Hurdzan to Receive ASGCA’s Donald Ross Award

Golf course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan will accept the Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) during its Annual Meeting on April 30 in Atlanta. He joins other ASGCA Past Presidents Robert Trent Jones, Geoffrey Cornish, Pete Dye and members Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as recipients of the organization’s highest honor.

“Mike Hurdzan is one of the most respected names in the golf industry,” notes ASGCA president, Greg Muirhead. “His tireless promotion of what’s good and important about golf course architecture – environmental stewardship, designing facilities that make the game accessible to more players—makes him the perfect recipient for the Ross Award. All along the way he has given much to ASGCA. No one deserves this award more.”

Hurdzan has been an ASGCA member since 1974, served as president in 1984-1985, and has and continues to serve on various committees within the organization. A principal of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, Dr. Hurdzan has been a pioneering and recognized leader on golf and environmental issues, including service as past chairman of the Environmental Institute for Golf. He has written six books, including his textbook “Golf Course Architecture: Design, Construction and Renovation,” which as been translated into German, Korean and Chinese. He is also author of the ASGCA publication “Building a Practical Golf Facility,” now in its second printing.

Previous Donald Ross Award Recipients

2007 Dr. Michael 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, ASGCA, Professional Golfer, Golf Course Architect
2000 Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, Owner & President, Valderrama Golf Club
1999 Arnold Palmer, ASGCA, Professional Golfer, Golf Course Architect
1998 Judy Bell, President, USGA
1997 Gene Sarazen, Professional Golfer
1996 Ron Whitten, Golf Writer
1995 Pete Dye, ASGCA Fellow, 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 & Ancient of St. Andrews
1990 John Zoller, Former Executive Director, No. Cal. Golf Association
1989 Dick Taylor, Editor, Golfworld 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, ASGCA 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, ASGCA, Founding Member ASGCA