Jason Straka joined Hurdzan/Fry Design in October of 1995. Straka’s primary university work at Cornell was on the development of Widow’s Walk Golf Course in Scituate, Massachusetts, which is widely recognized as the United States’ first 
environmental demonstration and research golf course and winner of Golf Digest’s prestigious Environmental Leaders in Golf award. Straka has also worked on Le Diable Golf Club in Tremblant, Quebec; Troy Burne Golf Course in Hudson, Wisconsin, which he co-designed with Tom Lehman; and, with Fuzzy Zoeller, Dornoch Golf Club in Delaware, Ohio.
I was very fortunate that my father introduced me to the game of golf at a very young age. I grew up spending a lot of quality time with him walking the links, listening to the cadence of clubs clinking together, and enjoying nature. The personal time with him would shape me as a person and forever provide lifelong memories and lessons that I hope to pass along to my children.
When the Georgian Bay club opened, my father attended the grand opening and was the guest of honor. I was able to play a spectacular par-three with him, and I dedicated my work to him in front of the membership.
Interestingly, the owner of the course dedicated one of the main streets in the club in honor of my son by naming it after him. So father, son, and grandson will forever be linked at Georgian Bay to remind everyone of the special bonds between fathers and their children.
It is instances like this that make my chosen profession of golf course architecture such a rewarding experience for me.