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W

hen the 2017 U.S. Open

arrives in Erin, Wisconsin,

Jason Straka, ASGCA, will

surely reflect fondly on one of the

highlights of his 17 years with ASGCA

Past President Dr. Mike Hurdzan.

Straka worked on the project that saw

Hurdzan and co-designers Dana Fry,

ASGCA and

Golf Digest

’s Ron Whitten

transform 652 acres of rolling terrain

formed by glaciers to the acclaimed

Erin Hills golf course that will host a

major just 11 years after opening.

Straka is now creating highlights of

his own. Having established a new

design business with Fry in 2012, he

has been busy taking on new work for

such clients as Pulte Homes and Arcis

Golf, as well as completing existing

projects under the old Hurdzan/

Fry banner, such as Ambiente

and Columbia Country Club. The

Ambiente course at Camelback Golf

Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, was one

of

Golf Digest

’s best new courses of

2013, and

Golf Inc

. selected Columbia

Country Club in Missouri as one of

2014’s Renovations of the Year.

With multiple degrees from Cornell

University as well as professional

training in golf course construction,

greenkeeping and architecture, the

northeastern Ohio native now also

devotes time to educating others. In

addition to his 10 years as lecturer and

adjunct professor at The Ohio State

University, he has taught throughout

the United States and as far afield as

Brazil, Poland and South Korea—

eager to spread his message of an

environmental approach to golf design.

How is your game?

I travel so much that I rarely have an

opportunity to play. However, my

long game has been really solid this

year. It is my short game that suffers

from a lack of practice. I still do love

to play when I get the chance though.

Which three people would make up

your dream fourball?

My father Ron, son Zachary and

maybe someday I’ll be blessed to have

a grandson. To have four generations

able to play together at the same time

would be my dream fourball. So far,

we’ve got three of the four covered!

What is your favorite hole in golf?

Rather than one specific hole, I’ll name

one specific type. I happen to really

enjoy designing and playing short,

drivable par fours. If designed well,

I love the gambling component and

excitement they provide. It is truly a

chess match against one’s inner self.

Not only does a golfer have to carefully

analyze his or her options but these

holes provide a challenge to control

one’s emotions when having to decide

whether to play aggressive and go for it

or be more conservative. Of course just

last week, I played a match against my

best friend and took a double on one

such hole and lost the match by a shot!

I guess I need to work on the mental

aspect as well as my short game.

If you could change or add one rule,

what would it be?

I certainly wouldn’t add any. I think

there are way too many as it is. Even

many in the golf industry don’t know

all the rules, and we’re around the

game every day. It is unrealistic to

expect the average golfer to know and

interpret so many rules. Many casual

players tend to ignore them anyway.

What project are you currently

working on?

We have a lot of remodel projects

ongoing. One of my favorites though

is a turf reduction and landscaping

project, including bunker overhaul, in

the Los Angeles, California area. The

course has majestic Live Oak trees

scattered throughout. The premise

of the remodel is to obtain much of

the look, play and environmental

characteristics as was restored at

Pinehurst #2. In fact, I just spent the

day with Bob Farren and John Jeffreys

on #2 and can’t thank them enough

for their hospitality and insight. It is

gentlemen like them that make this

business so enjoyable.

My partner Dana Fry and I are also

working on projects in Maryland,

Florida, New Jersey, Texas and

Vietnam, among other places. We are

fortunate to have a steady stream of

work while not being too busy.

FIVE TO FINISH

18

|

By Design

Jason Straka, ASGCA

For this issue’s Five to Finish, we

speak to the current chairman of the

ASGCA Education Committee

I love the gambling component and

excitement that short par fours provide. It is

truly a chess match against one’s inner self