Hurdzan and Fry to split their design business

Interesting news in the golf course design industry, that long time partners Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry have decided to split their business and operate independently of each other. Fry will team up with Jason Straka to form Fry/Straka Global Golf Design while Hurdzan has partnered with his son Chris to create Hurdzan & Son, Inc.

In announcing the move, both Hurdzan and Fry noted that they remained close friends and intended to continue collaborating on existing Hurdzan Fry projects. The split does give Dana Fry the opportunity to focus his efforts even more strongly on the Asia Pacific region, where he has been extremely active over recent years. His new partner Jason Straka will remain based at Hurdzan headquarters in Columbus Ohio, and his focus will predominantly be on the South American market.

According to Fry, his friendship with Hurdzan remains strong and their new cooperative effort was ‘done in the fairest way possible. The result will be the same professional service and attention as when we were all under the banner of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design.’

Hurdzan agrees and says that existing Hurdzan Fry projects ‘will still be true Hurdzan/Fry golf courses, but the last ones done as one company. We have been discussing this transition for a long time and we all agree that now is a prime opportunity to establish these new identities. I am certain that Fry/Straka have a superstar career ahead of them of which I fully support’

While Fry and Straka expand internationally, the Hurdzan’s are expected to focus most of their attention on the domestic North American marketplace. They remain committed to sustainable development and to consulting with various golf properties on how to reduce their maintenance and operational costs whilst improving playability and reinforcing environmental stewardship.

As an aside, it was announced last month that Dr. Michael Hurdzan would receive the Old Tom Morris Award in 2013, handed out annually by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). According to the GCSAA the Old Tom award is presented to an individual who "through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf has helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris." Hurdzan is certainly a worthy winner, and joins an illustrious list of recipients that includes Arnold Palmer, Bob Hope, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Nancy Lopez, Nick Price and Peter Jacobsen, among others.

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