Swing Into Spring

The RockSwing Into

Spring

February 2015IN THIS ISSUE

GENERAL MANAGERS CORNER

WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE CLUB THIS WINTER/SPRING

WINTER/SPRING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY RECAP

GET INVOLVED - A LIST OF FIREROCK CLUBS

BOARD OF MANAGERS

STAFF DIRECTORY

THE GENERAL MANAGER’S CORNERI have been very fortunate over the past 30 years to have been associated with a myriad of great golf courses, magnificent clubhouses, great amenities and nice people. As I look back to those Clubs and try to answer the question in the title of my article it becomes clear in my mind that the answer is quite simple. A great Club is not necessarily the one with the best golf course or the grandest clubhouse nor the one with the fanciest amenities. The great Clubs that stand out in my mind are the ones with great people. Great Clubs need dedicated individuals either on the Board or in ownership, in management, in the membership and in the service staff. Let’s face it, if it was merely about golf there are a lot of daily fee courses that can meet your needs. If it was only about dining, there are also a multitude of options for you to consider. The same applies to tennis, fitness and the pool.A great Club encompasses all of those amenities and services and delivers it in a way that makes a member feel special. A great Club is about lifestyle, it’s not about golf, dining, fitness; it’s about the delivery of those services. A great Club is a place for like-minded individuals to share an experience. A great Club requires a vision, commitment, passion and soul. Great Clubs know their identity and do not typically deviate from the course of action that they have set for themselves in their vision state-ment. Great Clubs have an identity.Most Clubs that I have managed over the years, unlike this one, have been around for 100 years or more and are a focal part of the community in which they are located. Generation upon generation joined the Club and continued the tradition. I’m sure that during all of those years these clubs had to re-invent themselves and adapt to a changing society around them, however, they probably never lost sight of who they were and what they meant to the community. Many of them were challenged with bigger, shinier golf courses popping up in the vicinity but the successful ones soldiered on and re-mained true to their vision and mission. They were successful because they had great people leading them.As I pour over the recent survey results and many comments that were echoed, it is clear to me that we are not yet a great Club. Can we be, absolutely! It is clear in many responses that you the members are seeing some positive change happening be it on the golf course, in the dining room or in other areas of the Club. The Club is still in its infancy whether or not we consider 2000 as its inception date or when the members bought the Club just over a year ago. We therefore do not have the benefit of many traditions yet at the Club. We do have a strong, passionate and committed ownership group and we are putting a solid management team together and most importantly we do have a great core of outstanding members.There is tons of potential here at FireRock to make this a great Club and together we can make it hap-pen. We need you support and I do understand that we must earn it. Your support can come in many ways: bringing guests, dining at the Club, participating in events, purchasing items in the golf shop and the ultimate compliment: referring your friends to join our wonderful Club. Your continued feedback is also vital and two way communication is vitally important.I am delighted to a part of it, my Department Heads are excited and all of our Associates are also thrilled to be part of the FireRock family. Together we will make FireRock great.

Denis

Happenings and Events

A Season of FunWith the season in full swing and different activities going on almost every day, it can be hard to keep up with all of the events. This month, we would like to highlight everything the club has going on during the rest of winter and into spring. From golf tournaments to club parties, to wine dinners, it is going to be a busy couple months. Be sure to get your calendar out and mark down the events and activities you would like to attend so you don’t miss out on the excitment of the season.

For our golfers, the pro shop has planned an abundance of both large and small tournaments. Ev-erything from the casual FireRock Cup to the formal Member Invita-tional’s, there is a tournament to fit the needs of all of our golfers.This year for our Men’s Invita-tional, March 25-28, the planning

committee has decided to go back to the traditional roots of the game. It will be a very classic tournament with golf as the focus. The event will begin on March 25th with reg-istration, practice rounds, dinner and Calcutta betting. The follow-ing morning players will begin the tournament by playing the first two matches. Friday, March 27th, the following two matches will be

played before spouses and guests join for cocktails and dinner. Sat-urday, the 28th will bring the final match along with pari-mutual wa-gering. Spouses and guests will again arrive for a brunch in the afternoon. After the tournament concludes with a shootout, every-one will rejoin in the clubhouse for cocktails, heavy hors d’ oeu-vres and the awards ceremony. It will be an incredible event and is a highlight for many of our mem-bers and their guests.

Pictures: Snapshots of our 2014 Men’s Invitational.

