Firewheel Golf Park - Bridges Champion Course

In 1981, Garland city planners identified a site covered in native firewheels on overgrown farmland in north Garland, spurring development through golf. The city opened the Old Course in 1983, designed by Dick Phelps, a Colorado-based architect with degrees from Iowa State University who created over 400 projects across 15 states and Canada, emphasizing golfer-friendly designs without blind shots. Its success led to the Lakes Course in 1987, also by Phelps. The Bridges Course, a 27-hole layout comprising Champion, Masters, and Tradition nines forming various 18-hole combinations like Bridges Champion, opened in 2001, widely attributed to Phelps who authored Firewheel's courses. Owned by the City of Garland, the complex totals 63 holes, the largest in Texas and third-largest in the U.S. The Old Course and Bridges have hosted PGA Tour Qualifying, U.S. Open qualifiers, U.S. Amateur qualifiers, and Byron Nelson Qualifiers, drawing elite golfers repeatedly. All courses have earned top rankings in Avid Golfer magazine. Firewheel catalyzed local growth including housing and the Firewheel Town Center.