Black Desert Resort
Located in the southwest corner of Utah, about 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas, the St. George area has certainly emerged in recent years as an outstanding golf destination. There are close to 15 courses available to the public, but more importantly, many of these courses are exceptional – like the nationally acclaimed Sand Hollow Golf Club – and most recently, Black Desert Resort, which is not only playing host to an event on the PGA Tour, but also the LPGA Tour.
St. George is in the desert, situated just north of the Arizona state line, with more than 300 days of sunshine each year. So like Las Vegas, the golf season in the St. George area is year-round, though certainly the best times would be from March to November (yes, it can get hot in the summer).
While you can certainly get regional flights into St. George, which has a population of just under 100,000 people, many opt to fly into Las Vegas and drive from there. The advantage to the latter is that you could enjoy a day or two in Sin City, perhaps taking in some big-time entertainment, then head over to St. George, which is about a two-hour drive. On the way, you could also stop to play in the Mesquite, Nev., area, which is a pretty good golf destination as well, if you wanted to get in an extra round or two. (Obviously, a Mesquite stop on the way back would work, too, perhaps taking in highly touted Wolf Creek or Coyote Springs golf clubs.)
St. George is also close to one of America’s greatest treasures, Zion National Park. Just 40 miles north of St. George, the park works its way through a thousand-foot deep red rock canyon, allowing visitors to enjoy some of the most incredible hikes in the world. The highly acclaimed Bryce Canyon National Park isn’t too far either, located just 50 miles northeast of Zion.
Not surprisingly with all the great outdoors activities, a vibrant arts, entertainment, and dining scene, and mild weather, the St. George area has become a popular retirement spot. Its quality golf courses make it even more attractive.
Here, then, is a look at some of the St. George area’s best places to play golf.
Black Desert Resort {Ivins}
The centerpiece of the recently opened Black Desert Resort is the golf course, the late Tom Weiskopf’s last design. It’s not only the home of the fairly new Black Desert Championship on the PGA Tour but also the Black Desert Championship played in the spring on the LPGA Tour. It’s the first time that the PGA Tour has scheduled a tour event in the area in 60 years.
The course, which measures 7,500 yards, is simply stunning. Laid out at the intersection of of the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin, the course was carved into black lava fields and features views of Snow Canyon State Park. Weiskopf took inspiration from his 1972 Open title with the par-3 eighth, which is a nod to Royal Troon’s famous Postage Stamp hole. There are a couple of drivable par 4s, and another par 3 with a bunker in the middle of the green ala Riviera.
As a tour course, this is certainly a premium experience with 12-minute tee times and forecaddies included in the green fees. Expansive practice facilities include a 36-hole putting course.
This stunning resort offers 800 hotel rooms and suites as well as 45,000 square feet of meeting space, a variety of restaurants, a spa, fitness center, and infinity pool.
Black Desert Resort
Sand Hollow Golf Resort {Hurricane}
Quite simply, Sand Hollow and its courses are other-worldly. The rock formations are spectacular and they provide the perfect backdrop to the wonderfully designed John Fought Championship Course that stretches out to more than 7,300 yards. Each hole is unique with wide fairways and the backdrop of majestic mountains that border nearby Zion National Park. This is a course that’s very playable by golfers of all levels, but it certainly has its challenges, especially if it’s windy.
But the scenery is what steals the show. With lots of elevation change and holes that fall off into a red rock canyon, you’ll feel like you’re reaching for your camera more often than your driver.
The Championship Course isn’t the only offering, though. There’s also the nine hole Links Course. Inspired by the links courses of Great Britain – hand-built sheep fencing adds to the charm – the fairways and greens are huge, and you can basically hit it all over the place, play bump-and-runs or fly the ball to the hole. It’s great for beginners, but also a lot of fun for good players, too, since it plays 3,600 yards from the tips.
In addition to the aforementioned 27 holes, there’s also the Wee Course, a par-3 course with outstanding greens that’s fun for everyone.
The Grille at Sand Hollow is a favorite dining spot for golfers and nongolfers alike. And Sand Hollow also offers stay and play packages with nearby vacation rental homes.
Sand Hollow Golf Resort
The Ledges {St. George}
Another stunning course in the area is The Ledges Golf Club, which features red rock backdrops and expansive views of Snow Canyon Park. Designed by Matt Dye (nephew of Pete Dye), this par-72 that plays nearly 7,200 yards from the back tees is also very well conditioned with a wide variety of holes.
While the front nine is fairly flat, the back nine is anything but with plenty of elevation change, including some dramatic tee shots to fairways below. Practice facilities include a full grass range and short-game area as well as practice putting greens. The clubhouse is also impressive, featuring an expansive golf shop and dining favorite, the Fish Rock Grille with amazing patio views. Like Sand Hollow, stay-and-play with vacation homes are available.
The Ledges
Green Spring Golf Course {St. George}
This is no ordinary municipal golf course. One of Gene Bates’ early designs, Green Spring opened 1990, and like much of the golf in the area, it takes advantage of the red rock canyons and even desert wetlands, which provide some natural water features on the property. Green Spring, which provides great views of the Pine Valley Mountains and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, is also one of the least expensive options in the area. You can even purchase an all-day green fee there if you like. Signature holes include the par-3 fifth, and long par-4 sixth, both of which call for carries over canyons.
Green Spring Golf Course
Coral Canyon Golf Club {Washington}
Located in the foothills of the Red Cliffs area, Coral Canyon Golf Club features a 7,200-yard, par-72 layout that rivals anything in the area in terms of scenery and quality of holes. Designed by Keith Foster, the course provides plenty of great views and lots of challenging holes. There are elevated tees, but one of the most memorable holes might be the shortest, the par-3 sixth, which requires a precise tee shot to hold the green. The club is also under fairly new ownership and management, Z Golf, which has owned and operated Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Mesquite. Nevada since 2014.
Coral Canyon Golf Course
Entrada at Snow Canyon {St. George}
Normally an exclusive private club, if you stay at the property’s luxurious accommodations, you can play there. The course was recently reopened after a $7 million “reimagination” by famed architect David McLay-Kidd of Bandon Dunes fame. (The course was originally designed by Johnny Miller and opened in 1996.) The 7,065-yard, par-71 course definitely has more of a links feel to it now, while retaining all the spectacular views for which the course was known. Fairways were enlarged, and the course got an entirely new irrigation system, which translates into flawless conditioning and enjoyment.
Entrada at Snow Canyon
Sky Mountain Golf Course {Hurricane}
Another exceptional municipal course, Sky Mountain Golf Course is a great value that supplies all the great views the area is known for plus an outstanding layout by Jeff Hardin. The course measures almost 6,400 yards from the back tees, so it’s a great choice for players of all levels. The back half of the course winds through a neighborhood, but the front nine doesn’t have any homes on it. It’s located just 10 miles from Zion National Park.
Sky Mountain Golf Course
Sunriver Golf Club {St. George}
Set in the Virgin River Valley and surrounded by colorful desert landscape, Sunriver Golf Club offers a beautiful layout that represents one of the better values in the area as well. The course, which was designed by William H. Neff and opened in 2000, is a par-72 that plays over 7,000 yards from the tips. The front nine is fairly flat and plays around a couple of lakes, while the back nine terrain has a lot more movement. What it all has in common are great mountain views and the only bentgrass tees in the region.
Sunriver Golf Club