South Mountain Golf Course Review
Course Designer: David Graham/Gary Panks (1998)
https://slco.org/golf/south-mountain/
385-468-1480
1247 East Mike Weir Drive
Draper UT 84020
Accolades
Golf Digest Magazine listed “Top Places to Play in America”
Golf Digest Magazine “#3 ranked Golf Course in Utah
Utah Business Magazine “One of the best places to hold a corporate or group outing”
Hosted the 1999 Utah Open
Utah Golf Guy Grade
| OVERALL | 8.50 |
| BEAUTY | 8 |
| VALUE | 9 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 10 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 8 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 6 |
| CONDITIONS | 8 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 9 |
| FUN | 10 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 8 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| GOLD | 3550 | 3530 | 7080 | 73.4 | 130 |
| BLACK | 3330 | 3315 | 6645 | 71.3 | 125 |
| BLUE | 3065 | 3080 | 6145 | 67.3 | 118 |
| WHITE | 2875 | 2855 | 5730 | 67.3 | 118 |
| RED | 2615 | 2550 | 5165 | 69.8 | 118 |
Course Summary
South Mountain Golf Course is located on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain Range. It first opened up in 1998 as an upscale, private golf course owned by Crown Golf Properties but has since been sold to the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation department making it a public course.
The mountain course is extremely difficult from the gold tees so it is imperative that you keep the ball in play on every tee shot. Only a few holes offer a level tee shot with most offering a variety of dramatic elevation changes for the initial shot. Due to these elevation changes, the yardage on this course is misleading and plays much shorter than the posted 7080 yards. The course is built on sandy soil which makes for soft greens and fairways. Divots are easy to take and high approach shots stick to each green with very little runoff.
This course has done a tremendous job with hole variety. Each one is different and memorable in their own way. The majority of golf courses have a few standard, un-remarkable holes but not at South Mountain. If the hole does not have an elevated tee box then a blind tee shot might be in play. A great mix of long Par 4s and 5s mesh well with a few short par 4’s that require risk-reward decisions off the tee box. If this is your first time playing this course it is recommended that you play on the safer side with your decisions until your course knowledge increases.
Atmosphere
The scenery around this golf course is breathtaking. The entire Salt Lake Valley can be seen down below and the majestic Wasatch Mountains are seen on the other side. Deer, foxes and coyotes are a regular occurrence and the layout of the course is an absolute masterpiece. Golf cart trails wind in and out of mountains and wilderness, making this course attractive to even non-playing partners to come along just for the views.
Specifics
Clubhouse/Practice facilities -This golf course and the amenities that it provides are fantastic. The clubhouse is a little outdated on the outside but is beautiful and spacious on the inside. The practice facilities rival any public golf course in the state. Practice putting greens are in great shape, driving range is well-maintained and another practice green with sand bunkers with a spacious chipping area are available as well.
Fairways – Fairways are in good shape for the end of the fall season. They are soft and forgiving if you can land directly on them. A few fairways were spongy near the neck of the green but these were very few. Rough did not affect the ball at all as you would expect in the late fall. The majority of the driving holes (Par 4s and 5s) contain huge waves or moguls in each fairway. It is important to play the correct tee box so that you aren’t forced to play from awkward lies.
Greens – For end of fall, these were the best conditioned greens that I have seen in a while. Either they aerated the greens earlier in the season or they have yet to do so. These greens were in perfect shape, rolled true and the breaks equaled my reads. Most greens were wide and deep making it imperative to get your distance correct (which is made even more difficult with the elevation change). Most of the greens are double tiered and have a large ridge running across the middle of the green creating a lower plateau on the front and a higher plateau on the back. If you land on the wrong plateau you will be struggling for a 2-putt.
Sand – I hit out of 3 bunkers during my round and all of them were rock hard. They also were not groomed very well which is often labeled as “normal” for a mountain course.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #18 Par 4 455 Yards "The Wall"
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
After I played holes 1-17, I was considering 4-5 different holes for my signature hole (a testament to this golf course). Then I pulled up to hole #18 and I my mind was quickly made up. This hole features a slight uphill drive that continually goes uphill to the green. Views of Salt Lake Valley to the right; stunning homes on the left. Playing 455 yards from the tips, this hole plays much longer due to the uphill elevation change making a long, straight tee shot imperative.
