Dublin, OH (November 17, 2016) – Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design is honored to announce that two of its designs have been named recipients in the fifth annual American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Design Excellence Recognition Program. Among a select 11 courses cited for their work with ASGCA members in addressing unique design challenges, the two ‘design excellence’ honoree courses on which Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design worked are:
– Los Robles Greens Golf Course in Thousand Oaks, California; and
– The Oaks Club, Heron Course in Osprey, Florida (on behalf of Hurdzan/Fry).
Created by the ASGCA to recognize a wide array of projects that expose excellence in problem-solving, innovation and adapting to market needs, the program’s 2016 nominations were reviewed by a panel of golf industry leaders, including representatives of the Club Managers Association of America and Golf Course Builders Association of America. The principals of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, Dana Fry and Jason Straka, are both longstanding members of the ASGCA.
PROJECT OVERVIEWS
Los Robles Greens Golf Course – Thousand Oaks, CA
Due to rising water costs and maintenance required for its turf-heavy design, the City of Thousand Oaks was determined to create a golf course that was mutually profitable and environmentally beneficial. With an ongoing historic drought and bans placed on select pesticides and native tree removal, the design team was charged with providing a playable, fun and visually stimulating course, using the least amount of water and other management inputs.
The end result to Los Robles is a facility that removed 30 acres of turf and naturalized 40 acres with approximately 55,000+ native and adapted drought and pest-resistant plants. The future now holds a drastic reduction in water, fertilizer, pesticide and fossil fuel usage, which exceeds the city’s original goals as well as serves as a model of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable golf for others to follow.
The Oaks Club, Heron Course – Osprey, FL
The Heron Course faced major infrastructure problems, notably poor surface and subsurface drainage, inferior playability, aged and inadequate irrigation, poorly constructed greens and bunkers, overgrown trees and insufficient tees and tee space. A key challenge of the project was to convince the residents, who are all members, but not all golfers, that the Heron Course needed to be rebuilt to accomplish their goal of becoming the best 36-hole club in the region. Thus, a highly skilled design team was assembled to cover all facets of the project which also included leading a well-planned community outreach effort.
The end result to the Heron course was the implementation of a state-of-the-art infrastructure, with drainage, bunkers and greens that have since weathered tropical storms and a hurricane. The originally reluctant membership was won over by the extensive outreach and education efforts and highly efficient team approach that delivered a renovation that exceeded design, timeframe and budget expectations. With its playability and infrastructure greatly improved, the Heron Course continues to receive rave reviews.
About Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design
Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design is a partnership with worldwide reach in award-winning golf-course design. Golf course architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka, having worked together for over 20 years, continue to bring their collective design experience, talent, and renowned client dedication to their venture.
Although the pair collaborates on all projects, it is not uncommon for the partners to be traveling on opposite sides of the world so they can serve their global clients with ease, efficiency and the utmost in professional dedication. In addition, the company has a diversified staff of associates – speaking a combined six languages – based in Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Beijing, China; Porto Alegre, Brazil; and dispersed around the U.S. Thus Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design can service any job, anywhere in the world, with the highest of standards and a consummate commitment to excellence.
For more information, see www.frystraka.com.
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