Staples Golf Design to spearhead FireRock Country Club enhancement project

Photo: FireRock Country Club

Andy Staples, owner and principal architect of Staples Golf Design, has been selected as the consulting course architect for FireRock Country Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

The club’s members approved a multimillion-dollar golf course enhancement project that will take place this summer. The 430-member club will close the golf course on May 13 to undergo the project, which is aimed at refining and revitalizing the award-winning, 19-year-old Gary Panks-designed golf course.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me. When I first walked onto the property, I was struck by the dramatic nature of the site and the quality routing,” Staples said. “My plan is to bring out the best of the site by instilling a more strategic, natural style of bunkering, filled with drama for every level of player. We’ll also look to the future by finding ways to make the club’s operation much more sustainable.”

Course enhancements will include:

• Bunkers will be renovated, and some will be eliminated or relocated;
• Fairways, rough and tee boxes will be regrassed using Celebration bermudagrass;
• Green surrounds and approaches will be refined to create more options for hole locations (without changing the contours of the greens); and
• All existing tee boxes will be rebuilt and additional tees will be added, including a significant number of new forward/family tees.

“All of the course improvements are focused on building upon the great course that exists today. The changes will provide our members with better playing conditions in this amazing setting that fits so naturally within the elevation changes and desert scenery of FireRock,” said Tim Geesey, general manager. “The membership support that we received is a significant statement about the position of our club just a few years after transitioning from the original developer.”

Planning for the course currently is well underway, as Staples works hand in hand with FireRock Country Club Superintendent Craig Werline and other key staff and club stakeholders. FireRock will also continue to make improvements in and around the iconic clubhouse to further enhance the experience for the members.