They may not be golf course architecture’s “Odd Couple,” but Jason Straka, ASGCA, and Dana Fry, ASGCA, brought different skill sets to the table when they began working together nearly 25 years ago. Straka talked about how Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design came about with Matt Ginella at Golf Channel/Golf Advisor.
“Dana’s background was much more in the construction aspect, mine was environmental design and agronomy,” Straka said. “We have turned out to be a great compliment to one another…building an economical golf course that meets the client’s needs and limits the amount of water used, pesticides and fossil fuels.”
The Fry/Straka project at the South Course at Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan was influenced strongly by design of Chicago Golf Club.
“It was a risk. Arcadia’s owner loved the idea of studying the old Raynor MacDonald look at Chicago Golf Club and bringing that to the public. Any time you have massive greens and squared-off edges…most folks in public golf have not experienced that before.”
The complete interview can be found here.