Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio was the top winner in the private club division of Golf Inc. magazine's fifth annual Renovation of the Year competition.

"We are pleased to honor the industry's leaders in what is a very active, but often overlooked segment of this industry," said Chase Peckham, associate publisher of Golf Inc. "The quality of entries was exceptionally high."

The winners and finalists in the competition will be honored at the annual Awards Gala at the Golf Inc. Conference at the Doral Resort in Miami on April 21. All the courses recognized will be featured in the March issue of Golf Inc.

Architects for the Scioto redesign were Dr. Michael Hurdzan, president of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Design with significant and valuable input from Jack Nicklaus. “Scioto was Jack’s home course during his childhood” says Hurdzan, “so he knew every nuance of the golf course, from the original Donald Ross greens to Dick Wilson’s remodel. He had over 50 years to think about how to make it better.” Topp Shape was the project contractor.

Entrants were evaluated anonymously on four criteria: how well the renovation achieved the overall project goal, course routing, improvement of the course, aesthetics, and improvement in playability and maintainability.

Judges for the competition were Michael Seabrook, director of operations for Bonita Bay Club and New Leaf Golf Management, Clyde Johnston, principal of Clyde Johnston Golf Designs, and Allen MacCurrach III, CEO of MacCurrach Golf Course Construction.

“I am both pleased and humbled to have collaborated with Jack Nicklaus on the remodeling of Scioto Country Club,” said Michael Hurdzan. “I grew up in Columbus and have always been in awe of this great Donald Ross design and Jack Nicklaus. To win this award, and to have worked with the game’s greatest golfer on his home course has truly been an honor and a pleasure.”

For the 5th year, the Hurdzan/Fry Zone spring tournament and outing was held at the Golf Club of Dublin, a wonderful fescue golf course in mid-Ohio. Again we had a great group of sponsors and a total of 41 participants including 9 local KOTG members. As always sponsoring teams played a four-person scramble with hickories, and this years winning team was the one sponsored by the Rainbird Irrigation Company. This team of Alan Clark, Terry Pena, Scott Bell and Mark Bauer was able to round the course in a score of 65, or 7 under par. The winner of the KOTG members’ event was Christopher Hurdzan, who seems to have been working on his game between classes at Ohio State University.

But the real winner of any KOTG gathering is the recipient of our donation to a local charity. This year instead of providing a powered wheelchair, the Hurdzan/Fry Zone bought a single-rider, swivel seat golf car that was specially adapted to allow physically challenged persons to play golf. The SoloRider golf car was given to Fore Hope, a nationally recognized non-profit organization that uses golf as an instrument to help in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities or an inactive lifestyle. To learn more about Fore Hope, visit their website: www.forehope.org . Mindy Derr, executive director and Mr. Charles Wallace, one of Fore Hope’s patients/clients joined us for the day of golf and good times. In addition, our KOTG Group and Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, Inc. raised another $5,000 that was presented to Ms. Derr for use in other Fore Hope programs.

The next KOTG event is scheduled for September 5, 2007 at the Bully Pulpit Golf Club in Medora, North Dakota during the annual Hurdzan/Fry World Invitational Championship. All KOTG members are invited, contact David Whelchel or PJ Barton at the Hurdzan/Fry offices for more information at 614-457-9955, or visit www.hurdzanfry.com.

Pictured above:  Bob Grossi, Mike Hurdzan, Charles Wallace, Mindy Derr 

Hurdzan Awarded ASGCA’s Highest Honor

Columbus, Ohio based golf course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan, a Principal of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design has been selected to receive the 2007 Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects. The award will be presented during the ASGCA’s Annual Meeting on Apr. 30, 2007, in Atlanta, Ga. He joins other ASGCA Past Presidents Robert Trent Jones, Geoffrey Cornish, Pete Dye and members Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as recipients of the organization’s highest honor. 

President Greg Muirhead, ASGCA will present the award during the Donald Ross Award Banquet at the Westin Buckhead hotel. The award is given annually to a person who has made significant contributions to the game of golf and golf course architecture. 

“Mike Hurdzan is one of the most respected names in the golf industry,” notes Muirhead. “His tireless promotion of what’s good and important about golf course architecture—environmental stewardship, designing facilities that make the game accessible to more players—makes him the perfect recipient for the Ross Award. All along the way he has given much to ASGCA. No one deserves this award more.” 

Dr. Hurdzan has been an ASGCA member since 1974, served as President in 1984-1985, and has and continues to serve on various committees within the organization. Dr. Hurdzan has been a pioneering and recognized leader on golf and environmental issues, including service as past chairman of the Environmental Institute for Golf. He has written six books, including his textbook “Golf Course Architecture:  Design, Construction and Renovation,” which as been translated into German, Korean and Chinese. He is also author of the ASGCA publication “Building a Practical Golf Facility,” now in its second printing. 

“To be recognized by your peers and competitors whom you professionally respect and personally enjoy is the highest honor one can receive,” says Hurdzan. “I know how important the Donald Ross Award is, and the legendary stature of previous winners and what they have contributed to the game of golf, so I am sincerely humbled to receive it. 

