The cry of “Fore!” soon will bounce across verdant tee boxes, fairways and greens of the former Hassayampa Golf Club, which has been inactive since November 2012.
The course has a new name: Capital Canyon Club (CCC).
General Manager Jeff Raymond says the new name reflects the history of Prescott: “Capital” – first capital of the Arizona Territory; and “Canyon” – the Grand Canyon state.
The golf course is scheduled to open July 4. “What a great way to celebrate, with a round of golf at this historic course,” Raymond said.
Several million dollars will be spent to develop Capital Canyon Club into a “…championship caliber first-class private course and offer club experiences that provide exceptional social opportunities and fine dining,” he said.
A full-time executive chef, John Panza, has been hired to supervise both formal and informal dining facilities. Also on board is Astolfo Mendoza as food and beverage director.
Standing on the second-story deck overlooking the driving range and a fairway, Raymond says clubhouse updating, expansion and renovation are already underway.
“We’re giving special attention to the new fitness center. We’re also expanding the patio deck and remodeling almost totally the interior – new walls, floors, window treatments.
We’ll have wi-fi throughout, too,” Raymond explained. “We hope to have the clubhouse open by Memorial Day.”
The California native’s management experience at top quality golf courses is extensive. His most recent was that of head golf pro and director of golf for eight years at the impressive Lookout Mountain Golf Club located at Pointe Hilton Tapitio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix.
Before working in Arizona, Raymond had years of experience at prestigious golf courses in Orange County, California. His experience also includes being on the golf teams at Santa Barbara City College and later, the University of Santa Barbara.
Helping with the golf program will be Director of Golf Paul McLoughlin.
Golf Course Renovation is Extensive, Expensive, Environmentally Appropriate
In recent weeks, experienced staff members have worked to restore the formerly dormant golf course to its former status as a premier golf destination in Arizona.
One CCC team member is Jamison Bushman, hired in November as course superintendent.
He immediately initiated the leveling of tee boxes and the driving range. He also is supervising the installation of a sophisticated new irrigation system, which will be computer-monitored to ensure that course watering is controlled accurately.
Both Raymond and Bushman emphasize that no city water or ground water will be used for irrigating the course itself.
“All our water comes from treated, recycled effluent. In a sense, we ‘manufacture’ our irrigation water from the water treatment plant we have on property,” Raymond said.
Bushman added, “We’re dredging two holding ponds to expand their capacity from two million gallons to substantially more. Because we anticipate using only 600,000 gallons for irrigation, we’re actually able to put water back into the ground water system, so to speak.”
He said all tee boxes, fairways and greens will be fully and routinely aerated so that water percolates through them, thus avoiding evaporative waste.
Some grass already has been planted and is germinating, says Bushman, a Prescott native who completed collegiate work at Yavapai College and Rutgers University. He has course maintenance experience, most recently at Pinetop County Club, and before that, Antelope Hills and Talking Rock.
“We’re using a Rye-Bluegrass mix for fairways, tee boxes and rough. The mix we planted requires less water, too. For greens, we’re planting a top-performing Bent grass,” he said.
Beyond regenerating the golf course’s turf, maintenance personnel are upgrading cart paths with asphalt. They are also importing 15 tons of white sand to enhance the sand traps.
“I’m confident we’ll have a spectacular course when it opens in July,” said Bushman.
Some Hassayampa residents, even those who are not golfers, are pleased with course renovations.
Jim and Ann Swenson, 10-year condo residents, praised the improvements. “We live on the 12th fairway. The recent landscape cleanup of the historic picnic and barbeque area is outstanding. We also think the refurbished golf course will improve the property value of our home.”
Neighboring residents Dave and Brenda Favier, who moved into a condo this past July, echo the Swensons.
“It’s great to see significant improvements taking place and we look forward to the sights and sounds of an active golf course,” they said.
Membership Offerings Vary
Rusan Schulz, membership director, explains that CCC will have four levels of membership.
- Founder’s Membership: This is the highest level of membership, with a 10-year up-front initial fee and no monthly dues. It offers unlimited use of the golf course and its facilities. Among benefits are 14-day advance starting time reservations, complimentary club rental for accompanied guests, complimentary bag storage and locker space, access to the fitness center and exclusive access to the clubhouse restaurant and social events.
- Frontier Membership: This level allows unlimited use of the golf course and course facilities, but has monthly dues and not as many benefits as the Founder’s level.
- Territory Business Membership: This level provides for three designees from a business or corporate entity, with the flexibility of adding up to two more designees on a per fee basis. They will have essentially the same benefits as Frontier members. This level also has monthly dues.
- 1864 Membership: This level is more commonly known as a “social” membership and includes exclusive access to the clubhouse restaurant and special events and access to the fitness center. It requires monthly dues.
Schulz notes that private golf course membership – the first three levels – would be restricted to approximately 350 people. The social membership level will likely be targeted at about 500 people.
Specific details about the four levels of membership and their costs are available from Schulz at her office at 2060 Golf Club Lane. She can be reached by phone at 928-350-3155 or email rschulz@capitalcanyonclub.com.
Raymond said plans also include sponsoring golf tournaments for selected purposes or causes. “We know we’ll have tournaments for significant philanthropic events. We also have the long-term vision that CCC will be viewed throughout the Southwest as a vacation destination with dramatic appeal.” QCBN
By Ray Newton
Quad Cities Business News
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