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A Gary Panks-design in Arizona aims to never overseed again. FireRock Country Club in the Phoenix suburb of Fountain Hills, recently completed a major renovation that also makes it the first facility in the state to introduce Stadium Zoysia across tees, fairways and green surrounds.
The Stadium Zoysia was developed by Bladerunner Farms and supplied by licensed grower West Coast Turf. It's designed for sustainable, year-round play in desert conditions, which would mean the end of the traditional overseed to winter rye grass, a water-intensive process but one that virtually all golf courses in Arizona go through.
"Our water supply was once described as the worst in the Southwest," said Tim Geesey, FireRock's general manager. "We were following the same practices as everyone else in town trying to get the grass to grow, and we just couldn't. We were spending all this money and wasting all this water for nothing. Now, we've created a solution that positions us for the future."
Ahead of a grand re-opening in 2025, the club made the decision to steer away from overseeding, which required significant infrastructure improvements. Six inches of topsoil was removed and a new drainage system was installed, allowing for the course routing to stay true to Panks' original vision.
The private golf course, which opened in 1999, reported immediate dividends and says there were 4,700 rounds played in January, up from 4,000 from the years before. Even bigger is the 40 million gallons of water saved annually while offering year-round play.
"FireRock Country Club had the vision to take a necessary leap forward," David Doguet, CEO and Founder of Bladerunner Farms, said. "What they've accomplished is more than a renovation. It's a reset of what's possible for golf in desert environments. This project proves that courses no longer have to choose between playability and sustainability. They can achieve both."
Todd Kelly is an assistant editor for Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: FireRock is first course in Arizona to introduces Stadium Zoysia turf
Continue reading...
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The Stadium Zoysia was developed by Bladerunner Farms and supplied by licensed grower West Coast Turf. It's designed for sustainable, year-round play in desert conditions, which would mean the end of the traditional overseed to winter rye grass, a water-intensive process but one that virtually all golf courses in Arizona go through.
"Our water supply was once described as the worst in the Southwest," said Tim Geesey, FireRock's general manager. "We were following the same practices as everyone else in town trying to get the grass to grow, and we just couldn't. We were spending all this money and wasting all this water for nothing. Now, we've created a solution that positions us for the future."
Ahead of a grand re-opening in 2025, the club made the decision to steer away from overseeding, which required significant infrastructure improvements. Six inches of topsoil was removed and a new drainage system was installed, allowing for the course routing to stay true to Panks' original vision.
You must be registered for see images attach
The private golf course, which opened in 1999, reported immediate dividends and says there were 4,700 rounds played in January, up from 4,000 from the years before. Even bigger is the 40 million gallons of water saved annually while offering year-round play.
"FireRock Country Club had the vision to take a necessary leap forward," David Doguet, CEO and Founder of Bladerunner Farms, said. "What they've accomplished is more than a renovation. It's a reset of what's possible for golf in desert environments. This project proves that courses no longer have to choose between playability and sustainability. They can achieve both."
Todd Kelly is an assistant editor for Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: FireRock is first course in Arizona to introduces Stadium Zoysia turf
Continue reading...