Hurdzan will be the 32nd winner of the Donald Ross Award. ASGCA founder and Past President Robert Trent Jones was the first honoree in 1976.

Founded in 1946 by 14 leading architects, including Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the American Society of Golf Course Architects is a non-profit organization comprised of 176 golf course designers located throughout the United States and Canada. Members are actively involved in the design of new courses, the renovation of existing layouts, and issues affecting the future of the game.

Hurdzan/Fry’s Erin Hills Named Best New Course of the year!

Columbus, Ohio based Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design is proud to announce that Erin Hills Golf Course located 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee has been named Golf Magazine’s Best New Course of the Year (2006). The January 2007 issue names Erin Hills as the best new course among the magazine’s annual “Top Ten New Courses You Can Play” feature. It was selected over an impressive list of courses covering all regions of the country.

The feature written by Joe Passov, also lists the Best New International Course, and oddly enough for a Top Ten You Can Play story, it also lists the year’s Best New Private Course. Sebonack Golf Club with a $650,000 initiation fee is hardly a course most people can play, but nonetheless was listed in the article. So in effect, Erin Hills is listed higher than all the courses mentioned in the piece.

Before it officially opened (August 1, 2006) Erin Hills was chosen by the United States Golf Association to host the 2008 U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship. It is believed by many to be on the fast track for a U.S. Open Championship, maybe as soon as 2017. Mike Davis, senior director of rules and competitions for the USGA says, “It is such a spectacular piece of property, and I can’t remember when I’ve seen land like this in the Midwest. It just doesn’t exist.”

The owner of Erin Hills is Bob Lang, a retired local businessman who says, “There has been some talk about Erin Hills and the possibility of hosting the U.S. Open. My response to that is to have the USGA even mention the Open is an honor in itself. It is my goal to be able to do things to prepare the course for that possibility.”

Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, principals of Hurdzan/Fry wish to note that Erin Hills was co-designed with Ron Whitten (golf architecture editor for Golf Digest) and is therefore not eligible for that publication’s “Best New” awards.

“Erin Hills is the most minimalist golf course we have ever done, and to win this award validates the old saying that ‘Nature does it best.’ But having Holy Hill as a backdrop (see picture) also doesn’t hurt,” says Mike Hurdzan.

Jason Straka

Jason Straka, a Senior Design Associate with the firm Hurdzan / Fry Golf Course Design, has been recently elected as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University.  Jason has previously served as Extended Faculty at Ohio State for the past 6 years as a member of The Departments of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and Crop Science. In that position Straka was the principal instructor of a 3 - 5 credit class on Golf Course Architecture.  His past students have included both graduates and undergraduates and a host of international students.  Many of his students have gone on to well establish themselves in various professional fields including that of golf course architecture, landscape architecture, golf course superintendent and agronomy. 

Jason was nominated for his new position by Dr. Karl Danneberger who writes, “Adjunct instructor positions are given to qualified individuals who make an ongoing significant contribution to the teaching mission of the department, college and university.  To achieve the position the candidate must demonstrate a contribution to the teaching mission of the department.  On the recommendation of a faculty member the candidate submits a resume to the promotion and tenure committee of the department and gives a departmental seminar.  A vote by the faculty is then taken to offer the position to the candidate.”

Straka is thrilled to be honored for such a position and adds, “There have been many people that have supported me professionally and personally in my life who have gone the extra mile and beyond, just because.   I can now be that person who helps others out and I will try my best to make a positive impact in the lives of young adults.  It is indeed an honor to be recognized by my peers and to have such good friends who support me like Karl Danneberger.”

Hurdzan/Fry’s Little Mountain Reaches New Heights

Little Mountain Country Club in Concord, Ohio has received one of golf’s highest honors.  Golf Digest magazine (May 2006 issue) has given it their “Five-Star” rating.  Little Mountain is among just 17 golf courses in the country to receive this prestigious ranking.  Other courses on the list include well-known and popular venues Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, Pebble Beach in Monterey, California, Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, NY, The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and Spyglass Hill at the Pebble Beach Resort. 

The listing, the highest possible, is based on the evaluations of 20,000 subscribers to Golf Digest.  The players provide opinions on the courses they play such as conditions, service and the overall value and experience. The survey covers public access courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.  The rankings are in the seventh edition of Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play, and available in golf shops and bookstores next month.  The five-star rating is described as “Golf at its absolute best.” 

Little Mountain designed by Columbus, Ohio based Hurdzan/Fry Design is the only course in Ohio to receive the ranking, and is among six newcomers to the five-star list.  Jimmy Hanlin, director of golf at little Mountain says, “We have always felt that this golf course was a hidden gem, and it’s awesome to discover that many other people feel the same way. We don’t have mountains or an ocean nearby, nor do we have the long and storied history of Pinehurst or Pebble Beach, so to be mentioned in the same breath with these great golf courses is just an awesome honor.” 

Little Mountain Country Club is located on the east side of Cleveland near Interstate 90 and Ohio Route 44 at 7667 Hermitage Road, Concord, Ohio. For more information, visit Little Mountain Country Club’s website at www.littlemountaincc.com  or call 440-358-7888.

