10 Best Golf Courses in Utah
When folks picture the state of Utah, skiing the slopes and a variety of outdoor adventures usually come to mind first. However, Utah is a secret haven for great golfing as well. With scenic backdrops of beautiful mountain ranges in the north and central parts of the state, as well as the red rock desert look of the Old West in the south, Utah offers championship-designed courses alongside exquisite beauty unlike any other part of the United States. These are 10 of the best golf courses in the Beehive State.
Black Desert Golf Course - Ivins
This 7,500-yard course is designer Tom Weiskopf’s final masterpiece and a proud host of the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour. Surrounded by red rock mountains and fairways blasted out of lava, the course is a short nine-mile drive from St. George. Rates vary by season and include green fees, forecaddie, food and non-alcoholic beverages, access to practice facilities, and a special keepsake. The resort offers a spa, wellness and fitness center, world-class dining, hiking trails, and an airport shuttle for $45. Elevate your game with the special Stay and Play Package, which includes room and one round of golf per person per night, with same-day replay for an extra $175.
Glenwild Golf Club and Spa - Park City
Golf at Glenwild is considered a way of life. This Tom Fazio-designed course is a 7,564-yard, par-71 challenge featuring strategic bunkering that caters to players of all skill levels. Located just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, the club is situated in the valley of the Wasatch Mountains in Park City, which is more commonly known for skiing and winter sports than its driving range. However, this private club puts Utah golfing on the map with its warm charm and refreshing pool and spa, making it the most luxurious club in the state. Sitting at over 7,000 feet in elevation, players are treated to a unique high-altitude experience, causing the ball to travel further and adding excitement to the round. Contact the club for membership pricing.
Soldier Hollow Golf Course - Midway, UT
This unique public course, located in Wasatch Mountain State Park, offers a 36-hole experience built on the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics' cross-country skiing and biathlon events. Designed by Gene Bates, Soldier Hollow features two distinct 18-hole courses, the Gold Course and the Silver Course, all within one facility. It has hosted USGA events and is considered a prime example of mountain golfing. The Gold Course is the championship course, featuring a challenging links-style layout. Its narrow fairways provide terrain changes and will test your golfing skills while being surrounded by a panoramic view of Heber Valley and Mount Timpanogos. It has hosted tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur Public Links. The slightly easier-to-manage Silver Course features wider fairways and fewer elevation changes, making it ideal for those seeking a relaxed and enjoyable round of play. A short 35-minute drive down I-15 from SLC International Airport and a range of affordable fees make this course a good choice for a fun, relaxing day of play, regardless of your ability.
Sand Hollow Resort - Hurricane
A short 15-mile drive from the St. George airport, the Sand Hollow Resort course is a bucket-list destination for any golf enthusiast. This stunning course, ranked as the number one public course in the state and one of the best in the country, offers three courses to play. The beautiful championship course is really a story of two nines. The front nine offers a more traditional experience, featuring rolling fairways and red sand bunkers that blend seamlessly into the stunning red rock views of the desert landscape, complete with jagged red rock cliffs. The course is primarily known for its back nine and is as much of a high desert adventure as a golf course, with dramatic elevation changes and holes played along the edges of the red rock cliffs. Holes 12, 13, and 15 are well-known for their beauty and design, with the 15th being named “The Devil’s Throat” because of the need to put a precise shot over a deep mountain canyon. Many golfers reach for cameras before clubs upon arrival at this stretch of the course. Costs vary depending on the season and time of day due to the desert conditions.
Wasatch Mountain Golf Course - Midway
Located in Wasatch Mountain State Park, this 36-hole facility features two courses, the Lake and the Mountain, and is renowned throughout the state for its scenic, tree-lined fairways and excellent value. The Lake Course, which opened in 1967, offers a forgiving terrain lined with beautiful trees and provides water hazards that include eight lakes and ponds. Designed by William H. Neff, this course consists of a classic layout and mature fairways, making it a good course for all skill levels. Renovated in 1998, the Mountain Course is more challenging, making it a more dramatic experience. This course winds its way up and down the mountain terrain, resulting in significant elevation changes, while providing panoramic views of Heber Valley. Due to the terrain, a cart is mandatory on this course. Keep your camera handy because local wildlife is often spotted, including deer and elk. Less than half an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, with fees starting at only $85, which includes the cart for this public course, makes it a great place to play for visitors.
