Jason Straka Completes Design of Ambiente Golf Course at Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

(DUBLIN, Ohio) – Jason Straka of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design (www.frystraka.com), a partnership with worldwide reach in award-winning golf-course design, has completed the design of Ambiente golf course at Camelback Golf Club at the historic JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. The course, which will open for play in November, is the first new golf-course development project in the Phoenix-Scottsdale and Paradise Valley areas in over five years. Ambiente was designed by Jason Straka under the banner of Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Course Design.

“It was a privilege to work with Marriott to create Ambiente,” says Straka. “I am excited for golfers to experience its tumbling wide fairways, intriguing contours, eye-popping bunkering and wonderful blend of native vegetation.  I believe golfers of all abilities will find a playable, memorable and fun round of golf in an environmentally beneficial setting.”

Ambiente Golf Course Design Features
The name “Ambiente,” the Spanish word for “environment,” reflects the detailed ecologically-sensitive character of the layout’s architectural plan. Ambiente, with a Northern desert look, blends distinctive aesthetic and environmental qualities, resulting in a memorable and satisfying playing experience. Restoration of native habitat, which is encouraging the return of abundant wildlife, was a design priority in creating a golf course that is environmentally sensitive while still being both aesthetically pleasing and fun to play.

Ambiente has only 90 acres of maintained turfgrass, requiring a minimum of maintenance resources. The remaining 110 acres of the property were planted into a native mix of desert riparian plants, upland desert trees, shrubs and grasses, and a palette of native winter and summer desert wildflowers. In 2008 Camelback Golf Club was designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and Ambiente’s design embraces the spirit and parameters of that distinction.

While being environmentally valuable, Ambiente also provides excellent playability, strategy and highly maintained conditioning. The flatness of the land was amended and rolling contours added, producing effective drainage supporting excellent conditioning.  When paired with eight new bridges on the course, the new contouring provides protection from moderate flood events emanating from the internal Indian Bend and Berneil Washes. These same contours also provide for a fun ground game and when coupled with wide fairways, 5 sets of tee boxes from which to choose, strategically placed bunkering and large well-contoured greens, it all adds up to a unique and fun golf experience.

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