Your Holiday Guide 3
Parties you won’t want to miss this season p. 8
Fall 2011
plus
Chef’s Corner
Learn how to make the ultimate tailgate recipe p. 9
Welcome Back!
Friday, November 11th, 2011 menu and event info inside p. 8
New Golf Apparel Also our dress code and course etiquette information p. 6
Welcome Our New
2
General Manager
grandson. Our son and his wife are expecting twins in December, which will make our Holiday Season extremely exciting in many ways! I will quickly become a familiar face around the Club. I believe in managing with my feet; you will see me visiting all areas of the grounds and facilities. I appreciate questions and comments and respond to all in a very short period of time. We are very busy preparing for the golf course over-seeding, October 3rd through the 20th. The clubhouse will undergo minor repairs at the same time; however, the grill and other services remain open throughout. The golf course opens for play Friday, October 21st.
Geary Goss, General Manager Greetings, Let me start by extending a heartfelt thank you to the members I met my first week. You have all been so gracious and warm, I felt like I belonged from the first day. Thank you also for the insider advice on local restaurants and businesses, which certainly came in handy, as I’m settling into my apartment.
Let me once more thank you for your kindness. It has made us even more excited about our decision to come to FireRock. I look forward to seeing you at the Club very soon. Sincerely, Geary Goss General Manager
FireRock Country Club, and the community surrounding it, is inspiring to say the least. It is my personal goal to never take this natural beauty for granted. Many of you expressed the same sentiment to me. My wife Susan and I both grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; but, came to Scottsdale and the Valley numerous times on vacation and business. Our history, and appreciation of the area, made the decision to accept this opportunity an easy one and we will not miss the heat and humidity in Houston one moment. We have three wonderful children and “currently” one
Jay and Kathleen Witkin New Social Members who are full-time Fountain Hills residents. Avid travelers, Jay and Kathleen’s most recent trip was to explore a bit of China!
Thursday
Theme Nights
October
November
December
13th - Pasta Night 27th - Burger Night
3rd - Taco and Tostada 10th - Pasta Night 17th - Chef’s Table
8th - Pasta Night 22nd - Burger Night
Membership Update
3
Lynn Smith, Manager of Marketing and Sales Since January, we have welcomed 20 new members to our FireRock Country Club family. Although the times remain challenging, with the opportunity to select a membership that fits your lifestyle now, FireRock is an attractive private club offering. Our “Summer Sunday” program, that ran seven Sundays in August through September 18th, introduced 25 new prospective FireRock members to our beautiful Club. By reaching out to all FireRock owners and residents, who are not members, and giving them the opportunity to experience our Club life, we are optimistic that several new members will be joining us soon. As we move into the busy fall season, I look forward to meeting and getting to know more of our current members and assisting in shaping programs and events that appeal to everyone. We are eager to build on the camaraderie that is the spirit and vibrant energy of our Club. My door is always open to hear your comments and fresh ideas on how we can make FireRock the perfect place for family and friends to gather and enjoy this wonderful southwest lifestyle.
As new members join us, our intention is to quickly include them in events and activities that suit their interests; and make them feel welcome. The casual atmosphere of FireRock, complemented by the friendly energy of our members, sets the stage for a private club experience that is so attractive to discriminating prospective club members. Please stop by and introduce yourself; and if I can provide you, or your friends, with membership information, tours of the club or assist you in any way, contact me at membership@firerockcc.com or call me directly at 480.836.3435.
Wil and Jeri Cowen Our newest golf members, Wil and Jeri Cowen, are fulltime Scottsdale residents.Six years ago they moved from Long Island, NY. Retired and working on their games, the Cowen’s have 2 sons, a daughter and 4 grandchildren.
