design “silk” golf courses out of “sow’s ear” sites.  Courses such as StoneWater Golf Club (Cleveland, OH); the Great Hope Golf Course (Somerset County, MD); and The Course at Aberdeen (Valparaiso, IN) were designed to not just avoid the existing wetlands, but to enhance and expand wetland and natural areas.  He is also well versed and quite proficient in working within the restrictions of floodplain and floodway areas.  Cook’s Creek Golf Course and Westchester Golf Course (both in Columbus, OH) are examples of projects where not only a good portion of the golf holes built in floodplain areas, but extensive wetland and natural areas were created.  Recently, Kerman was the lead designer for two projects where golf courses were built in abandoned quarries – Widow’s Walk in Scituate, MA and Harbor Links on Long Island, NY. Widow’s Walk was done as an environmental demonstration project and has received several national environmental recognition awards.  Widow’s Walk was also ranked by GOLF DIGEST as being among the Top Ten Best New Public Golf Courses in the country in 1998.

 Due to his engineering background, Bill is well versed in the land planning and development process.  He is proficient in integrating the difficult, and often conflicting, demands of combined development / golf projects.  Recent examples of successful development / golf projects are WeaverRidge in Peoria, IL and Tavern Creek in St. Albans, MO, both Top Ten New Course selections by GOLF DIGEST.

 Bill Kerman is a registered Professional Engineer.  He is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

 Jason Straka – Senior Design Associate   

Click Here for Full Resume

 Jason Straka joined Hurdzan/Fry Design in October of 1995.  Straka has been trained in many aspects of golf course architecture, however he specializes in environmental design.  He earned a Bachelors degree in landscape architecture and a Masters degree in environmental golf course design studies, both from Cornell University. Straka's primary university work was on the development of Widow's Walk Golf Course in Scituate Massachusetts, which is widely recognized as the United State's first environmental demonstration and research golf course and winner of GOLF DIGEST’S prestigious “Environmental Leaders in Golf” award. 

 Professionally, Straka's specialized training has enabled him to take on a wide range of projects including: Le Diable Golf Club, built in Tremblant, Quebec on a sensitive mountain site that required extensive planning allowing the course to be built in a record time of six months; Troy Burne Golf Course, Hudson, Wisconsin, built as part of a master planned community with an extensive storm water management system and co-designed with PGA tour pro Tom Lehman; Dornoch Golf Club, Delaware, Ohio, one of only two central Ohio projects to utilize a complex effluent water system for irrigation, and co-designed with PGA tour pro Fuzzy Zoeller.

 He has also worked on several high profile renovation projects including a complete renovation of En-Joie Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour's B.C. Open, with PGA tour pro Joey Sindelar. Straka helped design and implement a flood water management system to the flood prone En-Joie to help reduce severe damage and silting; and a complete restoration of Burlington Country Club, a historic New England Donald Ross layout.

 Jason and Dana Fry worked together on Dundarave Golf Club at Brudenell River, Prince Edward Island, Canada, an 18-hole addition and learning center.  This Atlantic Canadian course was built on a sensitive wetland and river estuary site in a five and a half-month time span.  It is Canada’s first 36-hole golf course and learning center east of Quebec City. Straka has also completed Little Mountain Country Club in Concord, Ohio.  This 18-hole semi-private golf course is part of a master planned community on a site with highly sensitive streams. 

 Straka has professional work experience as an associate in a registered golf course builder's firm, as a golf course greenskeeper, and as a research technician in the design and construction of golf greens.  By previously working in these positions he has gained a wealth of insight into the many facets of the golf course industry and how they are integrated with the golf course design profession.  Straka is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Scott Kinslow - Technical

 Scott Kinslow is Senior Computer Design Technician and has been with Hurdzan/Fry since October of 1988.  He specializes in computer aided design and drafting and develops innovative ways to program software packages to produce more descriptive and accurate plans and specifications.  In addition, Kinslow has had extensive experience in the building trades and brings with him management and organizational skills that ensure complete construction documentation.  He currently uses a combination of programs widely used in aerial photogrammetry and mapping, along with 3-D surfacing which  allows clients and investors to preview the golf course before it is built. 

 “Scott is the key person in helping us move into the computer age,” says Dr. Hurdzan.  "We were working on a huge project in Japan that ended up requiring 8,000,000 cubic meters of earthmoving.  It would have been humanly impossible to balance that volume of cut and fill without a superior computer and software package.  Scott literally rewrote a civil engineer software program to work in golf course application and gave us a balance within 1%.  It not only saved us hundreds of man hours and the client millions of dollars, but it convinced us to become a leader in golf course computer applications and not a follower.” 

Robert Grossi - Director of Marketing 

 Bob Grossi is Director of Marketing, Video and Public Relations for Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design.  Grossi has over 20 years experience as a radio and television writer, producer, moderator, narrator, and journalist.  Grossi has directed the marketing, and public relations efforts of Hurdzan/Fry in Columbus since 1992.  In addition to his regular duties of marketing the services of H/F, Grossi consults with clients of the firm and in some cases even provides practical assistance.  For instance, Grossi wrote and produced a 15-minute videotape for Interwestern Management Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona.  The program has been used in a presentation to the North Scottsdale, Arizona city council to help get Interwestern’s proposed new golf course and housing community approved for development. 

 Grossi has organized and designed a long-term marketing and public relations program that will take Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design well into the 21st Century.  He has produced the company’s marketing and Ireland golf trip videos.  He has worked on the firm’s new tape that highlights the work of Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry and includes the firm’s numerous award winners.  And, he is responsible for the company’s new “profile” brochure.  “My mission is to enhance the professional image of Hurdzan/Fry, and to positively contribute to our continued growth and success,” says Grossi. 

 Christopher Hurdzan - Jr. Design Associate

 Chris has worked in the business for over 4 years on a part-time basis.  He attends The Ohio State University on a full-time career path to golf course design.  Although young, he is learning every aspect of the craft from the most skilled of practitioners.  Chris often does the final drafting of plans, color renderings and occasionally routings.  His college work in an environmental science program adds to the diversity of backgrounds and skills found at Hurdzan/Fry.

P.J. Barton and Linda Hurdzan - Administrative Coordinators

 P.J. and Linda are two of the hardest working and talented office managers that any office could have.  At Hurdzan/Fry they are the first people to greet you and from then on comes a commitment to seeing that our client’s concerns are always addressed.  Given the hectic travel schedule of the designers, it becomes P.J. and Linda who can always track down answers or a designer to satisfy client requests.  Their efficient day-to-day office management means each of the designers can focus on his area of specialization, while P.J. & Linda cover all of the necessities of running a business.  Together with Pete Cistone our accountant/tax consultant they provide not only a good business atmosphere, but also a comfortable work environment.