Utah Golf List | Playing Utah Courses One Hole at a Time

Not to be out done, the golf course is one of Utah’s finest.  The Ledges was ranked #5 in Golf Digest’s Best New Public Golf Course for 2007.  The course is 7,200 yards from the tips and is set in the rugged landscape of Snow Canyon.  The architect is the late Matt Dye, who also did the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course in Orem Utah.  Like Most Matt Dye courses, the greens at the Ledges are large with a lot of undulations.

The golf course is really the story of two courses.  The front nine is a links style course with the back nine being a more rugged mountain course.  The front course is fun and not as difficult as the back.  With that said, the front is not your typical municipal course.  The front puts a premium on iron shots into the green.  The greens are large and difficult so you do not want to leave yourself with an 80 foot birdie putt.  Make sure you check where the flags are located and choose the correct club.

The back nine meanders through the rugged terrain of snow canyon and is much more difficult than the front.   The back also features more elevation changes with elevated tee-boxes and greens.  The par four 15th is the signature hole for The Ledges.  At only 320 yards from the tips, it is the definition of target golf.  The tee-box is elevated and separated from the fairway with desert terrain.  The fairway and the green are separated by a gulch that will swallow up any errant shot.  Visually, from the tee box, it is one of the most picturesque holes in Utah.

The first hole is a basically a straight away hole but it favors a left to right shape to a shot. The fairway slopes from left to right. The line you want is over the top of the fairway bunkers on the left which should leave you with a short iron into the depressed green. The green is large and very undulated as with many other greens on the course.

This long par 3 gives the player many shot options depending on where the pin is placed on this large green. A low running shot is the best play. Try to keep the ball down under the wind if you can. Make sure to get the ball on the right part of the green since the green is very long.

This par five is not for the faint of heart. This long par 5 plays relatively straight. Keep the drive to the left of the fairway where it opens up and away from the fairway bunkers on the right. Getting home in two is difficult as a deep low of rough 50 yards from the green protects it. A layup shot to a full wedge is your best play.

This downhill par 4 is a scoring hole. #4 has a wide inviting fairway that needs to be hit since the green is very difficult. Steer clear of the fairway bunkers on the right and you should have a short iron into this green. The green is very intimidating since it looks very narrow. The green does widen out in the back but be sure that you get the ball to the back if the pin is placed there.

This short par three main defense are the three mounds in the green. Getting the ball on the green in regulation does not guarantee a par so make sure you know where the pin is placed. Try to use the mounds on the approach which can help get the ball close to the pin.

This long par 4 plays slightly up hill. The fairway is much more narrower than the other holes on the front and so make sure you are hitting your mark. The shortest route to the green is a drive up the left hand side of the fairway but beware because the numerous bunkers on the right of the fairway are reachable.

This is one of the most majestic holes on the front. This down hill par 5 starts you on your way toward snow canyon. The only real obstacles on this hole are the bunkers on the right for your tee shot and the bunkers on the left for your second. Take a moment on the tee-box to take in the surrounding views.

This is probably the easiest hole on the course. The hole is a sharp dog leg left and the green is most likely drivable for you long hitters. Do not be afraid to lay up he, a 3 iron or hybrid club off the tee may be the best shot. If you choose to lay up, try to keep you ball on the left side of the fairway.

At the ledges, the closer you get to the clubhouse, the more water comes into play. Number nine is certainly no exception. The fairway is quite narrow and the green is elevated so two great shots are needed to get a shot at birdie and maybe even for par. If you miss the green, miss right since anything left will be in the drink.

As we have said many times, the back nine is significantly more difficult than the front. Number 10 is a great taste of what is to come. The green does slope back to front to help you hold that long iron on the green.

Number 11 starts the climb up Snow Canyon. This par 5 is not very long in length but plays long since the hole runs up hill. Getting home in two is basically impossible so make sure you put together two safe shots and you will have a shot iron into the raised green. Know where the pin is placed but a good rule of thumb is aim for the middle of the green.

Take in the views of the twelfth tee-box before you get to the task at hand. The green slopes left to right to try to land the ball on the left side of the green to help funnel the ball to the green. This line gives you the most leeway for mishits.

Number 13 is a downhill, dog leg left, par 4. The key to this hole is avoid the fairway bunkers on the left. Try to get the ball on the high side of the fairway on the right. The green is very difficult as it slopes away from you. A “bump and run” is a good choice to the narrow green.

This hole looks a lot more difficult than it is. Just hit a safe straight shot and you should have a change to get the ball on the green in regulation. The green is long and narrow.

The 15th hole is considered by most the signature hole of The Ledges. Visually from the tee-box, it is one of the most majestic in Utah. Number 15 is the definition of target golf. A three iron will be plenty of club to land safely in the fairway. If you are going for the green. A good place to miss is the green side bunker on the left. Just make sure you have enough to get it over the chasm.

16 is a long par 5 with a split fairway. Your line off the tee-box is just right of the rock out-cropping. If your tee shot is fortunate enough to make the crest of the hill, go for the green in two. If not, pick a club that will put just short of the left bunker on the either fairway but if you can, try to stay on the right fairway.

17 is a dog leg par 4. The bunkers on the left make this hole look much more intimidating then it is. The perfect shot is over the left fairway bunkers as the fairway widens out after them. If you do not have the strength or the guts, try to keep the ball on the right side of the fairway since balls on the left side may have a blind shot into the large undulated green.

The finishing hole has a lot of water. Where the pin is located should influence which side of the fairway you want to favor. Try to keep the ball below the hole on the large green and finishing birdie is a strong possibility.