Welcome New Members Golf
Tom and Denice Larson John and Adele Virden (photo pg. 5) Rick and Sheri Fleury (photo pg. 7) Wil and Jeri Cowen (above pg. 3)
Sports
Dave and Kelly Farrow (photo pg. 7) Bill and Sharon Sultzbaugh Tom and Meghan Higgins Jim Lamon Ted and Laura Corse John and Aimee Avery
Social
Merrick and Monica Firestone (photo pg. 10) Ronny Hendrickx and Marinka Mohorcic (photo pg. 11) Jay and Kathleen Witkin (photo pg. 2) Krishna Pinnamaneni and Bhavani Krishna Justin Meszaros Tim Carpay and Linda Pileggi (photo pg. 5)
Dining
Dick and Marlys Bedlington Shawn and Destanie White (photo pg. 6) Steven and Claudia Abrahamson Peter Lewis
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Message From
the
Pro
Chris Morrison, Head Golf Professional It’s that time of year, summer is over and a new season is here. We look forward to members returning; and the golf course getting busy again. Our annual tournaments are scheduled and we plan to add more, as the season progresses. Check the web site and ForeTees for tournament dates and a brief description of each event. Please use the web site to stay informed and sign-up for all club tournaments and any changes for the upcoming season. For you lucky members who spent the summer in cooler climates, we hope it was enjoyable and full of great golf. I was invited to visit some of our members in Minnesota this August and I especially want to thank John and Vicki O’Connor for their hospitality. It was a fun gathering of members and it’s certainly easy to see the appeal; the weather was great and the golf was even better!
ForeTees is the way to sign up for all events. When you have guests, please remember to put the guest’s name on your tee time request. This will help with access at the gate and enable the golf staff to address the guest by name when checking-in. Additionally, it insures accurate billing for members. Please share with your guests the proper dress code and course etiquette. We are very passionate in our desire for all members and their guests to enjoy a relaxing golf experience.
Interclub & Cactus League Update Men’s Interclub is going strong in our second year. The clubs involved are: Desert Mountain, Desert Forest, Desert Highlands, Terravita, The Boulders, Mirabel, Troon, Pinnacle Peak, DC Ranch, Paradise Valley, and Silverleaf. Since we are in the East Division, the clubs we play are: Desert Highlands, Mirabel, Desert Mountain, Troon, and Silverleaf. Let’s go out and show them all our A+Games. The Ladies Cactus League is also going strong. Mirabel is a new addition to the League this year. Our FireRock team has done an exceptional job, so keep up the good work ladies! Our Team Captain is Laura Cannon. Please use ForeTees to sign-up for play and contact the golf shop or Laura if you have any questions. Highlights of Events for the Season Ladies Open Day Nov 1st Men’s Four Member Nov 18th - 20th Men’s Two Day Member-Guest Dec 2nd & 3rd Ladies Member-Guest Dec 6th Thursday Couples Christmas Sale Dec 10th
Christmas Sale December 10th Apparel Update Bryson and I attended the apparel shows this year and think we have selected some great new colors and styles to add to your golfing attire. As you know we have to compete with the PGA Super Store so we will match any price the Super Store has on new items. We can also order any items you need from most
5
manufacturers. We will have the golf shop fully stocked when we reopen after overseeding. This year we have added a number of new apparel lines for both women and men. For ladies: JOFIT, Annika, Under Armour, Bette & Court, Nike, Greg Norman, Adidas, and Sport Haley.
Please help keep our course beautiful
For the men: Greg Norman, Footjoy, Adidas, Cleveland, Nike, Poulter, Under Armour, and Cutter & Buck. Golf Course Care As we open for another season of golf, please be aware of the following course care notes: Bunkers – carefully rake after each shot. Please leave rakes outside the bunkers. Divots – always fill your divots with the sand/ seed mix provided on the carts and tee boxes. Fill additional divots if time permits. Ball Marks – please repair your mark as well as any other. To properly fix the mark, push the edges of the indentation toward the center. Pulling up or lifting on the center or side will tear the roots and cause brown spots. A properly repaired mark will grow back in one
to two days; an improperly repaired mark could take as long as two weeks to recover. Golf Carts – following overseeding, golf carts will be restricted to the paths until further notice. Pace of Play – play ready golf. Keep pace with the group in front of you. Allow faster players to play through. Set a goal not to exceed 4 hours and 15 minutes for 18 holes.
John and Adele Virden Living between their ranch in Montrose, Colorado and their new home in Fountain Hills, they have 5 grown daughters, 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. John and Adele are active FireRock golfers.
Tim Carpay and Linda Pileggi From Vancouver, Canada, Tim has been in Arizona 15 years. Linda moved to Fountain Hills in 2008 from Chicago, IL with her three sons. Both are great tennis players and golfers!
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Country Club Attire Reminder We ask that members choose to dress in a fashion befitting the surroundings and atmosphere provided in the Club setting. Please advise your guests of the dress requirements. Gentlemen and ladies are requested to dress in a fashion compatible with the appropriate occasion. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times when on Club Facilities other than at the swimming pool and locker rooms. Bathing suits may only be worn in the pool areas and locker rooms. If you have any questions regarding appropriate dress, please call Tom Robson at 480.836.8100.