Travel & Leisure Golf Honors Hurdzan/Fry With Prestigious Award

Travel & Leisure Golf magazine, one of the country’s leading golf publications has ranked The Club at Bond Head among its “Top Ten Best New Courses for 2005.”  Located in Bond Head, Ontario Canada approximately 30 miles north of Toronto, The Club at Bond Head is Hurdzan/Fry’s latest addition to their extensive Canadian portfolio. 

According to the magazine, Jason Straka, Hurdzan/Fry’s lead architect on the project, “Fashioned a whimsical course full of generous fairways, crafty greens and, most striking, bunkers dotted with tufts of fescue.  The best holes provide options galore.  The 391-yard par-four eleventh, a dogleg right, can be played safely up the left side or daringly over a field of golden fescue, yielding a much shorter approach.” 

The Club at Bond Head is another in a long list of Hurdzan/Fry designs honored for excellence in Canada.  Some of the others include Devil’s Pulpit and Devil’s Paintbrush named by Golf Digest as Best New Course in Canada in 1991 and 1992 respectively.  Dundarave Golf Club on Prince Edward Island rated among the Top 6 Best Golf Resorts in Canada by SCORE Golf magazine, and home of Canada’s top ranked learning academy.  The Georgian Bay Club voted runner-up for Best New Canadian Course in 2005 by Golf Digest.  Le Diable Golf Club at Mont Tremblant in Quebec host of the Canadian Skins Game.  Royal Woodbine Golf Club voted by SCORE magazine among the Top 100 Canadian courses (85).  And Westwood Plateau in Vancouver, B.C. rated the 34^th Best Course in Canada by SCORE. 

As you wind your way up the drive to the Club at Bond Head you are immediately immersed in an atmosphere of anticipation.  The Club at Bond Head has been described as a celebration of the grand history of the game of golf.  Reminiscent of the historic links of Ireland, the course is rugged and rough.  There are five sets of tees, so players of every skill level are accommodated.  It dares the best of golfers with the challenge of taming over 7,500 yards of inspiring terrain.  Or if you prefer, the course can play as short as 5,000 yards. 

A second course by Hurdzan/Fry at The Club at Bond Head is scheduled to open in July.   

Two Hurdzan/Fry Designs Win Prestigious Golf Digest Awards

Columbus, Ohio based Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design is proud to announce that two of its most recent designs have been named among Golf Digest’s “Best New Courses for 2006.”  Bully Pulpit Golf Course in Medora, North Dakota has been named the Best New Affordable Public Golf Course in the U.S., and Georgian Bay Club in Collingswood, Ontario Canada was voted runner-up for Best New Canadian Course honors.  

Located on the far western side of North Dakota, along I-64 in the small town of Medora, Bully Pulpit was designed in the minimalist style, meaning that very little earth was moved building the golf course.  The natural beauty of the site gives the golf course personality by highlighting all its existing natural features.  The 900-acre site included grazing land, a rare wooded area in this rain impoverished area, a mile or more of Little Missouri riverside, and the Badlands.  Four of Bully Pulpit’s 18-holes were built in the Badlands, a severely eroded landform devoid of tress, but with a collage of colors and textures.  Dr. Hurdzan says, “There is no question that some golf courses are more special than others, but Bully Pulpit not only defines that ‘special’ quality, it is also unique.  The course is deeply rooted in concepts of beauty and perceived by enchanting patterns of color, texture, and height that are in perfect coordination.  The golf course is like art displayed through a landscape.  Bully Pulpit is one of the finest public courses we have ever designed, and it’s affordable for all golfers, a great combination.” 

Like Bully Pulpit, Georgian Bay has been called one of the finest in the region.  Located just a couple of hours drive north of Toronto, Georgian Bay Club is a meeting of land and water that has become a relaxed refuge from the big city for its members.  The golf course is built on the Niagara Escarpment, a ridge of high hills that starts at Niagara Falls and flows north several hundred kilometers into the Bruce Peninsula that separates Georgian Bay from its parent, Lake Huron.  “The site had dramatic topography and resources, but most of all, many natural places for golf holes.  Georgian Bay Club is on a awesome parcel of land and the golf course only enhances its beauty,” says Hurdzan/Fry lead architect on the project, Jason Straka. 

The awards will be officially announced in the January 2006 issue of Golf Digest. 

HURDZAN/FRY TO DESIGN FIDDLER’S CREEK’S
SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE

