Tucked in the corner of Pleasant Grove is a great golf course called Cedar Hills Golf Club.
This might be the most underrated course in Utah and without a doubt one of the most fun. It plays 6,800 yards from the back tees, which isn’t too long, but length is something that the designers were willing to give up because of the fact that it’s tight.
Cedar Hills starts golfers with an intimidating and fun tee shot. The tee is elevated about 100 feet and makes most golfers hit a mid iron because of the trouble in front of the green. I’ve heard mixed reviews on that first tee shot. A lot of people think it’s lame. Others think it’s interesting. Personally, I love it.
One of the best things about Cedar Hills is, it is always well-groomed. The greens and the fairways are in immaculate condition every time I play out there. The greens aren’t tricky, and because they roll so smoothly, putts always roll true.
Throughout the course, nature is the golfer’s worst enemy. The designers strategically placed every hole next to some kind of natural hazard.
Perhaps, the best example of this is No. 10, which seconds as the best hole. A river is introduced on this reachable par 5, which is reachable in two strokes. Players are challenged to determine whether or not they should go for the green in two or lay up and leave themselves with an intimidating approach. The green is right behind the water, guaranteeing a short shot will be wet. It is a fun hole that is also visually appealing.
The front nine has some great holes, but no other nine in the state can test golfers as much as the back nine at Cedar Hills. Most holes are narrow, fairly short, and the weeds that line each hole have an appetite for balls. Nos. 13, 14 and 15 holes are on the side of the mountain, which calls for some precise tee shots. No. 15 was originally a par 5, but was changed this year into a short par 3. To make up for the lost yardage they stretched out the 18th hole into a par 5.
The 18th hole is one of the best finishing holes I’ve ever played, and now that it’s a par 5, it’s that much better. There is nothing like finishing a round with a hole on which you can make up a stroke or two. This hole features a lake that hugs the left side of the fairway, which comes into play on the tee shot. It’s an extremely intimidating tee shot, and it doesn’t get much easier from the fairway.
Although reachable in two, laying up might be a wise decision. A bunker in front of the green mocks players and dares them to go for the green. If you do decide to go for it, anything long will be bye-bye because of the fact that a big drop off is directly behind the green. It’s a hole in which the risk-reward comes into play, which adds suspense to the finish.
Although Cedar Hills is a bit of a drive for U students, I recommend making the trip before snowfall. It’s extremely affordable at $36 (Monday through Thursday) and $40 on the weekends. If you want to get a true golf experience, you’ll make the drive.
The well-groomed greens and fair ways at Cedar Hills Golf Club make it Utah?s best golf course.