New apparel lines for both Women and Men
From The Rules Book Advice - Any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, choice of a club or the method of making a stroke. Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public infromation, such as the position of a hazard or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.
Shawn and Destanie White Shawn lived in New York growing up and Destanie is from Idaho. They are full-time Arizona residents and are raising a beautiful family.
October
November
December
3rd - 20th : Overseeding 5th - 10:30 Book Club 21st - 7am Course Opens 21st- 7pm Prime Rib Dinner 27th - Burger Night
1st - Ladies Opening Day 3rd - 10:30 Book Club 9th - 7pm Wine Tasting 11th - 7pm Welcome Back Party 18th -20th - Men’s Four Member 24th - Thanksgiving
2nd & 3rd - Men’s Two Day 6th - Ladies Member Guest 7th - 10:30 Book Club 11th - Breakfast with Santa 25th - Christmas (Club closed) 31st - 7pm NYE Celebration
The Greens
7
Kenny Watkins, Course Superintendent It has been an interesting spring and summer. This year’s mild spring created challenges for a smooth golf course transition. May and June were cooler than normal, with only one week in the beginning of May reaching the 100 degree mark. Early May we started verti-cutting and lowering the turf heights to transition from Rye to Bermuda. The Rye started to die, however, due to the cooler nights, the Bermuda growth was delayed, causing a longer than normal time for the course to green-up and transition. The greens are over-seeded with Rye and Bent grass. The unusual weather created a situation where the bent-grass took longer to die and the greens are just now recovering due to the record breaking highs we experienced in August. August 2011 will go on record as the hottest August in history. Temperatures ran between 100 and 117 for the month which made it challenging to keep the course green. We also experienced a dry summer with rain fall at 1.2 inches. The greens still have some thin areas we have been fertilizing and aerifying to force as much growth as possible before over-seeding. Keeping them cut short at .105 (7/64) for green speed, along with extreme heat, has put additional stress on the turf that has slowed recovery. To most effectively address the challenges, we requested a USGA Agronomist conduct a site survey and give us short and long-term recommendations. Based on his findings, we decided to not over-seed the roughs this winter to strengthen the Bermuda for a better stand next summer. The Fairways, Tees and Greens will be over-seeded; the par 3’s will be fully over-seeded.
Dave & Kelly Farrow The Farrows moved from Seattle to FireRock this year, they are originally from St. Louis. Dave recently hosted a company event here at FireRock!
If you would like to read more about this year’s transition, a comprehensive article written by Brian Whitlark’s is posted on the USGA web site at www.USGA.org – go to Regional Update, “Wakeup Call”. He discusses what many courses in the Valley experienced this year due to a cool spring. This season FireRock will follow the ninety (90) degree rule to protect the dormant Bermuda grass. Color stakes will be posted to indicate areas where you can enter and exit and they will be moved randomly, throughout the season, based on turf wear. We are making every effort to ensure the beauty, playability and healthy growth of our spectacular golf course for your enjoyment. Please send me a note or feel free to give me a call with any comments or questions.
Rick and Sheri Fleury The Fleurys own a Motor Sports dealership in Alberta and go between Edmonton, Alberta and their new FireRock home. They have a daughter 19 and a 17 year old son. They recently sold their home in Mesquite, Nevada to join the FireRock lifestyle.
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Food
Beverage
and
Tom Robson, Clubhouse Manager
Thank you to our members who supported us this summer and endured the extreme temperatures. And, welcome back to our members who have not been here since spring. The staff always enjoys the summer respite, but by August, we are eager to get back into all the club activities. The coming season’s special events, dining nights, and golf tournaments are posted in the calendar section of the club website and will be included in the weekly e-mail communication. If you do not receive e-mails now, and would like to start, stop by the reception desk and give Cheryl your address, or e-mail us at reception@firerockcc. com and we will add you to the list. Over the past couple of years, we have seen the member participation for the higher priced events decline and an increase in the more affordable options. Keeping this in mind, we are continuing to offer member favorites like, Pasta Night, Burger Night, and Prime Rib Dinner, along with several new events that offer tremendous value and a festive club experience. We have scheduled three Home Food & Wine Events throughout the year and are looking for members to volunteer their home, as a host property. These are exclusive off-premise events; and a great place for members to get acquainted.