        Naples, Fla. (May 17, 2005) – Gulf Bay® Group of Companies, the developer of The Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek®, one of the showcase amenities at its Fiddler’s Creek® master-planned community in Naples, Florida, has selected the team of Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry to design the private club’s second championship course.
        The new layout will complement the Arthur Hills-designed Creek Course that opened Feb. 1, 2002. Aubrey Ferrao, president of the Gulf Bay Group of Companies, also unveiled his plans to construct a new world class clubhouse that will surpass anything ever done in the private golf Mecca of Naples.
        Ferrao is excited about the hiring of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, regarded as one of leading architectural firms in golf.
         “I think they are great, great architects,” Ferrao said. “They are totally committed to doing only the best designs. It is very evident with the way they work and follow through to the last detail. This commitment only complements our vision in developing one of the finest golf facilities in the world.”
        Ferrao also is pleased to point out Hurdzan/Fry will ensure the new course at Fiddler’s Creek remains true to the environment. For example, Hurdzan is a noted expert in turf grass and agronomy, and sits on the Golf and Environment Committee that wrote the list of ten principles to guide the sighting, construction and maintenance of golf courses in the U.S.
        In all, Columbus, Ohio-based Hurdzan/Fry has designed nearly 300 courses worldwide and has received numerous industry accolades.
        According to Fry, with the commitment and resources of Ferrao’s Gulf Bay Group of Companies, Fiddler’s Creek portends to be one of his firm’s most remarkable designs, and a top rated course in America.
        “(Aubrey) is going to create one of the most dramatic statements in golf,” said Fry, who was honored as one of Golfweek’s “40 under 40” in 2000. “Number one, when you meet Aubrey and see Fiddler’s Creek, the attention to detail from the roads to the landscape to the architecture and the amenities. … It’s just an impressive place. Everything he does from high-rise condos in Pelican Bay and Park Shore Beach to the proposed new clubhouse, he wants it to be the best. And he expects the golf at Fiddler’s Creek to uphold that standard.”
        At completion, residents of Fiddler’s Creek will be surrounded by 72 holes of championship golf, 36 holes of which will be available to members of The Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek.
        Fiddler’s Creek is a world-class resort community situated on some 3,932 acres in south Naples. Upon completion, Fiddler’s Creek will have approximately 6,000 residences in 100 villages, a 54,000-square-foot health club and spa, planned tennis facilities, a multi-pool complex, casual and formal dining venues and numerous other amenities. Residents who join the offsite Tarpon Club® will have wet and dry dock facilities, with offsite beach access at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort®.

 ABOUT GULF BAY® GROUP OF COMPANIES

           Gulf Bay® Group of Companies is currently one of the largest privately owned development companies in Florida, with headquarters in Naples, Florida. It is a multi-faceted real estate development company with capabilities that include planning, development, real estate construction, sales, mortgage brokerage, and hospitality management and operations. Gulf Bay has vast experience in successfully master planning large multi-faceted communities with outstanding amenities. Far more than a “developer” in the traditional sense, Gulf Bay is vertically integrated and performs these ancillary functions for its own account in order to maximize the value of its holdings.
            Gulf Bay’s completed and envisioned build-out value of luxury residential properties is in excess of $7 billion.

  Hurdzan/Fry’s Hamilton Farm selected for World Match Play Event

        Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D. and Dana Fry of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design based in Columbus, Ohio are pleased to announce that one of their best designs, Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey has been selected as the site of the inaugural HSBC Women’s Match Play Championship.  The championship will be played over the Independence Day weekend between June 30th and July 3rd, 2005, and will be televised live in the U.S. by CBS on Saturday July 2nd and Sunday July 3rd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT.  The Golf Channel will broadcast the first two days’ play.  Internationally, the championship will be seen in major markets around the world with a cumulative reach of an estimated 100 million homes.
        Eligibility for the 64-woman field will be based on the leading 60 professionals on the ADT Official LPGA Money List as of June 20th, 2005.  Also invited into the field unless otherwise qualified will be the U.S. Women’s Open Champion, leader of the Japanese LPGA Money List, plus two special invitations by the sponsors. 
        HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial services organizations, has pledged a winner’s check of $500,000, the highest in the history of the LPGA.  The five-year deal between HSBC, tournament organizers IMG, and the LPGA includes a total annual prize fund from HSBC of $2 million.  The event is the only official match play tournament on the LPGA schedule. 

        Hamilton Farm is a private club built on an elegant, historic country estate.  The 535-acre estate, once owned by James Cox Brady is located only a few miles from the U.S. Golf Association’s headquarters.  The Brady Mansion, now called Hamilton House is still an integral part of Hamilton Farm.  It features 10 elegantly appointed, one-of-a-kind guest suites for overnight accommodations.  Not far from the mansion, and on the same property are the barns and buildings of the United States Equestrian Training Center (USETC), where many riders train for Olympic competition. 

        Hurdzan/Fry designed two courses at Hamilton Farm, the full-sized Highlands Course, site of the HSBC Match Play event, and an 18-hole par 3 called The Hickory.  Michael Hurdzan says, “We’re very proud that Hamilton Farm has been selected for this prestigious event, and happy that the world’s best women golfers will have the opportunity to experience the incredible beauty and test of golf that is Hamilton Farm.” 

       Hurdzan/Fry Selected for Industry Honors

Eleven golf industry, business, and creative achievement honorees were announced by the International Network of Golf (ING), in concert with PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions, recently at the 50th Annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.  Among the honorees were Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry for their extraordinary architectural achievements in designing the Militia Hill course at Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Farm Links Golf Club in Sylacauga, Alabama.                                                                                                                     

ING received Industry Honors nominations throughout the year from members of the golf industry. All nominations are submitted to the ING Industry Honors Committee, and 11 sub-committees narrow the nominations to the final three in each category. The winners are determined by a vote of the ING Members Association [INGMA] membership. Honorees are presented with an elegant, handcrafted sculpture designed by Everything Metal Imaginable.  Mike Hurdzan accepted the award on behalf of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design of Columbus, Ohio. 

