Utah may not be home to Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Pinehurst No. 2 or Bethpage Black, but it still has reason to be proud of its vast and beautiful public golf courses.
Bonneville golf course is one that has helped hold up that reputation for the Beehive State.
The course was designed by William Bell and opened for business in 1929. One of Salt Lake City’s oldest golf courses has been deceiving local hacks ever since. Bonneville is just beyond a Jon Daly tee shot from the U campus and is situated on Salt Lake City’s east bench, which is an important fact to keep in mind for all 18 holes.
Bonneville has some of the most beautiful greens in northern Utah, but that doesn’t help golfers read them any better. If a putting surface were put in a vacuum on Bonneville and then suspended 20 feet off the ground, every putt would still break to the valley. It’s as constant as the tide and that fact has helped pad the wallets of many of the local golfers that have the upper hand against the frequently perplexed Bonneville rookies.
Bonneville is very skimpy in the form of water and other hazard variations, but in no way does that make the course easier. Century-old saplings line nearly every hole, which puts a premium on driving and hitting shots in the fairway.
The strong suit of the U’s closest 18-hole golf course is the simplicity in its variety.
The par 5s are all of challenging length, including the lead-off hole, which plays almost entirely uphill. There is variety in length to the par 4s, with No. 14 being the only one that is exceptionally challenging to reach in two.
Last year Bonneville changed its course layout back to how golfers in the 1930s would have expected it by completely changing the front and back nines, with the exception of the No. 1 and No. 10 holes. Now, instead of finishing the front nine with a picturesque par 4 that is dissected by Emigration Creek, the round finishes off with the difficult par four that offers a great view of downtown Salt Lake City.
Golfers can also expect Bonneville to be in near perfect condition from early spring until winter. But be aware of sunrise tee-ties, as that is the harshest time to play one of Utah’s best public offerings when the wind kicks up and blows out of Emigration Canyon.
Bonneville is also one of the rare courses that have an accessible snack shack throughout the round. Golfers finishing holes No. 1, No. 3, No. 10 and No. 17 can get anything from chips and a hot dog to a bagel from the strategically placed shack located in the heart of the course.
The course also offers two putting greens, a driving range that does not permit the use of woods and a plethora of luxury homes bordering the course for college students to gawk at and dream of affording years down the road.
A full 18-hole round regularly plays in four hours throughout the day, and the best way to create birdie chances is to take care of business on the manageable par 5s. And don’t underestimate the valley — there’s a golf-ball magnet down there somewhere.