The first Home Food & Wine Event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th. Please call Cheryl at 480.836.8100 if you would like to host or attend this event. Chef Steve starts his cooking class series Saturday, November 5th at 11 a.m. He is creating inspired, delectable side dishes for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The cooking classes fill up early, so call soon to make a reservation. Mark your calendar to join us for the Welcome Back Party, Friday, November 11th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. featuring live music, dancing, and of course, Chef Steve is presenting gourmet food stations to tempt your appetite. (See our featured menu) I welcome your questions and comments; my door is always open. Member feedback is a key ingredient for a successful club experience. We look forward to a fun-filled season ahead.
2011 Welcome Back Friday, November 11th Station #1 Carvery of Fresh Herb Roasted Beef Tenderloin Red Wine Demi & Bearnaise Sauce & Creamy Horseradish Sliced Silver Dollar Rolls Station #2 Chef Attended sautéed Grand Marnier Shrimp over Arugula Salad Crusty French Bread Station #3 Roasted Beet Salad with Crumbled Goat Cheese & Citrus Segments Assorted Grilled Vegetable Tower Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper Baby Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Station #4 Carvery of Oven Roasted Breast of Turkey with Sundried Tomato Pesto, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil & Spinach Roasted Garlic Butter Sauce Sliced Silver Dollar Rolls Station #5 Chocolate Bark Tuxedo Strawberries Mini Crème Brulee Mini Tiramisu Mini Key Tartlets White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake *Heavy Hors d’ Oeuvres Stations* Live Music: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Chef’s Corner
9
Stephen Duarte, Executive Chef
Welcome back to those who were gone for the summer months. It’s been a scorcher, but fall is finally here. Kids are back in school and its football season! We are looking forward to seeing many of you return, as well as meeting our new members who have joined us over the summer. If you haven’t been in the club to dine recently, we hope you make it soon. We have many great events lined up and are always happy to see you for our daily lunch and dinner service. As we roll into September, and the fall, you will see new menus and new faces in the kitchen. A sampling of our theme nights is Create Your Own Pasta Stations, Prime Rib Night and our popular ½ Pound Burger Bar. Other special events include Chef’s Cooking Classes, Food & Wine Tours and our Annual Holiday Buffets. To welcome fall, I am including a recipe for the all American past time- the tailgate party! Tailgating today has gone far beyond burgers and potato chips. You can find everything from spicy chicken wings to fall off the bone ribs, but don’t despair your tailgate feast doesn’t have to sideline your weight loss goals. Grilled kabobs with marinated meats and vegetables, seafood, fresh salsas, wraps or a simple crock of turkey chili loaded with high fiber and protein is a classic tailgate dish. 10 to 12 Dried Pasilla Chile Peppers 4 tbls Canola Oil 1 Red Bell Pepper, Seeded and Diced 1 Green Bell Pepper, Seeded and Diced 1 1/2 Jalapenos, Seeded and Minced 9 Garlic Cloves, Minced 2 Red Onions, Diced 3 Pounds Coarsely Ground Turkey (Both White & Dark Meat) 1/3 Cup Tomato Paste 3 Cups Tomato Sauce 1 Cup Chicken Stock 1 tbls Granulated Garlic 2 tsp Granulated Onion 3 tbls Chili Powder 2 tbls Paprika 1 tbls Ground Cumin 2 tsp Cayenne Pepper Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste 3 Cups Canned Pinto Beans with Liquid 3 Cups Canned Kidney Beans with Liquid 2 Cups Black Beans with Liquid Shredded Cheddar Cheese, for Garnish Sour Cream
Turkey Chili
Directions:
Rehydrate the pasilla peppers in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, or until softened; drain. Remove stem and seeds; dice the peppers. Warm the oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the pasilla chilies, bell peppers, jalapenos, garlic and onions and cook until everything caramelizes, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the turkey and stir gently trying not to break the meat down to much. Cook until turkey is no longer pink, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauce, stir in to incorporate, add chicken stock. Add in all the dried spices. Add in the beans with the liquid. Stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and cook uncovered for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Serve chili and garnish with shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream. This recipe can and would taste better if prepared 1 or 2 days in advance to allow the flavors to develop. Serves 10 to 12
Tennis News
10
Michael Grant, Head Tennis Professional
We look forward to some mild fall weather as our active Tennis Season begins. FireRock Ladies will, for the second year, have two 3.5 level teams competing in the Arizona Tennis Association. In addition to coaching the A Team, Michael Grant, will be shaping our FireRock Tennis Program and asks for all tennis players to consider joining the activities and tournaments planned now through the spring of 2012.
