The term ‘hidden gem,’ has frequently been used to describe breath-taking, beautiful golf courses in the United Kingdom, many off the beaten path, yet to be discovered by the golf masses. But right here in our own country, in southwest Utah, an area called Greater Zion, at least to East Coasters, is a relatively unknown pocket on the precipice of a golf popularity explosion.
If you haven’t experienced this part of the country, I highly recommend planning your next golf trip there! The dramatic topography, with sandstone cliffs, red rock formations, and black lava rocks, are the backdrop for nine world-class courses within a 20-mile radius of one another. At the top of my list are Sand Hollow, The Ledges, and Copper Rock. I had the chance to play Copper Rock months before its opening, scheduled to open in the spring of 2020.
Golfers at all levels can play these courses year-round at a good value. And there is a high possibility that sunshine will be in the forecast, as the area gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year. The weather during our trip in October was ideal. It was chilly in the morning, but by 10 AM, the layers peeled off, and by early afternoon, the temperature was perfect to wear a short-sleeve shirt and shorts. And the air is as pure as it gets. That’s the first thing I noticed when I got off the plane at the St. George Airport, after a short connecting flight from Phoenix – the fresh, exhilarating, crisp air.
Greater Zion
Greater Zion is located approximately 100 miles north of Las Vegas on I-15 or 300 miles south of Salt Lake City via I-15. The region includes St. George, Springdale, Hurricane, Washington, Virgin, Ivins, and several towns in between. The dramatic landscape in Greater Zion is where three geological regions converge – the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin. The destination is in the northeasternmost part of the Mojave Desert and adjacent to the Pine Valley Mountains. The area offers layers of geological formations from snow-capped mountain peaks to red rock canyons and lava fields.
To get there by plane, St. George offers non-stop access from five key destinations markets – Salt Lake City (Delta), Dallas/Ft. Worth (American Airlines), Denver (United), and Phoenix (American Airlines).
There are more than 100 lodging options found throughout Greater Zion, ranging from luxury hotels to boutique properties. The first two nights, we stayed in a lovely, spacious, four-bedroom luxury rental unit at The Ledges, which featured a large kitchen and family room area, just minutes from the golf course.
The Ledges Golf Club
The Ledges Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 layout, designed by Matt Dye, Pete Dye’s nephew. The back nine is special, particularly the par 3, 12th, and the par 4, 14th, with gorgeous panoramic views of the multi-colored cliffs and red rocks from the rim of Snow Canyon State Park. It’s a peaceful, desert setting, amidst the beauty and elevation changes of the dramatic topography. The large greens are inviting after navigating the elevation changes and the tricky terrain.
And if you need to tweak your swing, Paul Holden, the Director of Golf at The Ledges Golf Club, is an excellent instructor and can give you some constructive swing thoughts before your golf adventure begins.
A great way to start your day and get warmed up for golf is with a sunrise hike, jog, or bike ride in Snow Canyon State Park, which is a five-minute drive from The Ledges. “We are very spoiled because of the amazing scenery especially here in SW Utah,” says Holden. “If Snow Canyon were in any other state, it would be a National Park!”
Sand Hollow Resort
The top public course in Utah is at Sand Hollow Resort. The Championship Course, a par 72 course that plays 7,300 yards from the back tees and features dramatic terrain including extensive elevation and steep ridgelines amidst the stunning backdrop of the area’s rugged rock formations and cliffs. There is also an 18-hole course called The Links and the Wee Course, a par 3, 9-hole layout. Course designer John Fought, known for designing Pumpkin Ridge in North Plains, Oregon, and a restoration of an original Donald Ross design at Pine Needles Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Long-time radio colleague and friend Brian Taylor, Host of the weekly-syndicated Real Golf Radio show, weighed in on Utah’s top public course. “Everyone knows Utah is home to the greatest snow on earth, but our golf vacation offerings are the real hidden gem. Sand Hollow is easily my top five courses in the state and #1 public access course. It’s an absolute treat to play with a nice blend of inviting, scorable holes and challenging holes that require precision shot-making. Overall, Sand Hollow is Southern Utah at its best.”
“Southern Utah is our little golf oasis. Golfers in Utah plan regular trips to escape the cold and get our golf fix in SW Utah. It’s a short 4- hour drive from Salt Lake City to trade the snow for green grass and sunshine. It’s one of the cool, unique things about Utah!”
Sand Hollow Resort can serve as your base to explore Sand Hollow State Park nearby, offering a variety of water sports and road vehicle adventures. And no trip is complete to SW Utah without a visit to Zion National Park, which is about a 45- minute drive from Sand Hollow Resort. Zion National Park is the fourth – visited National Park in the United States, and features stunning scenery of multi-colored rock formations with all types of trails for all ability levels.
Copper Rock
Copper Rock is a treat to play! And to play the immaculate layout, well before it will open to the public sometime in 2020, made it extra special. This expansive piece of property is not far from Zion National Park, located in Hurricane, Utah. With the Copper Mountains in the background, the course designed by local architect Dale Beddo is 6,970 yards from the back tees and sprawls out among dunes and what looks like miles of untouched land. There is an over-all peaceful aura about the land with the mountains in the background. The fairways are wide but the multitude of bunkers and tricky desert terrain provide just enough of a challenge. The course is part of a 943- acre golf course community that will feature a hotel property and spa.
Bonus Golf in Mesquite
Add an extra day to make the gorgeous 55-minute drive from St. George to Mesquite, Nevada, to play Wolf Creek Golf Club. To play Wolf Creek is to experience what could be an extensive Disney ride, certainly a one-of-a-kind golf adventure. Each hole is a signature hole and so much fun to play with the steep elevation that maneuvers around and over stunning white rocks and canyons. The course is so steep and curvy that all golfers have to sign a release form before getting in the cart. Every hole offers a mix of gorgeous scenery, challenging elevation, both uphill and downhill, and steep cart paths that force your foot to be on the brake in the cart at all times. Add Wolf Creek to your ‘must play’ list. It’s exhilarating, adventurous and great fun all wrapped into one. For more information check out our feature on Wolf Creek Golf Club.
And for you athletes looking for competition and adventure beyond the stunning golf offerings, Greater Zion offers sports for every interest and ability levels including the St. George Half Marathon and 5K in January, the Winter 4X4 Jamboree in January, the Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival and the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
This gorgeous destination has something for everyone and then some! Put SW Utah on your ‘bucket list,’ and once you’ve experienced it for the first time, you’ll want to make it an annual trip for sure!
For more information, visit GreaterZion.com
Ann Liguori hosts the award-winning ‘Talkin Golf with Ann Liguori’ radio show on WFAN-NY, ‘Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori’ on NPR’s WPPB, is the author of ‘A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings About the Game,’ and is the President of Ann Liguori Productions and the Ann Liguori Foundation.