The ladies member guest golf tourna-ment is also a great event. Happening March 16-17th, the two-day tourna-ment will feature hosted breakfasts, lunches, hors d’ oeuvres and dinner. A putting tournament at the end of the first day with hors d’ oeuvres and

drinks is a guest highlight as well as the dinner and awards ceremony at the end of the event. Other golf tournaments this season include the Senior Club Champion-ship, where our seniors battle it out for bragging rights of best golfer 50 and over. Men’s and Ladies Member/Member tournament, an event that pits couple against couple. Rally for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness, is a great tournament for our ladies and their guests to wear their pink, support the cause and raise money for breast cancer.

Rally for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness, is a great tournament for our ladies and their guests to wear their pink, support the cause and raise money for breast cancer. In March, the Couples Club Champion-ship takes our regular couples golf-ers and puts them into a competitive setting to see which couple reigns supreme. April brings us the Men’s and Ladies Club Championships where each respective sex plays for their own title. And last but not least is the end of season FireRock Cup.

Pictures: Snapshots of our 2014 Ladies Member Guest Tournament

Happenings and Events

With all these tournaments going on, the club also still has its weekly and monthly golf events. These include; our ladies league every Tuesday, Cactus League (a multi-club ladies league), Several different weekly men’s leagues, Men’s Interclub (a multi-club men’s league), and the FireRockers League. For any addi-tional information on the tournaments or golf groups, please contact the pro shop at 480.836.8000.

$950 per two person team

It is an incredibly busy time for our clubhouse as well. The food and beverage department has many events planned in the upcoming months ranging from wine dinners to Easter brunch. Each event has been meticulously planned with incredible decorations and delicious eats. With the first one successfully under our belts, the club will con-tinue hosting a series of wine dinners throughout the spring. Each dinner will feature different wines from our collection. These memorable and educational dinners offer multiple courses of flavorful food that pairs with individual wines. A representative or winemaker of the winery will spend the evening educating the guests on the wines, as they are served Chef Zanow’s mouth-watering fare.

Another event that highlights the culinary team at FireRock is our Valentines Day dinner. Our Champagne and Roses dinner allows guests to pick from a four-course menu with options such as beef tenderloin and Hawaiian Ono. Champagne will be flowing all night and each lady will receive a special red rose.

Easter brunch is also an incredibly popular event. With the annual egg hunt, pictures with the Easter bunny, and petting zoo, there is so much for the kids to do. The brunch is a favorite, offering a variety of classic dishes and unique menu items as well.

As the most popular event of the season, it is important to make early reservations for our Easter brunch. If your group has children that would like to participate in the egg hunt, be sure to schedule the reservation accordingly.Our spring party, April 11, is themed “American Graffiti.” It is going to be an evening filled with cars, music, food, and entertainment- the perfect way to spend one last evening with your fellow members before many say goodbye for the summer.

Pictures: Left Page: Upper Left: Valentine Rose For The Ladies, Lower Left: 2014 Easter Petting

Zoo, Upper Right: 2014 Egg Hunt, Lower Right: Spring Party Theme,

“Graffiti”.Right Page: Above: Yoga On The

Event Lawn

Aside from special events the club has planned, our weekly and monthly activities are a great way to meet new people with similar interests. FireRock has a month-ly book club that meets the first Wednesday of every month, as well as a monthly ladies social network-ing happy hour. Other fun events and groups are, Chef Zanow’s monthly cooking class, several weekly Mah Jong groups, as well as Gin Rummy, a Tuesday evening men’s poker group, Yoga on the event lawn and a bi-weekly bridge group. For more information on any of these groups, or to start a group, call 480.836.8100

February EventsSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Sunday BunchSuper Bowl

MahJongMen’s Interclub

Ladies GolfGin RummyPoker

Book Club Couples Golf Live Music in the Grill

Senior Club Championship

8 9 10 11 12 13 14Sunday BunchSenior ClubChampionship

Scottsdale ClassicYogaMahJongBridge


Couples Golf Live Music in the Grill

Valentine’s Day Dinner

15 16 17 18 19 20 21Sunday Bunch Scottsdale

HarmonyYogaMahJong


Ladies Social Networking

Couples GolfMen’s Interclub

Live Music in the GrillMe’s Member/Member Party

Men’s and Ladies Mem-ber/Member

22 23 24 25 26 27 28Men’s and Ladies Mem-ber/MemberSunday Bunch

YogaMahJongCactus LeagueBridge

Rally for the CureGin RummyPoker


Cooking with Chef Zanow

Golf EventsClub House Events

March EventsSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Sunday BunchSuper Bowl

