Golf in the State of Utah
Located in the western US, Utah is bordered to the east by Colorado, Idaho to the north, Nevada to the west, Arizona to the south, Wyoming to the northeast, and New Mexico to the southeast. Of its 106 golf courses, over 56 are in the north near the capital Salt Lake City and over 16 in the south St. George area. A 2012 national survey by Gallup rated Utah the “best state to live in the future” which bodes well for the future of golf in the state.
Many of Utah’s courses are “must play” year-round quality links nestled in a variety of spectacular scenery and conditions including coral-colored dunes, black lava rock, reddish rock cliffs, and desert landscapes. Bonneville Golf Course, Salt Lake City is a very popular course with hilly terrain and challenging greens and Nibley Park Golf Course is the oldest public course in Utah. Soldier Hollow Golf Course and Wasatch Mountain Golf Course are both popular courses in Midway. St. George, named for the patron saint of golfing, includes some of Utah’s top ten destinations. Green Springs Golf Course in Washington boasts challenging vistas and Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington offers luxurious golf with breathtaking views. Sand Hollow Resort Champion Course, Hurricane, is a premium recreation destination “where the desert meets the green”. The Ledges of St. George sees over 255 sunny days per year.
Golfers with Utah connections include Bobby Clampett, born in Monterey, California and now part of the online broadcast crew at the Masters, attended university at BYU. Winner of the 1978 World Amateur medal and low amateur at the 1978 U.S. Open and 1979 Masters, he now resides in Bonita Springs, Florida. Born in San Francisco, California, Johnny Miller was the most successful golfer to ever play for BYU. He tied for 2nd place in the Masters in 1971, 1975 and 1981 – in 1975 finishing one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus, and now resides both in Napa, California and Heber City, Utah. Billy Casper was born in San Diego, California and during his golf career was one of the most recognized names on the pro tour, winning the Masters in 1970. Canadian Mike Weir was the first left-handed golfer to win the Masters and also the first Canadian. He was born in Sarnia, Ontario, played at BYU from 1988 – 1992 and now resides in Sandy, Utah. George Von Elm, born in Salt Lake City, was once named Utah’s Greatest Amateur Golfer as well as Utah’s Golfer of the Century.