Sand Hollow (Championship Course) Review
Designer: John Fought/Andy Staples (2008)
5662 W Clubhouse Drive Hurricane, UT 84737
435-656-4653
Accolades
2017 – #54 Best Resort Courses in America Golfweek
2019/2018 – #1 Best Courses You Can Play in Utah Golfweek
2019 – #156 Top 200 Modern Courses Golfweek
Utah Golf Guy Grade
| OVERALL | 9.63 |
| BEAUTY | 10 |
| VALUE | 10 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 10 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 9 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 8 |
| CONDITIONS | 10 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 10 |
| FUN | 10 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 8 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| BLACK | 3715 | 3600 | 7315 | 73.7 | 131 |
| BLUE | 3562 | 3331 | 6893 | 71.8 | 126 |
| WHITE | 3370 | 3092 | 6462 | 69.7 | 121 |
| RED | 2784 | 2522 | 5306 | 64.7 | 105 |
Course Summary
Sand Hollow Resort Championship Course is nestled in the southwest desert town of Hurricane, Utah. The Championship Course is an 18 hole, Par 72 track covering 7315 yards. Designed by John Fought and Andy Stapes in 2008.
Sand Hollow Resort Championship Course came with A LOT of hype. I mean (read slowly) A LOT of hype! I had read all about the awards and accolades received by national and state publications. In my mind, no Utah course could live up to such lofty expectations, and still provide a good value for the golfer….
To put it bluntly, it did! This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful course I have played in Utah to date. The front nine provides incredible views of engulfing vistas, natural shrubbery and trees, red sand bunkers and wide, immaculate fairways.
The back nine is other-worldly. Specifically, holes 11-15 might be the best 5 hole stretch of golf in the western United States. Each hole plays along the canyon rim (left side) rock outcroppings (right side) and dramatic elevation changes. Golfers are okay with a slow pace of play throughout these five holes to allow for the beauty to truly sink in. The entire course, but especially the back 9, looks like another Utah National Park. The pictures will not do this course justice, as this is a MUST PLAY, MUST SEE for all golfers.
Specifics
Clubhouse is modern, spacious and beautiful on both the inside and outside. Large glass windows and a beautiful outside balcony offer tremendous views of the course. The only knock? No private space for special events.
The staff was absolutely fantastic. I made a few phone calls (as always, anonymously) and they were always patient and willing to answer any of my questions or requests. Employees of the pro shop and restaurant were warm, kind and helpful. The starter was fantastic, giving us an overview of the course, allowing us to select which carts we wanted to use (insulated covers or regular) and giving us pointers on certain holes. Maintenance workers always greeted us with a smile. This course truly understands the importance of their patrons.
The pace of play was decent, although I was grateful for it to be a little slower on the back 9, allowing me to snap quite a few pictures of some of the most awe-inspiring holes I have ever seen.
The practice facilities are some of the best in the state (rivaling the nearby Ledges Golf Course in St. George). Driving range is spacious, well-maintained while offering bunkers and flags to fire away at. Next to the driving range is 1 of 3 putting greens, with lots of space, slope and terrific views of the natural landscape (especially at sunset). The other two putting greens are found next to the #18 green. Both are considerably smaller than the previous green than the main practice green but are great for short putts and chipping.
Conditions
The fairways are huge! Almost impossible to miss any fairway off the tee and they are immaculate. For late January, these fairways looked like they were in pristine golf season shape. The ball sat up nicely, all divots were seeded and the edge from fairway to rough was spot on.
Greens are also ginormous on this course. They looked beautiful and received approach shots well. The greens were slower than they appeared and did not break as much as the eyeball thought it should. All ball marks were seeded and on multiple holes I saw workers tending to the green with some type of punch tool to alleviate these marks.
The famous red sand bunkers looked and played incredible. Not only do they line fairways and greens, but four holes feature bunkers in the middle of the fairway. I had the unfortunate privilege of hitting into two of them on my round (Hole #10 and #18). The ball sat up in both bunkers, and I was able to make good contact on both shots. Every hole on the course has at least one sand bunker, with the majority having a few off the fairway and protecting the greens.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #12 Par 4 443 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey
To be honest, I could make a case that this course contains two signature holes, #12 and #15. But, to keep things simple we will go with #12 in this spot and slot #15 as the Most Beautiful. The tee shot on #12 is absolutely stunning, mesmerizing, spellbinding and whatever other dramatic word you want to throw in there. A HUGE, elevated tee shot gives the perfect view of the canyon rim on the left side and beautiful red rock cropping on the right.
