Bonneville Golf Course Review – Salt Lake City

Bonneville Golf Course Review

Architect: William Bell (1929)

www.slc-golf.com/bonneville-golf-course/

801-853-9513

954 Connor Street Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Bonneville Golf Course #1 Tee box
Opening tee shot

Utah Golf Guy Grade

OVERALL8.75
BEAUTY9
VALUE8
PRACTICE FACILIITES9
CLUBHOUSE7
PACE OF PLAY9
CONDITIONS9
FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF9
FUN10
  
NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY8
TEESOUTINTOTALRATINGSLOPE
BLACK33723500687271.1126
BLUE31713298646969.5122
WHITE29222984590667.4112

COURSE SUMMARY

Bonneville Golf Course is a stunning, mature and an entertaining track! Built on the East Bench of Salt Lake City (5 minutes from downtown), the course offers panoramic views of Salt Lake Valley and the world-class Utah mountains. The course follows the natural contours of the area and provides memorable tee shots into sloping fairways, over deep ravines and through various wooded areas along the fairways and behind the greens. The majority of the driving holes have an elevated tee box hitting into sloping uphill fairways that have a peak and then go downhill to descending greens. Big hitters have an advantage if they can hit to the top of each hill as the ball will roll an additional 20-30 yards if they catch the downslope. The course was built in 1929, allowing for fully grown trees adding to the natural beauty of Bonneville.

The greens are fast and contoured. The saying around this course is “breaks toward the Lake” meaning that the majority of putts break toward downtown Salt Lake City. I found this logic to be true 90% of the time. Two holes actually have two sets of greens (#8 and #10), making the distance and strategy different depending on which green they choose for that day. Due to the sloping fairways, not too many approach shots have a level lie.

 

Specifics

Clubhouse is a little older and smaller but it fits this course. Practice facilities are in good shape, with one large putting green between the clubhouse and driving range and another smaller putting green between the #1 tee boxes and the hitting area for the driving range. The driving range is beautiful and can fit a number of golfers. The staff were cordial on the phone, in the clubhouse and out on the course. Even with the elevation changes throughout, this course would be recommended for walking but due to the severe hills of holes #1 and #18, those with knee or back problems should probably rent a cart.

Course Conditions

The greens were in fantastic shape and rolled quick but true. Fairways were well maintained and beautiful, with perfect grass for perfect divots. Rough was well manicured and plays extremely thick forcing you to keep your ball on the short grass. Sand bunkers looked fantastic but played rock hard. Tee boxes were in great shape, level and well-maintained.

BEST HOLES

Signature Hole - #5 Par 5 528 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey

This hole has everything that you want in a signature hole. Beautiful, strategic and challenging. The fairway zig-zags (try and follow me) from left to right, back to the left and then back to left towards the green. Fairway is skinny, long and undulating. Off the drive, missing left is the better option than missing right as there is a bit of room beyond the left side fairway. Missing right takes your ball right into the woods. From the 125 yard mark, the approach shot is straight down to a descending green. The green is one of the smaller on the course with a huge two-tiered setup. The upper tier/shelf is on the front and the lower tier is on the back. Make sure you land your approach on the proper shelf to leave you with a change for birdie. Maybe 10 yards of room behind the hole so be careful going for this green in two.

Clubhouse Pick: 5

Most Beautiful - #6 Par 3 189 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Par

Bonneville has some of the most beautiful holes in all of Utah. Two of the Par 3’s were in consideration for the most beautiful, but I decided to choose the picturesque #6. Huge elevated tee shot over a large ravine into a large green. Bunker on the left side, trees directly behind the green giving you no room if you go long. Relatively easy hole if you can gauge the downhill distance correctly.

Clubhouse Pick: 18

Birdie Time - #1 Par 5 480 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Par

In general, I am not a fan of starting my round off with a Par 5. But, this hole is an exception. This short Par 5 has an elevated tee box that towers over the hole. The green and the tee box are about level with each other but the fairway slopes uphill until it reaches the green. Green has a false front and is two-tiered creating a shelf on the back side. Green is extremely quick on the front and putting back towards the front of the green can easily catch the false front and roll off the putting surface. This hole is easily reached in two if you can land your drive in the fairway and gauge the distance and pin location for your approach. Entertaining opening hole.

Clubhouse Pick: 1

Likely Bogey - #15 Par 3 230 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey

Another elevated tee box into a descending Par 3 green. Green is wide and slopes aggressively from back to front, uphill. Recommended to leave the approach short of the hole to leave yourself with an uphill putt. Leaving it short should be easy due to the 246 yard back pin location that was playing during my round.

Clubhouse Pick: 9

Best Par 3 - #9 182 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey

Another elevated tee shot into a descending green. Forced carry over a ravine. Hill just left of the green can aid balls back onto the putting surface. There is little to no room for error on the right side so if you miss the green, miss left. Two tiered green with shelf on the back side. From front to back tier, at least a 3 foot difference so choose your yardage wisely. Green is large and accepting. If you land on the wrong tier, a 3-putt bogey is highly likely. Runner up for Likely Bogey hole.

Clubhouse Pick: 9

Best Par 4 - #18 470 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Par

This finishing hole was well thought out. The fairway rolls all the way downhill into a ravine short of the green. For big hitters, it is recommended to use a 3-wood or driving iron, find the fairway and leave yourself 150 yards to the hole for your approach. Best angle is the right fairway as the left side leaves blind to the green. The green is smaller than most on the course and slopes gently from back to front.

Clubhouse Pick: 8

Best Par 5 - #5 528 Yards

Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey

Bonneville - Utah Golf Guy
Bonneville Signature Hole and Best Par 5

See Signature Hole

Clubhouse Pick: #5