INGMA is the non-profit, media-based, networking arm of the 14-year-old International Network of Golf.  INGMA's mission is to bring golf media together with representatives from all sectors of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information, educate and improve communication. 

         HURDZAN/FRY BOOK SIGNING AT WOODEN PUTTER

Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design will be signing copies of their new book, Selected Golf Courses by Hurdzan/Fry: Photos and Essays Vol. 1 at the Wooden Putter 1441 Grandview Avenue in Columbus on Thursday November 6 from 5:00 till 8:00 P.M.  The book features 29 golf courses chronicling the collaborative efforts of Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, from their earliest projects together to recently completed masterpieces.  Renowned golf course photographers John and Jeannine Henebry took the pictures; the foreword is by PGA Tour Professional Tom Lehman, with text by Dr. Hurdzan.  The photos and essays represent what Mike and Dana feel about their work.  

“Each of the courses featured is unique, and so are the stories about how they came to be.  We tell the stories mostly from our personal impressions and recollections, not from the perspective of some ghostwriter, says Hurdzan.”  Fry adds, “We consider the book to be a family photo album sprinkled with reminders of the people, places and things that have helped us achieve a small measure of recognition in the world of golf.  We believe the stories we tell in this book shows that the pursuit of excellence is even more important that its achievement, even though all of these courses have exceeded the expectations of their owners.” 

In addition to the pictures and stories, the book also features elaborate golf course illustrations by Donald Keller, a Columbus based medical/surgical illustrator.  According to Hurdzan. “Don’s full color renderings of our courses are painstakingly accurate, and truly a work of art in their own right.  We hope everyone will enjoy the pictures, illustrations, and the stories as much as we have enjoyed putting them all together.  Our hope is that even if you’ve never played one of our courses, this book will provide readers with a glimpse into what we think is the intriguing world of golf course design and development from our unique perspective.”  

The book is 384 pages, and features nearly 300 full color photographs, plus 29 color renderings/illustrations.  The book is available on the Hurdzan/Fry web site, www.hurdzanfry.com, and at selected bookstores and golf shops nationwide.  The suggested retail price is $75.00. 

HURDZAN NAMED AMONG MOST POWERFUL!

Dr. Michael Hurdzan of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design in Columbus, Ohio has been named by the editors of Golf Digest among the Most Powerful People in Golf.  According to the magazine, “Power in golf isn’t just making things happen or stopping them from happening.  It also reflects a pervasive influence on the way we think about and play the game.”  Hurdzan was named in the section listing the five most powerful golf course architects. 

Dr. Hurdzan says, “I am sincerely humbled to be mentioned among such an elite list of the most powerful people in golf.  To be recognized by Golf Digest, a magazine that many consider to be the most influential of all the golf publications, is an incredible complement to not only me and my partner Dana Fry and our staff, but also to our many clients, contractors, and colleagues who have placed their trust in us over the years.  My only motivation in taking on visible leadership roles in my profession is to advance our craft and speak positively about the environmental attributes of golf courses.” 

The October 2003 issue of Golf Digest contains the complete list of the 18 men and women deemed 2003’s Most Powerful People in Golf.  It also names the leaders in 12 power categories…players, agents, architects and more. 

Golf on the National Mall in Washington?

Yes, but for only two weeks June 25-29 and July 2-6 2003, and on only one hole!  The Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States, as part of its annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival promotes understanding of domestic and international folk customs, crafts and heritage.  This year Scotland is a featured country, and so are golf and the ancient craft of wood shaft golf club making.  To this end, a replica Scottish links type golf hole has been built on the National Mall complete with a deep sod wall green bunker, and a roadway.  (Any guesses as to which hole was mimicked?)  

The golf hole is only about 40 yards long, but has three menacing sod wall bunkers some 4 to 6 feet deep.  It also features a devilish 1,500 square foot green, and lots of humps and hollows.  If you haven’t figured it out by now, the hole is a loose copy of the famous “Road Hole” at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.  Golf course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan of Hurdzan/Fry Architects in Columbus, Ohio designed it, and Landscapes Unlimited of Lincoln, Nebraska built it.  Both companies generously donated their services to the Smithsonian.   

This very playable golf hole is the perfect backdrop for an authentic fourth generation Scottish club maker, Barry Kerr of Heritage Golf in St. Andrews, Scotland to ply his trade.  Mr. Kerr will be making wood shaft clubs, and demonstrating how to play golf shots with them during the festival.  Heritage Golf is known worldwide for their handmade golf clubs reminiscent of those made and used over a century ago.   

After the festival the golf hole will be removed and the National Mall will return to normal.  It’s quite a sight to stand on the golf green and see the Washington Monument in one direction, and the Capitol building on the other.  This is a truly unique photo opportunity for all die-hard golfers, and non-golfers alike. 