Tennis Schedule September 14th through December 23rd, 2011 Tuesday
10:30 AM – Noon 3:30 – 6:30 PM
Adults Juniors
“Play of the Day” Doubles Clinics Junior Tennis Program
Wednesday 8:30 AM – Noon
Ladies
FireRock Team Practice
Thursday
3:30 – 6:30 PM
Juniors
Junior Tennis Program
Friday
10:00 AM – Noon 3:30 – 6:30 PM
Adults Juniors
“Next Level” Doubles Clinics Junior Tennis Program
Saturday
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Adults
Cardio Tennis
For those who missed our earlier announcement, Michael Grant joined us in March this year, as the FireRock Country Club tennis professional. He started his teaching career as tennis coach for Southern University, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and from there, accepted the position as Men and Women’s tennis coach at Texas Southern University, in Houston, Texas. After a nine year stint at TSU, Michael relocated to the Phoenix area and has held tennis professional positions at both Phoenix Country Club, and Ancala. Michael’s enthusiasm for the game as well his expertise and extensive coaching experience are a great asset for our Club. We are extremely pleased to have Michael on board and look forward to building an excellent Tennis Program for our Members enjoyment. Please join us in welcoming Michael. His office is in the FireRock Sales Center adjacent to the tennis courts. He can be reached at 602.741.5683 or email him at coachmikegrant@yahoo.com
Merrick and Monica Firestone The Firestones have lived in Arizona since 1982; long enough to be considered natives. Merrick is from Michigan and Monica grew up in New Mexico. They have three daughters and are avid tennis players.
Fitness News
11
Eric Kruk, Fitness Director
Celebrating 10 years with you! This October marks 10 years that Julie and I have been a part of the FireRock family. Within the last 10 years I have gotten married to my wonderful wife Jennifer, and had our first child Sophia (now 17 months). In the last year, I have been lucky enough to call Fountain Hills my home with the purchase of our first home. Julie has also been married for 6 years to her husband Shane and lives in Gilbert with their two beautiful children, Bella (4 years) and Brisson (13 months). Not a day goes by that we don’t reflect on how much our lives have changed since we started working together. The one constant has been FireRock and all it’s wonderful Members! We both have clients and patrons that have been with us for most of this journey, and welcome new members all the time. We truly believe that the membership here is like no place we have worked. Many personal friendships we have forged make FireRock our second family and we feel very blessed to have that constant in our lives. For those of you who don’t know us, or the service we provide, allow me to breifly describe to you the programs that we have available. Both Julie and I offer flexibility and strength training programs that range from pre or post therapy, to sports conditioning and everything in between. Because each and every client is unique your programs are personally tailored to your physical demands. Each member is offered a free, one-on-one, consultation and program design to get you started in the right direction. If you are interested in scheduling more appointments we have options availiable for all fitness levels. We both have members that have continued working with us since we started, and every year we welcome new members to the fitness facility. It truly is a relaxing environment with a great group of people! Outside of our sadistic use of the foam rollers, I think most members have a pleasant time. I don’t think they’re giving out rolex’s, but a simple wave and a smile will do just fine! If we practice what we preach, we should be looking at another ten healthy years with our FireRock family!
Ron Hendrickx and Marinka Mohorcic Ron and Marinka lived for 11 years in Atlanta, Georgia and before that, several different states. (Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan). They’ve been in Arizona five years and this winter moved into a new FireRock home.
FireRock Staff General Manager Geary Goss Head Golf Professional Chris Morrison Clubhouse Manager Tom Robson Executive Chef Stephen Duarte Fitness Director Eric Kruk Tennis Director Michael Grant Golf Course Superintendent Kenny Watkins Manager of Sales & Marketing Lynn Smith Catering Sales Krista Hummel Food & Beverage Marci Hernandez Club Controller Cindy Thomas Administrative Assistant Cheryl Snell Director of Engineering Pete Young
Hours of Operation October 30th through April 30th Administraton Offices Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Breakfast / Lunch Service
Golf Shop
Monday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Althletic Facilities
Thursday and Friday 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Monday through Sunday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday 6:00 am to close Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am to close
Dinner Service
Food & Wine The Home Food and Wine Events are festive social gatherings. Chef brings delicious hors d’ oeuvres to pair with the wine selections at a Member’s Home. It is a great way to meet new people and enjoy great food and wines. If you are interested in hosting one at your home, call Tom Robson at the club.