Michael Hurdzan, teacher

The 2017 U.S. Open will be played at Erin Hills, a golf course just north of Milwaukee, Wis. Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., along with Dana Fry and Ron Whitten, designed this links-style golf course with the vision of eventually hosting an Open.

It’s an honor for these architects to see that vision come true in just a few weeks. I’m especially pleased to see Mike Hurdzan receive the acclaim that goes along with designing a U.S. Open venue, not that he hasn’t received a career full of awards, including the ASGCA’s Donald Ross Award, GCSAA’s Old Tom Morris Award and the GCBAA’s Don A. Rossi award. He has a love of and lifelong commitment to the game of golf. I’ve been fortunate to see that passion conveyed to college students here at The Ohio State University.

I met Mike only a few days after I started working at Ohio State. He was speaking at a turf club meeting in the old Union Building on campus. At the time, Mike was the partner in the firm Kidwell and Hurdzan, which was founded in 1975 in Columbus, Ohio. Jack Kidwell had been Mike’s mentor, and not only in golf course architecture. Jack was a Class A PGA professional and a Class A golf course superintendent who encouraged Mike to embrace all facets of golf. I can’t think of a time when Mike talked to my students that he didn’t mention the impact Jack had on his life and the loyalty he had to him.

Mike tells students the story about Jack being a paratrooper in World War II, how he had sworn that once he returned to Columbus he would never fly again, and that the only golf courses he would design would be within a day’s drive of Columbus. I’m not sure how true the story about flying is, but given that Kidwell and Hurdzan designed and renovated almost 140 golf courses in Ohio, we were fortunate to have them close.

Mike has been active with my students, receiving little more than a thank you for his time. Whether they are turfgrass science majors or arts and science students, Mike has shared his unique expertise with them. He’s been involved with traditional activities, like giving class lectures, but he has also hosted students on unique, and for many, once-in-a-lifetime adventures. These have included “golf tours,” where Mike would take them over a few holes and describe architectural ideas and provide insight on how professional and novice golfers react to various concepts.

One “lecture” that stands out is the visit to his office. Mike must rank as one of the top private golf collectors in the country, maybe the world. His passion for anything golf is on full display in his office. His office building is constructed to highlight and tell the story of golf. Included is a walk down “Main Street” at St. Andrews. His collection is a proverbial trip through the history of golf.

Students following and listening to Mike on this tour gain an appreciation for the game. That appreciation does not come from an artifact, but from the story behind the object. The way Mike explains provides an enrichment experience students rarely forget. He always seems to have time to talk with the students, not only about golf, but what is on their minds.

Mike is famous, but his self-deprecating manner helps bond with students. As the visits close, Mike often will graciously hand out one of his books as a gift to the students. I watch these students — and I take this as a sign of respect — they often nervously ask for his autograph.

The traits that make Mike a great teacher are not just for the classroom. I see these same traits in how he treats people in our industry.