Below is an interview with Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game? I started at age 4 or 5, taught by my Dad who was a teaching pro at a small course in Columbus, Ohio. My Mom is now 88 years young and plays five days a week-and pretty darn well at that. Golf with my Son Chris, whom my dad started at age 3, and my Mom is my perfect golf group and we play fast and hard. Doesn't matter the course for we play for the love of family and friendship.

What is your current home course? I can play about anywhere so I really don't have a home course and I play lots of public courses with my friends, but I am a honorary member at Country Club of Darien, (Connecticut), Devil's Pulpit and Paintbrush in Caledon, Ontario, and a few other places around the USA.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment? I have no significant championships to brag about, and only a couple of holes-in-ones, and I am a middle handicapper at present, so my proudest accomplishment must be my professional standing in the golf Industry. I am on a first name basis with people from every discipline and rank who are my good friends and colleagues. For me, that is more cool than winning some obscure championship. My friends and knowledge of golf courses has made me a welcome visitor anywhere in the world.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? Slow play, golfers not taking care of the course, and that more play have not discovered the wonderful world of golf.

What is your favorite golf destination? I love to play the Monterey Peninsula courses or Eastern Long Island, Irish and Scottish courses blow me away, and golf down under in Australia and New Zealand are the best courses---but there are no really bad courses, some are just better than others. My select few would be Devil's Paintbrush, Cypress Point and Erin Hills.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet? I must shamefully admit I have not been to Bandon Oregon to play those wonderful courses. If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play? Cypress Point ! Early in the morning, in the autumn is the best.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? I would encourage that the only time you keep score is when you are In a competition that requires it---otherwise just enjoy each hole as a separate challenge and source of pleasure. Keeping score can ruin an otherwise enjoyable day.

Dream foursome (living)? My Mom, my Son, and Pete Dye

Dream foursome (living or dead)? My mentor and business partner Jack Kidwell, my Father, and Alister MacKenzie

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt? Long Drive that ends up in the fairway

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One? The full round with people I like best

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Tough Choice but I am a morning person----Dawn

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? I have never hit a power draw so that would be my choice

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? Halfway house

6) Bathroom OR bushes? Clean bathroom or any bush, or not as long as it is downwind

7) Hot dog OR wrap? All American Hot Dog---mustard, onions, sour kraut----or a good coney.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough? Thick rough

9) Walking OR riding? WALKING as long as I am healthy enough and riding when I am not

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid? Carry both

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Par five

12) Pants OR Shorts? Pants unless it is unbearable hot

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus? I know Jack best and I like the guy

14) Beatles OR Elvis? Beatles for they remind me of my high school days

15) Play for fun OR play for money? Play for fun money---chump change and a buck or two

16) Bump and run OR flop shot? Bump and run

17) Lay up OR gamble? My head says lay up but my heart says "go for it."

18) 18 holes OR 36? I can handle 36 a day but I think the round should be 15 holes---18 seems like too many these days