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When Southland golfers think of an out-of-state road trip up Interstate 15, one destination usually comes to mind: Sin City. But while golf is ubiquitous in Las Vegas, another 90 miles up the road will get you to St. George, Utah, one of the country’s least-known golf nirvanas. Great courses, weather, scenery and low rates make the St. George area worth the trip. Packages begin as low as $400 for four nights and three rounds of golf (golfutah.com), making this ideal for an escape from Las Vegas — or a destination in and of itself. St. George is in the southwest sliver of Utah, just a few miles past Mesquite, Nev. It’s a picturesque community nestled in a valley surrounded by limestone cliffs and red rock canyons. It’s a fast-growing city that has retained a small-town charm, with sunshine and blue skies most of the year. One of the true gems of the area is the Keith Foster-designed Coral Canyon Golf Club. Located in Utah’s “color country,” the course has views ranging from the snow-capped peaks of Bryce Canyon to the blooming colors of Zion National Park in the spring. The course is 7,024 yards from the tips, and though the fairways are wide, the forced carries over dry washes, two lakes and 55 bunkers make it challenging. Another jewel in the St. George crown is the 7,059-yard, Johnny Miller-designed Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club. The course, which winds through ancient lava beds and rugged arroyos and red rock canyons, has been one of the top-rated public courses since opening in 1996, but it turned private last October. However, guests at the Inn at Entrada can play the course for an additional fee. The third heavyweight in the area is The Ledges of St. George, which opened last year. It was designed by Matt Dye, the nephew of Pete Dye. The 7,200-yard layout from the tips is defined as a tale of two nines. The front nine is links-style, with wide, rolling fairways and tough greens, while the back nine has more elevation changes and tighter fairways. Compared to those three courses, the other public options in the area are often overshadowed, but they shouldn’t be. All are scenic, well-designed and the green fees are reasonable. Rarely will you pay more than $50 to play a St. George public course not named Coral Canyon or Entrada. The city of St. George owns four golf courses, the premier facility being Sunbrook Golf Club. It offers 27 holes with three nines dominated by desert, water and lava. This is always rated as one of the state’s top courses, and with green fees maxing out at $55, it may be the best golf deal in town. St. George Golf Club is a par-73, 7,217-yard layout that is a pure desert course with acres of waste areas. It also has some interesting quirks, such as its three par-3s, all of which require tee shots over a lake. Southgate Golf Club is a par-70 course just over 6,000 yards that is a favorite among retirees, and Dixie Red Hills is a nine-hole course that opened in 1965. The other two city-owned courses in the region follow a similar pattern of great scenery, manageable length and green fees hovering around $55. They are Sky Mountain, a 6,312-yard course owned by the city of Hurricane, and Green Springs Golf Club, owned by the city of Washington. The southernmost golf course in St. George is SunRiver Golf Club, located in the Virgin River Gorge. It’s a 6,704-yard course that serves as the centerpiece of a master-planned residential community. It’s scenic and forgiving and located in one of the most beautiful spots in America. For more information on the courses in the St. George area, visit redrockgolftrail.com. SG |
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