Gladstan Golf Review
Designers: William Neff and Gene Bates (1988)
1 Gladstan Drive Payson, UT 84651
www.gladstan.com
Phone # – 801-465-2549
Utah Golf Guy Grade
| OVERALL | 8.38 |
| BEAUTY | 9 |
| VALUE | 9 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 8 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 7 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 9 |
| CONDITIONS | 7 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 8 |
| FUN | 10 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 8 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| BLACK | 3550 | 3431 | 6981 | 72.3 | 132 |
| BLUE | 3342 | 3252 | 6594 | 70.5 | 129 |
| WHITE | 3156 | 3084 | 6240 | 67.4 | 122 |
| GOLD | 2852 | 2728 | 5580 | 65.1 | 117 |
| RED | 2551 | 2451 | 5002 | 63 | 110 |
Course Summary
Gladstan Golf Course is a beautiful, mountain style course south of Provo, Utah. It was developed in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains and offers some of the most beautiful views in the state. Due to its location (about 75 minutes south of Salt Lake City) the course is a lot less congested than most Northern Utah courses. It is somewhat of a hidden gem to most of the state but is recommended to all who enjoy beautiful and challenging golf.
The first six holes are beautiful but play more flat and in the valley with a few elevated tee shots. The real treat on this course are hole #7 thru the finishing hole on #18. These holes offer severe elevation changes, blind tee shots, forced carries and a variety of different landscapes and shot strategies. From the tips, this is one of the most difficult but pleasurable courses I have played in Utah.
Specifics
The clubhouse is small and a little outdated but offers beautiful views of the course and the mountains. The backside is a little more grand and is showcased on the #2 tee and green. The driving range is beautiful, well-maintained and large enough to entertain a number of golfers. Yardage poles line the landing area. The practice green is quite large but could be maintained a bit better.
Not the fault of the Gladstan staff, but due to the beautiful wildlife (deer, elk, etc…), the tee boxes, fairways and greens were pretty chewed up. In fact, a member of the staff mentioned “this course would be absolutely perfect if the elk would stop chewing through our grounds”. I would agree with his statement. The greens played slow and were tough to get a good read on. But overall, the grounds are green, lush and beautiful with views that you will never forget.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #18 Par 5 533 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
A testament of a great golf course is having a difficult time narrowing down the signature hole. I honestly could have selected four other holes (#9, #12, #14 or #17) and been fine with the decision. Fortunately, the final approach shot and architecture of the closing green sealed my decision for the final hole.
A slightly elevated tee shot starts out this dogleg left gem. Fairway is quite wide compared to other holes on this course. The best angle for the drive and layup is on the right fairway due to overhanging trees and a blind approach from the left side. To reach in two, you will need a monster drive and a lot of courage/confidence/cajones for your second shot. You will need loft on your approach shot to land and stop on the green that is almost impossible to do with a long iron. The Utah Golf Guy recommends laying up, leaving yourself between 75 to 115 yards for your approach. The green is surrounded by a 360 degree moat of water that is much wider than it appears. Beautiful rock work surrounds the green’s edge along with two sand bunkers protecting the front left and right sides. Accuracy is crucial with water and bunkers lurking for any missed or burner shots.
A ridge runs through the front left side of the green. Green slopes from front to back. One of the best finishing holes in the state. Beautiful, challenging and memorable.
Clubhouse Pick: #14
Most Beautiful - #2 Par 3 215 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Double bogey
This Par 3 showcases a forced carry over a lovely pond and a beautiful view of the clubhouse being engulfed by the Wasatch mountain range. Green is quite deep so choose your yardage carefully. A ridge runs thru the middle of the very putting surface. Three sand bunkers line the right side, water covers the front and left side of the green.
Clubhouse Pick: #12
Birdie Time - #9 Par 4 346 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Elevated tee shot into an uphill green (U shaped fairway between tee and green). Just long enough to come up short on the drive, you can blast it up the hill for a simple uphill pitch or layup to your comfortable approach distance. Missing left is more dangerous than missing right. Two bunkers sit on the front left and right protecting any shots short of the target. Green is deep with a false front. Slopes right to left and back to front. A small shelf sits on the back left of the green.