Entrada at Snow Canyon - St. George
This challenging course sits in the southern Utah desert city of St. George, well known for its pioneer heritage. Originally designed by Johnny Miller and Fred Bliss, the course was recently reimagined and renovated by architect David McLay Kidd. The new design is being praised for a layout that winds through ancient black lava flows, mountain rock, and beautiful, flowing streams. The new design is a links-style course with wide, contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers, making the course visually appealing yet challenging. A rugged desert landscape with a beautiful, manicured playing area creates a fun challenge for all golfers. The club offers a range of amenities, including a wellness center, fine dining, tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, and both indoor and outdoor pools. While Entrada at Snow Canyon is a private club with an initial initiation fee of $150,000 and yearly dues of about $15,000, the public can play the course with a stay at The Inn at Entrada. This resort property allows entrance to this luxurious private club upon booking a room there.
Thanksgiving Point Golf Club - Lehi
This Johnny Miller-designed public course is considered by many, including Golf Digest, as the number one public course in the state. A short 20-minute drive south on the Interstate from Salt Lake City, this course allows a visitor to go from the airport to the green in less than an hour. At 7,714 yards, it is one of the largest courses in Utah, featuring a challenging layout with multiple tees to accommodate players of all skill levels. This course is built around the Jordan River. It features the stunning Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point, blending the area's botanical gardens with the winding river and the breathtaking mountain views. With an average peak rate of between $65 and $85, this financially friendly course allows individuals to find a desired rate and time. If a traveler has some extra free time on a business or family trip and wants to try it out, a set of Callaway clubs can be rented on site.
Bonneville Golf Course - Salt Lake City
This 18-hole public course is beloved by locals and is situated on the east bench, just a few minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The course offers players a panoramic view of the entire Salt Lake Valley and Wasatch Mountains, providing a breathtaking sunset vista. The course was originally designed by William Tucker and later redesigned by the father-and-son team of William P. and William F. Bell, known for their work at Torrey Pines and Bel-Air. Fairways are a key feature of this course, with a mature, tree-lined canopy that requires accuracy off the tees. The fairways designed in the 1920s and 1950s create a classic feel, requiring a strategic approach, with the rolling hills adding to the challenge. The course is sloping, and putting can be difficult with subtle breaks in the green,s making them challenging to read. Pricing is inexpensive, with the nine-hole walking rate starting at only $20 and the 18-hole rate starting at $40. Cart fees are $10 for nine holes and $20 for 18 holes.
Coral Canyon Golf Course - Washington
Known for its high quality at an affordable price, the Coral Canyon Golf Course is a short 10-minute drive from St. George. Designed by Keith Foster, the course is renowned for its manicured fairways and greens, which contrast with the rugged yet vibrant red rock mountain landscape. Set among desert vistas and mountain canyons with sandstone cliffs, the scenery is considered “Mars-like” in its appearance. Throughout the course, players can enjoy the panoramic views of the cliffs at Zion National Park, Pine Valley Mountain, and the greater Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The inviting and forgiving, beautifully manicured, wide fairways give plenty of enjoyment for players of all skill levels. Other amenities at the course include practice facilities, a clubhouse with a pro shop, dining, club rentals, and clinics and lessons from the on-staff PGA pros. The course operates on a seasonal pricing model, with fees ranging from $75 to $150, which includes a cart, range balls, and tax.
Birch Creek Golf Club - Smithfield
The Birch Creek Golf Club sits just north of the city of Logan and is an easy 90-mile drive north from the Salt Lake International Airport. This public course is an 18-hole championship course sitting in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. The setting is serene with a view of Cache Valley and the surrounding Wasatch Mountain range. Designed in 1979 by Bill Hall and Ray Howard, this course is like playing two separate courses, with distinct front and back nines. The front nine is wide and forgiving, while the back nine features elevation changes, culminating in a challenging final hole that ends with a highly elevated green. Bunkers are placed strategically throughout the course, while mature trees and terrain make for its defense. Holes play over and around a mountain canyon, adding unique challenges and visual difficulty. Amenities include practice facilities, a full-service pro shop, and dining. Pricing is reasonable with adult fees averaging $48 during the week and $58 on weekends and holidays.
From the challenging high desert fairways in the red rock canyons in the south to the Alpine trees of the Wasatch Mountains in the north and central regions, a golf trip to Utah is more than just the game and the round of the day. Instead, it’s a unique opportunity to enjoy the game while surrounded by natural beauty in some of the most distinctive, dynamic, and rewarding courses in the nation. From the beginner to the seasoned pro, the Beehive State promises an unforgettable golfing experience.
