About Us
In the early 2000s my brother, Kevin, and I made a goal to golf every golf course in Utah. We have been traveling around the state fulfilling that goal. We have been on golf trips all across the state and in preparation of the trips we have been underwhelmed by the information on the internet regarding the wonderful golf courses in Utah. Most sites only have the course name, address, yardage and price. If there is a course description it is very vague and contains cliché phrases and terms like “great views of the mountains” and “beautifully designed course” without any more explanation. Not only are the descriptions lackluster but there are virtually no pictures of any course. Kevin and I thought that we should remedy this situation. Since we will eventually play every golf course in Utah, we feel will be in a excellent position to put together a website with a detailed description of every course that includes pictures and a description of every hole in the state. As we golf a course we take pictures of every tee box, fairway and green, write a review and post them on our site. This is our tribute to Utah golf.
Methodology:
As we here at Utah Golf List visit the various golf courses, we don’t just willy-nilly rate courses. We use a methodology that is a hybrid of Golfweek and Golf Digest. We have also added a few criteria that we feel are needed for the average golfer and unique to Utah.
1.) Routing
How well the holes individually and collectively adhere to the land and to each other
2a.) Integrity of Design (Classic courses)
The extent to which the existing holes either conform to the original design intent or, for those courses that have been renovated, extent to which the holes embody a character that is cohesive rather than fragmentary
2b.) Quality of Shaping (Modern courses)
The extent to which course construction creates design elements that fit in well and provide a consistent look or sensibility
3.) Overall Land Plan
Ease of integration of all built-out elements, including course, clubhouse, real estate, roads and native topography and landforms
4.) Greens and Surrounds
Interest, variety and playability of putting surfaces, collars, chipping areas and greenside bunkers
5.) Variety and Memorability of Par 3s
Differentiation of holes by length, club required, topography, look and angle of approach
6.) Variety and Memorability of Par 4s
Range of right-to-left and left-to-right drives and second shots required, as well as spread of length, topography and look of the holes
7.) Variety and Memorability of Par 5s
Variety of risk/reward opportunities on tee shot; how interesting the second shots are; variety of third shots required
8.) Tree and Landscape Management
Extent to which ornamentals, hardwoods, conifers and other flora enhance the design and playability of a course without overburdening it or threatening strategy and agronomy
9.) Conditioning
Overall quality of maintenance, discounting for short-term issues (weather or top dressing)
10.) Character
Overall character of the course, does the course have a feel that is unique or interesting
11.) “Overall Experience” Test
The sense of the place as worthy of spending four hours on it
12.) Playability
The playability of the course for the average golfer.