MahJongMen’s Interclub



Senior Club Championship

8 9 10 11 12 13 14Sunday BunchSenior ClubChampionship

Scottsdale ClassicYogaMahJongBridge



Valentine’s Day Dinner

15 16 17 18 19 20 21Sunday Bunch Scottsdale

HarmonyYogaMahJong



Couples GolfMen’s Interclub

Live Music in the GrillMe’s Member/Member Party

Men’s and Ladies Mem-ber/Member

22 23 24 25 26 27 28Men’s and Ladies Mem-ber/MemberSunday Bunch

YogaMahJongCactus LeagueBridge

Rally for the CureGin RummyPoker


Cooking with Chef Zanow

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Sunday Bunch Yoga

MahJongCactus League



8 9 10 11 12 13 14Sunday BunchCouples Club Championship

YogaMahJongBridge



15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Sunday BunchLadies Mem-ber Guest

YogaLadies Mem-ber GuestMahJong




St. Francis Winery Wine Dinner


MahJongBridge


Men’s Member Guest

Couples GolfMen’s Member Guest

Men’s Member GuestLive Music in the Grill

Men’s Member Guest

Golf EventsClub House Events

April EventsSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4Book Club Couples Golf Live Music in

the Grill

5 6 7 8 9 10 11Easter Bunch Yoga

MahJongLadies GolfGin RummyPoker


Spring Member Party

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Sunday Bunch YogaMahJongCactus LeagueBridge


Ladies Social Netoworking


Men’s and Ladies Club Championship

19 20 21 22 23 24 25Sunday BunchMen’s and Ladies Club Championship

YogaMahJong

Ladies Closing DayGin RummyPoker

Couples Golf Closing Day

FireRock CupLive Music in the Grill

FireRock/Sol-heim CupCooking with Chef Zanow

26Sunday BunchFireRock/Sol-heim Cup

27YogaMahJongCactus LeagueBridge

28Gin RummyPoker

29 30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2Live Music in the Grill


MahJongGin RummyPoker

Book Club Cactus League Live Music in the Grill

10 11 12 13 14 15 16Mother’s Day Brunch

YogaMahJongBridge

Gin RummyPoker

Live Music in the Grill

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Sunday Bunch YogaMahJong

Gin RummyPoker

Ladies Social Netoworking



MahJongBridge

Gin RummyPoker


31Sunday Bunch

May Events

The month of January was the per-fect way to start the New Year. Janu-ary 24th, FireRock hosted the Flora Springs wine dinner, which turned out to be a huge success.

Owner of the vineyard, John Komes hosted the evening and chef Graham Zanow provided the five-course din-ner. The courses ranged from a Maine lobster tower, to braised beef short ribs to truffles and chocolate spice cake.

tower, to braised beef short ribs to truffles and chocolate spice cake. Also providing entertainment for the evening was Comedian/Hypno-tist, Pattie Freeman. Pattie made the guests laugh all evening by transform-ing them into superstars, racecar driv-ers and hula dancers.

Also at the event was John Yourk Jewelry Design. The company dis-played its custom jewelry as well as gave each couple an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

When it was over, everyone at the event ate amazing food, drank great wine and had an incredible experi-ence.

January Recap

Chef Zanow’s cooking class was the most successful one yet. It was so large, that it was moved from the pri-vate dining room to the main dining room. Featuring molecular cuisine, Chef Zanow taught the attendees how to use a smoke gun, make dry ice , ice cream, create caviars and whip up a little foam.

Pictures: Left Page: Flora Springs Wines about to be poured. Braised

beef short ribs, A table of guests under the spell of Comedian/Hypnotist, Pat-tie Freeman, custom Jewelry by John Yourk. Right Page left colum: Guests

enjoying themselves at the wine dinner. Right Colum: Chef Zanow’s molecular

cooking class.

Bridge Group: Every other Monday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Book Club:

First Wednesday of every month from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Ladies Golf League: Every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Ladies Social Networking: Third Wednesday of every month from 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Mah Jong: Every Monday afternoon at12:30 p.m.

Men’s Golf League: See pro shop for varying times and groups.

Men’s PokerEvery Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

Tennis:Contact tennis pro’s for days and times

Yoga: Every Monday at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Get Involved

Jack Dempsey

Scott Haggins

Mike Hudson

Lou Laskis

Paul Mazze

Brad Reeves

Dennis Zentner

Board Of Managers

Staff Directory

Documents

Swing Into Spring