Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Design (Advisory Board Category: Golf Course Design, Renovation & Environmental Practices)

Dr. Michael Hurdzan has been honored many times over the years, but receiving the American Society of Golf Course Architect’s highest honor, the 2007 Donald Ross Award may be his crowning achievement. Past recipients of this prestigious award include, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Herbert Warren Wind, Frank Hannigan, and other “giants” of the industry. He has also been presented with the Donald A. Rossi Award by the Golf Course Builders Association of America for distinguished contributions to his profession; he was Golf World Magazine’s “Architect of the Year;” and The Board Room Magazine’s selection for that same honor twice. Dr. Hurdzan is an internationally recognized authority on golf course environmental issues. The International Network of Golf awarded Mike and his partner Dana Fry industry honors for Achievement in Golf Course Design for their many creative and playable designs.

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 from the University of Vermont. Dr. Hurdzan is extremely active in serving his profession and industry. He teaches a seminar for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, (GCSAA) on “Golf Greens: Theory, Design, Construction and Maintenance,” in addition is a past instructor of “Environmental Impacts of Golf Courses” for the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is a Golf Digest panelist for their environmental awards program, and a steering committee member for the “Golf and Environment” conferences. He is a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), current chairman of the history committee, and a member of the Past President’s Council. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). Dr. Hurdzan is also a USGA committee member for the Green Section Construction Education Committee and the Architectural Archive Committee.

Some reviewers are heralding Dr. Hurdzan’s book, Golf Course Architecture: Evolutions in Design, Construction, and Restoration Technology 2nd Edition, as “the modern bible of golf course design.” He is also the author of GOLF GREENS History, Design, and Construction. Dr. Hurdzan’s approach to the book was to look at the past 100 years of history and evolution of golf greens, how scientific investigations have influenced their construction, the intent of the golf course architect when designing a green, and how design and construction influence maintenance practices. He authored “Building a Practical Golf Facility: A Step-by-Step Guide to Realizing a Dream,” published by ASGCA and endorsed by the GCSAA, GCBAA, PGA Tour, PGA and USGA. And with co-author Geoffrey Cornish he wrote “Golf Course Design - an annotated bibliography with highlights of its history and resources.”

Dr. Michael Hurdzan’s impressive credentials led GOLF DIGEST architecture editor Ron Whitten to write, "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."

Website: http://www.hurdzanfry.com/

Areas of expertise: Facility Design & Architecture

Business

Private

Member Information