The snow is finally off the ground and it’s time to break out the old golf clubs to knock off some winter rust.
It’s still April, and with the wild Utah weather, rain and snow are not out of the picture quite yet, but this is the time to prepare for some great golf in the Beehive State.
The best thing college students can do for themselves when looking for courses to play this spring is find the best golf courses at affordable rates. It’s a shame the U golf course has been shut down, but there is now the chance to expand golf horizons beyond that of nine-hole municipal courses.
Although it might seem that playing golf on a regular basis is a budget-killer, don’t fret8212;there are ways and places to play great golf courses affordably.
The PGA Passbook
This is hands-down the best investment a golfer can make.
For only $79.95, golfers are given buy-one-get-one-free offers at more than 70 different golf courses throughout Utah. Along with that, it gives you seven free rounds from Thanksgiving Point (Lehi), Soldier Hollow (Midway) and the new, highly acclaimed golf course, Sand Hollow, in Hurricane.
This isn’t a way to promote the PGA, it’s more like a hidden treasure that most golfers don’t know about. I have kept this in my golf bag for the past three years and have saved hundreds of dollars on greens fees.
There are a few problems with it in the fine print.
Most golf courses set a limit as to how many rounds can be played on their track. Every pass will require users to purchase both halves of the cart fee, but they won’t have to pay one greens fee. Most courses will have a set day and time when the pass can be used, which, with a work schedule, can be a bit frustrating at times. As college students, none of these issues should stop you from saving a pretty penny.
Join the UGA
Joining the Utah Golf Association is another great way to save money on greens fees.
It only costs $30 to become a member and after that, golfers are given benefits beyond any in the state of Utah.
Go to your local course, tell them that you want to become a member of the UGA and they will give you a card. Half of it is where you will fill out your information that you send in to become a member. The other half is a list of buy-one-get-one-free deals on various courses that total more than $1,000, according to the UGA Web site.
These deals will stand out as the best reason for golfers to purchase a membership, but it goes beyond that. Members are given a subscription to Fairways Magazine, which has countless deals on golf clubs, balls and apparel. If you are thinking about getting a new set of clubs this spring, this is the best way to go about it.
If you are ready to test your skills against golfers in Utah, this membership will give you a chance. As a member, you will also be able to compete in tournaments around the state. Tournament prices range from $65 to $150, which gives you the chance to win some pro shop credit that can be used on anything in that course’s shop. This is without a doubt the best part of becoming a member, because it gives golfers the chance to get that competitive edge we all lost in high school.
OK, so now that you’ve got your money in check, where will it best be spent?
Spring and fall are the best times to play golf in Utah, because we live in a desert and water is limited. Although playing on firm fairways is a good ego boost, lush green golf courses are ideal.
Bonneville Golf Course
With the U golf course dead and buried, the next best thing as far as proximity to campus is Bonneville Golf Course. Not only is it close to campus (right off of Foothill Drive), but it is also one of the better golf courses in the valley.
In the spring, Bonneville is ideal. The greens are soft and receptive, the fairways are well kept and it will give golfers a challenge in the early season. At only $27 for 18 holes8212;$40 with a cart8212;it isn’t too expensive for the caliber of golf course it is.
The greens on this golf course will rival any in the state when it comes to difficulty. The only greens I can think of that have more break are those of Thanksgiving Point, which are almost unfair. With the landscape of the Bonneville course on the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains, it’s tricky to read them in some cases. The adage “it breaks toward the lake” really comes into play at this course.
The best holes on this course are featured on the front nine. Even though the first hole is a par 58212;which isn’t always the best way to start a round8212;it is one of the best starting holes around. The fairway is shaped in a bit of a half pipe and reaching the green in two is not out of the question. It was probably impossible before technology made an average golfer bomb 280 yard drives. Even though the hole surrenders itself to shots under green in regulation, it poses a big threat once the ball is on the green.
The green on this hole is something off of the PGA Tour.
When it is fast and slick, it’s almost an impossibility to stop the ball when above the hole. Even when the greens are fairly slow, it’s tough to make a good effort at the hole.
Another pristine hole at Bonneville is number nine. Whether this is the last hole of a golfer’s day, or the hole before the turn, it’s a bit of a gut check. Golfers hit from an elevated tee down to another tricky green. From the blue tees, it plays at 185 yards, from the whites 160, but realistically, it plays about 15 to 20 yards shorter because of the elevation. The smartest play is to bail out to the left, where the ball will bank off of a hill and if lucky, might end up on the green. It all depends on the pin position8212;front-right can be two-faced. If the ball is under the hole on the right tier, it’s an easy putt, but if it is on the top tier, it’s a sure three-putt. No matter where the pin is, it’s a surefire tough three and the hole will make or break a golfer’s confidence.
If you don’t want to venture too far from campus, check this course out.
Valley View
Valley View golf course is an absolute favorite of mine and has been since I first played it eight years ago. The Layton golf course was once voted the No. 1 Public Golf Course by Golf Digest.
It is a bit of a drive from Salt Lake City, but is well worth it. Utah golf courses don’t get any more immaculate than Valley View. It offers four sets of tees, many elevated tee boxes and terrain like a roller coaster. Just take it from me, it’s a smart idea to take a cart if you aren’t a long-distance runner.
Valley View’s greens are a lot like Bonneville’s in regard to their slope and level of difficulty to read. You have to hit the green in regulation first, which isn’t the easiest thing to do with all the different undulations that Valley View offers.
Making the drive up to Layton is well worth it for this gem of a course.
Glenmoor
Golf courses don’t get much more fun than Glenmoor in South Jordan. Again, this is a bit of a drive from the hill, but it is worth it. Glenmoor was a country club way back when, but has been open to the public for years.
The best time to play this course is in the fall. At a time when all the other courses are dying, this is flourishing with color. Spring is also a great time to make the trip down south.
Your round will be shaped by the first four holes. No. 1 is a dog-leg par 5 that is reachable in two shots for great players, but will be a three-shot hole for most. No. 2 is another dog-leg that is probably the toughest hole on the course. A driving range on the left and lost ball to the right is a gut-check for golfers of all types. I recommend hitting an iron off the tee for the sake of a lost ball.
No. 3 is a par 3 with an elevated tee box821
2;also trouble on both sides of the hole. No. 4 is a tough tee shot in which golfers have to be dead on with their drives, then have a blind shot to the green. These are probably the best starting holes of any public course in Utah, from then on it gets relatively easier.
If you get a minute to take out the clubs, check out these three golf courses and dozens of others that the valley has to offer. It’s a good way to spend some time with friends as well as get outside.
Golf is cheap here for who knows how long, so take advantage of it.
