September 27, 2010 –
MAYETTA: Firekeeper Golf Course opened this morning for tribal member play and Notah Begay, PGA golfer and designer of the course, was on hand to do a test run of the course.
When asked about the course he said, “The project is as perfect as I’ve seen. We’ve had great community support, the uses of the land for the course are beautiful, and we are coming in under budget and on time. It just doesn’t get any better than this.”
This is Begay’s first signature course and was built by his company NB3 Consulting and partners Landscapes Unlimited, Inc. and architect Jeffrey D. Brauer. It is an 18-hole course and sits across the street from the Prairie Band Casino & Resort. Tribal members are getting to play the course this week in a sneak preview and it will officially open to the public next spring.
Begay will give a golf clinic this evening from 5 to 6 p.m. for tribal youth at the driving range. Below are some photos that were taken this morning of Begay’s test run and tribal members enjoying the new course.
Notah Begay on hole #1 at the new Firekeeper Golf Course.
Jim Potts was the first tribal member to tee off today in a PBPN foursome. Behind him is DonDon LeClere and Melvin Lewis. Not pictured is BJ Darnall.
Dawn Matchie and Greg Nasky show off the teeshirts that were handed out this morning. They are standing in front of the practice green near the club.
From left to right are Mark Freeland, NB3 Consulting, Junior Wahweotten, Tribal Council member, Begay and Jack Morgan, Landscapes Unlimited Project Manager.
Tribal members warming up on the driving range.
Begay in action. He is the only full-blooded (Dine) Indian on the PGA Tour and has been a PGA winner four times. He also established the NB3 Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping Native American youth fight obesity and diabetes.