Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Past President, recently received the annual Donald Ross Award for "being a respected, passionate voice of reason and knowledge for golf." Hurdzan received the award on Apr. 30, 2007 during the American Society of Golf Course Architects’ 61st Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga.
Hurdzan’s work to educate the golf industry on environmentally-sensitive development and advocate for affordable, accessible golf were what brought him to the attention of the group’s Awards Committee. Hurdzan is a past president of the Environmental Institute for Golf and has written two editions of the well-received book "Building a Practical Golf Facility: A Step-by-Step Guide to Realizing a Dream."
Inspirational Acceptance Speech
Hurdzan accepted the award before an audience of golf industry leaders and ASGCA members. In his acceptance speech, he described the current marketplace for golf course architects, observing that the "only requirement to be a golf course architect is to have a client. It’s a totally free market." That’s why it is imperative that golf course decision-makers carefully evaluate the credentials of the golf course architect they hire. He went on to congratulate those who had just joined the organization and pointed out that "to hire an ASGCA designer is to get the full package with complete confidence that things will be done right."
He also said that ASGCA members have become the "’go to’ guys on technical issues" in golf course design, and called for the ASGCA logo to "carry the name recognition of the PGA, USGA, GCSAA, PGA TOUR, etc." He recognized that "in the global marketplace we are now entering, reputations will be made or lost on one’s ability to adapt to new site conditions, limitations in available construction and maintenance equipment or materialsâ?¦you will only get one chance to make a good impression."
Hurdzan was the 32nd winner of the Donald Ross Award. ASGCA founder and Past President Robert Trent Jones was the first honoree in 1976.
ASGCA Background
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 182 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.
For more information about ASGCA, including a current list of members and other available publications, log on to the ASGCA website at http://www.asgca.org or call (262) 786-5960.
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Editor’s Note: A photo of Dr. Hurdzan is available upon request. For a transcript of Dr. Hurdzan’s acceptance speech, visit the ASGCA Web site at www.asgca.org.
Sidebar: Donald Ross Award Recipients
YEAR RECIPIENT OCCUPATION
2007 Mike Hurdzan Golf Course Architect
2006 Jim Awtrey CEO, PGA of America
2005 John Singleton Irrigation Pioneer
2004 Thomas Cousins Philanthropist, Urban Golf Developer
2003 Bill Campbell President, USGA, Captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club
2002 Byron Nelson Professional Golfer
2001 Jack Nicklaus Professional Golfer, Golf Course Architect
2000 Jaime Ortiz-Patiño Owner, President, Valderrama Golf Club
1999 Arnold Palmer Professional Golfer
1998 Judy Bell President, USGA
1997 Gene Sarazen Professional Golfer
1996 Ron Whitten Golf Writer
1995 Pete Dye Golf Course Architect
1994 James R. Watson Agronomist
1993 Brent Wadsworth Golf Course Builder
1992 Paul Fullmer ASGCA Executive Secretary
1991 Michael Bonallack Secretary, Royal and Ancient (St. Andrews)
1990 John Zoller Former Executive Director, No. California Golf Association
1989 Dick Taylor Editor, Golf World Magazine
1988 Frank Hannigan USGA Executive Director
1987 Charles Price Golf Writer, Author
1986 Deane Beman PGA Tour Commissioner
1985 Peter Dobereiner London Observer Columnist, Author
1984 Dinah Shore Sponsor of Women’s Golf Tournaments
1983 Al Radko Former Director, USGA Green Section
1982 Geoffrey Cornish Golf Course Architect, Historian
1981 James Rhodes Governor of Ohio
1980 Gerald Micklem Former Captain, Royal and Ancient
1979 Joe Dey Former Executive Director of the USGA
1978 Herb and Joe Graffis Founders, National Golf Foundation
1977 Herbert Warren Wind Golf Digest Columnist, Author
1976 Robert Trent Jones Founding Member of ASGCA
Contact:
Aileen Smith
(262) 786-5960
aileen@asgca.org
