BILL KERMAN, ASGCA
Senior Design Associate
EDUCATION
Bill Kerman holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Akron and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio. He is a full member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA)and the United States Golf Association (USGA).
BACKGROUND
Although Bill Kerman is a civil engineer by training, he is a golf coursedesignerbychoice. His extensive technical background allows him to excel in all projects, particularly those presenting severe site and environmental restrictions. Bill’s strong analytical proficiency allows him to integrate the difficult, often conflicting demands of design projects involving both golf and development. Bill attributes this skill to his past experience working with local, state and federal government agencies. Accordingly, he is a key asset to the Fry/Straka team, especially for projects involving severe site challenges or restrictions.
DESIGNING IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS
Bill’s ability to consistently create an inspiring golf experience on less than ideal sites is demonstrated on such projects as Tycoon Golf Club (Shenzhen, China), Club Mow (Mogokri,Korea), OakValleyGolf Club (Hainan Island, China), Cook’s Creek Golf Course (Ashville, Ohio), The River Course at Keystone (Keystone, Colorado) and Camelback Golf Club, Ambiente Course (Scottsdale, Arizona). These golf courses faced such severe site challenges and restrictions as protecting drinking water reservoirs, preserving and enhancing existing wetlands, working in mountainous topography and improving and working within large flood plains and floodways.
DESIGN RECOGNITION
Bill was the primary designer on the two significant reclamation projects of Widow’s Walk (Scituate, MA) and Harbor Links (Long Island, NY) golf courses. The former in particular has received several national environmental recognition awards and was ranked by Golf Digest magazine as being among the “Top Ten Best New Public Golf Courses in the United States.” Widow’s Walk is also widely regarded as the United States’ first environmental demonstration golf course, resulting from a collaboration between golf, environmental and governmental agencies.
“Even though my background is in engineering, what I appreciate about golf course design is the artistry of it. We have the opportunity to create living earth sculptures on uniquely different sites all over the world. It is an honor to have the opportunity to create the golf courses that countless golfers can enjoy for many years.”