If your brain can get past the visual overload, the play is to land on the right side of the fairway and let it roll to the middle. A fun fact, I played the tips the entire round but the blues offered a more elevated, entertaining tee shot than the black. I recommend playing from the blues on this hole if the tees stay where they were.
Once on the fairway, the green is uphill. Make sure to go up at least one club length on your approach. Two deep bunkers protect the entire front right side of the green. Our flag was placed directly behind these bunkers so make sure you have enough club to get up the hill and over the bunkers.
The green has a false front. A ridge runs along the back side. If you can hit in between the front and back ridges, everything will funnel to the middle of the green. This was one of the best Par 4’s I have ever played in or out of the state of Utah. Beautiful, fun and unforgettable.
Clubhouse Pick – #12 or #15
Most Beautiful - #15 Par 3 230 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Double Bogey
Again, #12 could easily be in this spot just as #15 could easily be the signature hole. This Par 3 has come with a lot of fanfare (even being compared to the famed Cypress Point Golf Club #16 hole). To be honest, these comparisons are not too far off.
#15 is armed with various tee boxes offering dramatic yardage and angle differences for the hole. The green is nestled in between a large hill on the right and the intimidating canyon rim on the left. A small bunker protects the front of the green and a small opening (the Devil’s throat) is on the front right of the green for those who need the ball to run. The green slopes from front to back with a shelf on the backside of the green.
At 230 yards, I was between clubs. I stroked a 4-iron with all my might and landed on the front right of the green. Three putts later, with the flag in the back left, I emerged defeated with a bogey on the scorecard. #15 is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and entertaining Par 3’s in Utah.
Clubhouse Pick – #12
Birdie Time - #13 Par 4 320 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Par
A short Par 4 that big hitters can possibly reach on the drive. A fairway bunker sits 70 yards short of the green attempting to collect these efforts. Elevated tee to an elevated green. Another beautiful hole with the red rocks canyon on the left side and a large hill on the right side. Green is skinny but quite deep. Stay out of the fairway bunker, hit a wedge into the green and have a decent shot at Birdie.
Clubhouse Pick – #17
Likely Bogey - #6 Par 4 493 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey
This dogleg left is an absolute monster. A long Par 4 that plays uphill off the tee makes this hole feel even longer. 175 yards from the green is a humongous rockpile that you DO NOT want to be anywhere near. The fairway widens from about 250 yards to the green so the play should be the right side of the fairway for the best angle and a clean shot away from the rock pile.
The approach shot is downhill so choose your club wisely. The green is large and undulating with a large ridge running across the middle. Fun hole but quite dangerous.
Clubhouse Pick – #15
Best Par 3 - #11 190 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Par
To be honest, the collection of Par 3’s on this course are from top to bottom the best in the state. For the best Par 3, I happily could have chosen hole #8, #11 or #15 and each one would have been justified. As #15 was chosen as the Most Beautiful, I feel inclined to select #11 for this award.
#11 is the start of the 5 best and most exhilarating holes of golf in the state and possibly the Western United States. Panoramic views of mountains, canyons and the iconic red sand bunkers define this hole. In fact, 2 huge and deep bunkers line the entire right side of the green. If shaping the ball left to right, take these bunkers into account.
The green is extremely deep but skinny. Canyon and bunkers line the right side. Left side is safe with plenty of room to spare. Green slopes from left to right. If you can land on the front left of the green, the slope will take it towards the middle.
Clubhouse Pick – #8
Best Par 4 - #12 443 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Bogey
See Signature Hole
Clubhouse Pick – #6 or #12
Best Par 5 - #17 523 Yards
Utah Golf Guy Score - Par
Hole #17 is a unique Par 5. The elevated tee just offers a glimpse of the fairway. The fairway is much large and wider than it appears. The play is just to the right of the bunker in front of the fairway. In between fairways is a large wasteland that plays more like a humongous sand bunker with vegetation in it. This area is 55 yards deep and covers the length of the fairway. Stay out of this area at all costs! From the black tees, this area is 350 yards away. From the white tees, about 285 yards away. Plenty of room on the right side of the fairway. Hit enough club that you can get over wasteland area easily with your 2ndshot. A bunker sits in the middle of the fairway about 60 yards from the green (a theme for most Par 5s to protect anyone reaching in 2). Undulated green.
Clubhouse Pick – #17