RJH Golf Course Management Services Inc.

The recently published “Selected Golf Courses”, Photo & Essays Vol #1 a compilation of some of the most highly regarded and award winning Golf Courses designed by Hurdzan/Fry features two courses constructed by Robbie Hellstrom. The first Course “Le Diable” at the Intrawest owned Tremblant resort the second at the PEI government owned Dundarave Course and Golf Academy. Both of these projects were designed by the award winning firm of Hurdzan/Fry and were done in collaboration with Robbie who was responsible for developing, constructing and operating both these projects. The following are some portions of the essays found in the book:

From Le Diable

“The next task was to develop construction documents that dovetailed with the plans of the predominantly French-speaking engineers, consultants and environmentalist involved in a project of this magnitude, keeping in mind our French “weren’t to good”. Thank goodness they all spoke reasonably good English (although with a distinctively Inspector Clouseau accent), and we had Robbie Hellstrom as our point of contact. Robbie is bilingual, a powerful motivator of people and has boundless energy and had previously supervised the building of an earlier golf course at Mont Tremblant. He was the primary reason we were able to build the entire golf course complex in the space of six months. Until we saw it happen, we though it was physically impossible. Dana, Jason Straka and Robbie started in snow shoes in April, tying ribbons on trees for clearing. The clearing began in four feet of snow in early April. By September 1st the entire golf course was seeded. Even today, all of us at Hurdzan/Fry think of Robbie as a miracle worker, as well as a friend.”

From Dundarave

“Like most small Island communities, everyone knows everyone else, and their politics. The life history of Dundarave begins with a series of legal and political maneuvers that seemed to be documented in the Charlottetown newspaper every day, with each side alleging some kind of self-serving motivation by the other side. We read all of it, didn’t understand any of it, so we just enjoyed the wonderful world of PEI while we fashioned an 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole executive course and a huge learning centre. Dana, Jason Straka and I worked on this project, and when time got short and we needed more supervisors we called in Guy Quattrocchi. To avoid stirring up old politics, we will limit the cast of characters to Robbie Hellstrom – who many thought should have been named “ Hell Storm” for his well calculated and precision guided fits of anger. Robbie again did what we thought was impossible – complete a golf course complex on PEI in less then five and a half months. Even today, we are in awe of Robbie’s ability to get things done, even if it means some people end up seriously disliking him. Robbie showed us what he could do at Mont Tremblant when he the project coordinator for Le Diable Course, so he was hired to repeat the trick at Dundarave.”

More about the Hurdzan/Fry projects can be seen and read in this fantastic book available through Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design Inc 1270 Old Henderson Road Columbus, Ohio 43220.