Jason Straka, a senior design associate at Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design in Columbus, Ohio has been elected an associate member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Elected by his peers, Straka becomes the fifth member of the Hurdzan/Fry staff to become a member of the Society, comprised of leading golf course architects in the United States and Canada.
Straka's designs in the U.S. include several high profile names and co-designers. Jason worked closely with PGA Tour Professional Tom Lehman at Troy Burne in Hudson, Wisconsin, home of the Nationwide Tour's Scholarship America Showdown. He also worked with PGA Tour Professional Joey Sindelar at En-Joie Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour's B.C. Open. He is currently working with Lehman on The Vineyard Golf Club in Yakima, Washington. In Canada, Straka's work includes Dundarave on Prince Edward Island; Le Diable at Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec; The Georgian Bay Club in Collingwood, Ontario; and The Club at Bond Head near Newmarket, Ontario.
Straka teaches a 5-hour class on golf course design at The Ohio State University. He has lectured on golf course design at Purdue, Guelph, Cornell and the University of Idaho. This summer he has been invited to Korea for two weeks to teach golf course design to Korean landscape architects.
"Jason is the epitome of the bright, young superstars of golf course design," says Mike Hurdzan, president of Hurdzan/Fry Design. "He is not only artistic, creative and techno savvy, he is also a fabulous communicator and teacher. He can do it all, but most of all his work has a timeless quality to it."
Jason Straka earned a Bachelors degree in landscape architecture and a Masters degree in environmental golf course design studies, both from Cornell University. Jason'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.
Complete information on ASGCA members may be obtained by visiting the organization's web site at www.asgca.org.