The approach shot is my favorite on the entire course. A forced 80 yard carry over an OB deathtrap is necessary to reach the green. This forced carry is highlighted by a rock wall separating the junk and the green. A large bunker is strategically placed to the right of the green and just past the rock wall making the approach shot even more terrifying if the flag is on the back section. This wall has conquered many golfers, evidenced by finding 11 balls in less than 2 minutes in the OB area. This elevated green is also double tiered so make sure that you not only get over the wall but that you also land on the correct plateau for a possible 2-putt.
The only knock on this hole was the aerated fairway but that is to be expected at the end of October.
Clubhouse pick: Hole #18
Most Beautiful - #11 Par 3 155 Yards "Courage Point"
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
All four (4) par 3’s are excellent on this course. This hole has a forced carry over brush, a rock wall and a bunker to reach the small, skinny green. At first glance, this hole appears to have an elevated tee but it is about level with the green. Mountains in the background along with the Salt Lake Valley. Absolutely gorgeous
Clubhouse pick: Hole #2
Birdie Time - #1 Par 4 350 Yards "Wasatch"
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
An absolutely beautiful, unique and easy starting hole. Elevated tee box, bunkers on the right, brush to the left. The green is slightly elevated from the fairway making it difficult to drive the green. Hit your 200 yard club, let it roll the extra 50-60 yards. This leaves you about 100 yards to the green. Take advantage of one of the flattest greens on the course and start your round under par! Great opening hole
Clubhouse pick – Hole #1
Likely Bogey - #15 Par 5 520 Yards "Solitude"
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Normally a par 5 is never considered the most likely bogey hole, but this golf course is anything but normal. 520 yards uphill, this hole plays closer to 600 yards. This is one of the few holes with a relatively flat but sloping fairway (no moguls or hills). This creates very little bounce and roll off the tee shot.
Two bunkers are found 70 yards short of the green and collect balls attempting to get on in two. These bunkers are two of the deepest on the course. Three more bunkers are found on the right side of the elevated green and one small bunker is located on the left. A ridge runs across the back 2/3 of the green creating a sloping front and a shelf on the back. Work to get your par and get to the next hole.
Clubhouse Pick – Hole #14
Best Par 3 - #16 140 Yards "Stones"
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
The Par 3’s on this course are all beautiful and all would have a claim on the best par 3 at the majority of Utah Courses. My personal favorite was #16. Slightly elevated tee box and forced carry over the native area and a beautiful rock wall that covers the frontside of the green. Another double tiered green but this goes left to right, not front to back like most greens. High side is on the right. Green is wide but shallow making yardage paramount to landing on the green.
Clubhouse pick: Hole #8
Best Par 4 - #12 395 Yards "Quick Draw"
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
This course does not have a bad hole which made these choices very difficult. I’d be happy choosing up to 4 different Par 4’s for this slot (including #7 that I holed out from 120 yards for Eagle). But, looking back after my round my favorite hole was #12, “quick draw”. I am a fan of holes that allow you to play it a few different ways, weighing out the risk/reward. Another elevated tee box into a rolling fairway. The safe play is to layup to the right of the left fairway bunker at 240 yards and have a nice downhill approach shot from about 140 yards.
The big hitters can attempt to cut the corner on the dog leg left right over the bunker, giving them a chance to reach the green or have a simple chip up and down for birdie. If you draw the ball too far left you are in serious trouble of losing your ball. Another double tiered green sloping from left to right.
Clubhouse pick: #10
Best Par 5 - #2 555 Yards "Lu's Landing"
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Should be the first time you pull out the driver on the round. Elevated tee, undulated fairways with everything going downhill to the green. Perfect drive is to carry the 1stleft sand bunker (200 yards). If you land in the fairway you will get an extra 50-60 yards of roll. Small ridge on the front 1/3 of the green. One of the flatter greens on the course. Because of the downhill, hole plays closer to 475 but you must gauge your downhill distances correctly.
Clubhouse Pick – #2