HURDZAN/FRY HAS DESIGNS ON A NEW BOOK

Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design based in Columbus, Ohio has published a new book entitled Selected Golf Courses by Hurdzan/Fry: Photos and Essays Vol. 1.  The book features 29 selected golf courses chronicling the collaborative efforts of Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, from their earliest projects together to recently completed masterpieces.  Renowned golf course photographers John and Jeannine Henebry took the pictures; the foreword is by PGA Tour Professional Tom Lehman, with text by Dr. Hurdzan.  The photos and essays represent what Mike and Dana feel about their work. 

“Each of the courses featured is unique, and so are the stories behind them, albeit owners, sites, or the design process.  We tell the stories mostly from our personal impressions and recollections, not from the perspective of some ghostwriter, says Hurdzan.”  Fry adds, “We consider it a family photo album sprinkled with reminders of the people, places and things that have helped us achieve a small measure of recognition in the world of golf.  Some of the stories are happy, some are sad, but we believe all of them are interesting and worth telling.” 

In addition, the book also features elaborate golf course illustrations by Donald Keller, a Columbus, Ohio based medical/surgical illustrator.  According to Hurdzan. “Don’s full color renderings of our courses are painstakingly accurate, and truly a work of art in their own right.  We hope everyone will enjoy the pictures, illustrations, and the stories as much as we have enjoyed putting them all together.  Our hope is that the book will provide readers with a glimpse into what we think is the intriguing world of golf course design and development from our unique perspective.”

The book is 384 pages, and features nearly 300 full color photographs, plus the 29 color renderings/illustrations.  The book is available on the Hurdzan/Fry web site, www.hurdzanfry.com, and at selected bookstores and golf shops nationwide.  The suggested retail price is $75.00. 

Four Hurdzan/Fry Designs Named Among 100 Greatest!

Golf Digest has recently honored four Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design courses.  Golf Digest says, “The courses on this list range from municipal locales to exotic resorts, these are the greatest courses accessible to everyone, judged solely on their architectural merits. 

Named among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses,” are: Stonewater Golf Club in Highland Heights, Ohio at number 40; Olde Stonewall in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) at number 53; WeaverRidge in Peoria, Illinois ranked 60th; and Eaglesticks Golf Club in Zanesville, Ohio finishes out the list at number 100.  In addition, Golf Digest ranks Stonewater as the number one public course in Ohio, and Olde Stonewall the best public course in Pennsylvania.  For more information on a specific golf course, click here:  Featured Courses

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design is known for blending the necessary artificiality of a golf course seamlessly into the environment.  Golf Digest has called Dr. Michael Hurdzan, “his field’s leader on environmental issues,” and, he has received the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s prestigious “President’s Award for Environmental Leadership.” 

Two Hurdzan/Fry Designs Win Prestigious Golf Digest Awards

Columbus, Ohio based Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design is proud to announce that two of its most recent designs have been named among Golf Digest’s “Best New Courses for 2002.”  Wasioto Winds Golf Course at Pine Mountain State Park in Pineville, Kentucky was named among the “Top Ten Best New Affordable Public Courses,” and Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples, Florida was listed among the “Top Ten Best New Private Clubs in America.” 

Calusa Pines located in the rapidly growing, upscale Gulf Coast community of Naples is an invitation-only club that has no tee times, and features a strong caddie program.  Members and guests are encouraged to walk the course at all times.  Calusa features outstanding vistas generated by sweeping ridges that influence ten golf holes.  The course is blessed with great natural vegetation, all of which contributed to its high ranking.  Dr. Hurdzan says, “There is no question that some golf courses are more special than others, but Calusa Pines helps define that “special” quality.”  “Calusa Pines is deeply rooted in concepts of beauty and perceived by enchanting patterns of color, texture and height that are in perfect coordination.  The golf course is like art displayed through a landscape,” says Hurdzan’s partner Dana Fry.    

Like Calusa Pines, Wasioto Winds has been called one of the finest in the region. It has been described as a difficult course but friendly to the high handicapper.  Visitors are always struck by the course's beauty.  It occupies an undulating valley that is criss-crossed by a meandering stream and guarded by majestic mountains. Native plants such as rhododendron and hemlocks were used to landscape the course.  The layout includes five par 3 holes and five par 5’s. True to its links nature, the course is relatively flat, with water coming into play from three lakes, a creek and several wetlands areas. Six arching bridges span the water throughout the golf course.  Other features include wide car paths, a practice range, two practice putting greens, and an indoor-use training center.  Dr. Hurdzan calls Wasioto Winds, “One of the finest public courses we have ever designed, and it’s affordable for all golfers, a great combination.” 

Heritage at Westmoor Honored with Environmental Award

Audubon International, a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to improving the quality of the environment, is proud to announce the certification of The Heritage at Westmoor Golf Course in Westminster, Colorado as the 2nd Certified Audubon International Signature Sanctuary in Colorado, and the 40th in the world.  Owned by the city of Westminster and designed by Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design of Columbus, Ohio, The Heritage at Westmoor is built in an open prairie environment, featuring many natural areas and dramatic views of both the Rocky Mountains and Denver area.  Signature Sanctuary designation means that the landowner understands the concept of sustainability and has implemented those concepts during the design, construction and post construction maintenance of the project.  The Audubon International Signature Program is not merely a means to receive an award, but rather a lifestyle of the property.   