Hit it close to the green, chip it close and roll one in for birdie!
Clubhouse Pick: #4
Likely Bogey - #13 Par 3 214 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Elevated tee shot into an extremely skinny but long green. If flag is in the front (which it was during our round), impossible to get tee shot near the pin unless you land short and let it run gently onto the green. Front side of green does not hold shots due to a false front all along the front edge. Two extremely long bunkers run along both sides of the green. When flag is in middle or back, hole will not be as difficult. Requires an accurate shot off the tee to have a decent shot for par.
Clubhouse Pick: #14
Best Par 3 - #17 195 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
A beautiful, downhill tee shot with trouble all around. Large, (40 yards long) bunker lines the left side of the green. A small creek runs across the front and opens up into a small pond to the right side of the green. Trees are found back right and a small opening on the back left side. Creek and pond are beautiful with detailed rock work surrounding the sides. Green is large, accessible and accepting. Slopes aggressively from front to back.
Clubhouse Pick: #17
Best Par 4 - #12 278 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
The tee shot is a forced uphill carry from mountain to mountain. Psychologically, the tee shot looks much tougher than it actually is. From the tips, you will need to carry 180 yards to reach the fairway. Missing left gives you a small chance to bounce off the side hill and possibly back onto the fairway. Missing right, your ball will be 100 yards downhill lost in the canyon. For big hitters, take courage in your tee shot knowing that a grassy trench protects the front of the green and can slow down rolling burners from rolling through the green.
If you can land your tee shot in the fairway, this is one of the easiest holes on the course. The green slopes from front to back and is quite wide. A fun and beautiful hole that you will not forget anytime soon.
Clubhouse Pick: #3
Best Par 5 - #14 575 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
This hole has EVERYTHING, and is my runner-up choice for the signature hole, most beautiful and likely bogey hole. The tee box is elevated but the forced carry over the gorge and to the fairway is either level or possibly slightly uphill. From the tips, it is a 200 yard carry to clear the gorge and 220 yards to reach the fairway. Starting on the fairway, this hole plays all the way uphill to the green. The elevation change equates to about a 620 yard hole which will require three good shots to reach the green in regulation.
The strategy on the drive is simple, get it on the fairway with good distance. If you can clear the gorge and stay away from the right rough, you will be in good shape. The second shot (a forced layup due to the length of this hole) is the most important. Again, stay away from the right side. A fence and wooded area line the right side, including a portion that juts out creating a dogleg right. Laying up on the left side keeps you out of danger and gives you a good angle on your approach. Make sure to cover enough yardage to comfortably hit your approach shot into the elevated green. From the 150 yard marker, the green is straight uphill forcing a 1 to 2 club increase. Green is protected by a sand bunker on the front right and on the left. Green is deep and slopes from front to back. A ridge runs through the middle.
Everything about this hole is absolutely mesmerizing. From the layout of the hole, to the towering, majestic mountains encircling every shot, this hole is as beautiful as it gets. One of the best holes on the course and on the list for one of the best Par 5’s in Utah. This hole and essentially the entire back nine comes highly recommended from the Utah Golf Guy.
Clubhouse Pick: #18
Bonus Hole - Best Tee Shot #10 Par 4 419 Yards
I would be remised if I left out the best tee shot on the course. The drive on #10 has everything that you want in a golf shot. HUGE elevation. Blind view of the fairway. Forced carry over the mountain slope on the left side. This tee shot requires some course knowledge if you want to land in the fairway or close to the green. Aim just left of the white water tank seen in the mountains as a mark for the 150 yard marker (for short hitters or those laying up with an iron). Be aware that a large fairway bunker will gobble up any balls hit right of this mark. For big hitters, aim 10-20 yards left of that same white water tank. For shot shapers, hit a simple draw starting just left of the white tank and have it bend a good 15 to 20 yards. This tee shot is exhilarating, beautiful and a whole lot of fun!!!