“In an era where we see increasingly complex environmental problems, Audubon International has dedicated itself to helping people from all walks of life be part of the solution,” stated Audubon International President Ronald Dodson.  “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries exemplify what can be done when people make a commitment to good environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management right where they live.  We applaud The Heritage at Westmoor for participating in this crucial effort.”

Certified properties range from sites that have large freshwater wetlands, restored prairies, and pristine mountain streams to a two-acre marina and retail facility along the Florida bay.  Regardless of size, all certified members have developed a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) in concert with Audubon International to address issues pertinent to development and sustainable resource management including wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, water conservation and water quality management, and integrated pest management.  By working closely with planners, architects, managers, and key stakeholders, Audubon International ensures that environmental quality and sustainable resource management are built into the project and continue after construction is completed.  Congratulations to Lance Johnson, superintendent of The Heritage, and his staff for their commitment to achieving Signature certification from the initial design of the project.

Long Permitting Process Over for Shelter Harbor Project

After nearly three years the permit process for Shelter Harbor Golf Club is over.  The project is set to break ground in early November.  Michael Hurdzan, president of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, the designers of the course said, “Up to now, we’ve worked in 30 or 40 states and I would have to say Rhode Island is the most difficult state to get permits.  They have a very small parcel of ground and they fiercely protect it.”  The major cause for the delays centered on the property’s hundreds of acres of wetlands, Hurdzan said.  “We went through the normal identification, avoidance and all that, but they would continually find more wetlands,”  Each time we did a wetland survey, they would find more, so there was never a definitive wetland survey.  Finally someone said, ‘Stop, we have to have a map that we can work with.’ 

In total, Hurdzan said, the delays ran from between six months and a year because of the continual finding of new wetlands.  Throughout the stop and start planning process, Hurdzan/Fry had to change the course’s planned routing.  “I would say that the routing plan was substantially changed 25 or 30 times,” he said.  “Not just a little tweak, but going in and taking a whole different look at something.”  Throughout the planning process, project manager Richard Anthony and the founders of the club handled the constant delays well.  “The Shelter Harbor people hired the best experts they could, everybody worked intensely, and played by the rules, said Hurdzan.  “I cannot emphasize enough the quality of people involved in this, and their willingness to compromise things they really didn’t want to compromise.  But they knew it was for the good of the project.  The fact that the owners stuck it out says a lot about them.” 

Despite all the problems, Hurdzan says he wouldn’t avoid a project in Rhode Island in the future.  “With the quality of clients we have and with the potential greatness we have with the site, I would absolutely take on a project in Rhode Island again.  Would I want to work in Rhode Island on a routine basis?  Sure, they’re nice people, and I would learn the rules as well as them, but you have to pick your sites very carefully in little Rhody.” 

Upon completion of the course, the owners of Shelter Harbor plan to deed the wetlands on the property to the state of Rhode Island. 

   Keepers of the Green - Hurdzan/Fry USA Presents Powered Wheel Chair

The Hurdzan/Fry, USA chapter of the international golf fraternity known as the “Keepers of the Green” presented a powered wheel chair to a person in financial need at their annual World Invitational Golf Championship at Keystone Resort’s “River Course” in Keystone, Colorado on September 4, 2002.  Keepers of the Green is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland and is dedicated to promote the traditions of golf and as a tribute to Olde Tom Morris, contribute to those in need.

Following the presentation of the wheel chair to 28-year old Kelly Smith of Summit County, members of the Hurdzan/Fry, USA chapter played an 18-hole competition for a replica of the British Open Claret Jug, using wood shaft clubs such as made and used by Olde Tom Morris in the 1800s.  Many of the participants dressed in period attire to play the tournament.  The winner of the event was Bill Kerman, a Senior Design Associate with Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design.  Kerman is based at the firm’s world headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. 

For information about Keepers of the Green contact: Keepers of the Green, Heritage Golf, Argyle business Park, Largo Road, St. Andrews KY16 8PJ or Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, 1270 Old Henderson Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220 (614) 457-9955. 

GCBAA Selects Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan for Don A. Rossi Award

February 2002 – From nominations by its membership, the Board of Directors of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) voted unanimously to select Dr. Michael Hurdzan, respected golf course architect, lecturer, author and noted golf memorabilia collector, to receive the Association’s 2002 Don A. Rossi Award. The Rossi Award is an honor bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of golf and its growth, and who have inspired others by their example.

Mike Hurdzan is a popular recipient due to his leadership and support, both professionally and personally, of all aspects of the golf industry.  As a golf course architect, Hurdzan, a Past President of the ASGCA, has established standards of environmental awareness that are only being approached by his peers.  Dr. Hurdzan has been lecturing to the GCSAA and the Harvard Graduate School of Design for several years.  As an author, in 1996, Dr. Hurdzan published one of the most read and referenced books on golf course architecture in the past several decades.  And it’s common knowledge that Mike’s assemblage of golf memorabilia is one of the most significant collections on the Globe.  We’ll briefly mention he is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces Branch.   

Hurdzan has designed, co-designed or redesigned with Jack Kidwell and/or his partner Dana Fry, more than 250 courses.  Over the years several Hurdzan courses have been ranked among the top 100 courses in the U.S., and North America by publications such as Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, Golfweek and Links Magazine.  Many Hurdzan courses are being used by the USGA, PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA, as well as internationally as tournament venues. 

The GCBAA award is named after Don A. Rossi, director of the National Golf Foundation from 1970 to 1983, director of the GCBAA as well as the NGCOA, and the man who vastly expanded the role of each of these organizations in the world of golf. After his death, he became the first recipient of this award in 1991. Other recipients of the award include Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arnold Palmer, Brent Wadsworth, Jack Nicklaus and other golf industry luminaries.

The Don A. Rossi award was presented at the Association’s Annual Awards Dinner held on Thursday, February 7th, 2002, in conjunction with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s annual conference and trade show in Orlando, Florida.

The Golf Course Builders Association of America is a nonprofit trade association of the world's foremost golf course builders and leading suppliers to the golf course construction industry.  It was founded in the early 1970s, and its members represent all segments of the golf course construction industry.  Their national executive office is located in the historic Haymarket district in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

NEWS RELEASE

HURDZAN NAMED GOLF ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR!

Dr. Michael Hurdzan of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design in Columbus, Ohio has been named 2001 Golf Course Architect of the Year by The Board Room magazine.  He won the same award in 1999.  In 1997 Golf World named him Architect of the Year.  

This is the third year that The Board Room has presented outstanding achievement awards.  A panel of 20 judges from various segments of the golf industry selected Hurdzan for unselfish dedication to his profession, his work with students and charitable groups both in and out of the golf industry, and his extensive community involvement to help foster the ideals and integrity of the game.  The Board Room directly targets the decision makers, i.e. the Board of Directors, new golf course owners, and/or owners of private and semi-private golf and country clubs across the U.S., Canada and selected international clubs. 

Dr. Hurdzan said he is “absolutely thrilled” to receive this very prestigious award for a second time from The Board Room and went on to say, “To be recognized by such an outstanding publication as The Board Room is a complement to not only me, my partner Dana Fry, and our entire staff, but also to our many clients who have trusted us with their dreams over the past 30 years.” 

The official announcement was made at the Third Annual Board Room magazine award presentation February 2, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas.  It was held in conjunction with the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) annual meeting. 

NEWS RELEASE

 Keepers of the Green - Hurdzan/Fry USA Presents Powered Wheel Chair

 The Hurdzan/Fry, USA chapter of the international golf fraternity known as the “Keepers of the Green” presented a powered wheel chair to a person in financial need at their annual World Invitational Golf Championship at Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton, New Jersey on September 5, 2001.  Keepers of the Green is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland and is dedicated to promote the traditions of golf and as a tribute to Olde Tom Morris, contribute to those in need.

Following the presentation of the wheel chair to 10-year old Mateusz Chemicz of Philadelphia, PA, members of the Hurdzan/Fry, USA chapter played a 9-hole competition for a replica of the British Open Claret Jug, using wood shaft clubs such as made and used by Olde Tom Morris in the 1800s.  The winner of the event was Dick Anthony of the Shelter Harbor Club in Westerly, Rhode Island. 

For information about Keepers of the Green contact: Keepers of the Green, Heritage Golf, Argyle business Park, Largo Road, St. Andrews KY16 8PJ or Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, 1270 Old Henderson Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220 (614) 457-9955. 

Oh Hum – another Upscale, Private Golf Club in Naples, Florida

 Wrong!  This club, called Calusa Pines, boasts the highest elevation in Collier County, some of the largest trees, and among the most environmentally friendly fishing lakes in the region.  The Club’s name, and its unique geological ridge area, pay homage to the Calusa Indians who lived in the area, and who protected their settlement by building large shell mounds.  Calusa Pines is golf only, with membership offered by invitation only, and has no housing within the golf course envelope.  It will, however, contain a limited number of traditional cabins on site for the benefit of members.

 Located off Vanderbilt Beach Road, four miles east of I-75, the club has already attracted some of America’s best and most discriminating golfers.  Drawn by the southern plantation style clubhouse, casual but first-rate member services, and a limit of 275 members, Calusa Pines will be the area’s best modern day golf offering.  Developed by the former owner of two of Naples finest hotels, The Registry and The Edgewater, the emphasis is on “quality” and “golf.”

 The creative team of Hurdzan/Fry designed the par 72 layout that will play from 7,150 yards down to 5,100 yards from any of four to five sets of tees per hole.  The holes are characterized as having generous landing areas, MacKenzie style bunkering and sophisticated putting greens.  Dana Fry, a principal of Hurdzan/Fry says, “hitting fairways will not be difficult, hitting greens will be somewhat more difficult, but to shoot low scores will require superior shot making.  The more pin-point accurate and strategically that a golfer plays, the better his score will be.”

Scheduled to open November 2001, Calusa Pines is already being praised as South Florida’s best new course.  Golf course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan says, “of the over 200 courses we have designed, I believe it is one of our best.  I invite golfers to compare it to any club in the area, and I am confident they will conclude that the best golf experience is at Calusa Pines.”