Architect: Bruce Summerhays (1996)
801-771-4814
3185 N Hills Drive E, Layton, UT 84041
Utah Golf Guy grade
| OVERALL | 7.25 |
| BEAUTY | 8 |
| VALUE | 8 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 7 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 7 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 9 |
| CONDITIONS | 6 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 5 |
| FUN | 8 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 5 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| BLUE | 3170 | 3338 | 6508 | 70.4 | 123 |
| WHITE | 2946 | 3119 | 6065 | 68.3 | 117 |
| GOLD | 2763 | 2887 | 5650 | 65.9 | 115 |
| RED | 2489 | 2680 | 5169 | 69 | 120 |
Course Summary
Sun Hills Golf Course is located in Layton, Utah about 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. Sun Hills is appropriately named, with the sun peering through the majestic mountains and onto the course in the early morning. The course has a variety of holes including elevated tee and approach shots, dogleg fairways and a beautiful pond that comes into play on a few holes. Very pretty course with great views throughout.
Specifics
Lots of options for their practice facilities (1 putting green, 2 chipping greens and a decent sized driving range). Unfortunately, these practice areas are not well maintained with large dirt chunks found everywhere. The clubhouse is good, about what you would expect for a mid-level golf course. The staff was a little impatient in the pro shop. Also, the employee said they did not have any pull carts, so I rented a golf cart and as I walked to the driving range I noticed about 20 pull-carts available to the public.
Conditions
The front nine is in much better shape than the back nine. Dead spots and dirt patches in the fairway were a consistent theme on a few holes. Sand bunkers lacked sand and were rock hard. Greens looked and rolled consistent, maybe a hair slow. Fairway played nice (if you did not land in a dirt patch) and the rough was consistent and not very thick.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #7 Par 4 424 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
A fun, challenging hole with warnings posted all around the tee box to induce fear on the drive. A 90 degree dogleg left with a large hill on the left side creates the dogleg. White stakes are found on the hill forcing you to hit a perfect drive if you intend to cut the corner. Be aware that on this left side, the area is filled with thick bushes and trees as well. I placed my drive in the middle of the fairway, when out of nowhere, a mower came from out of the dogleg, with my ball landing and bouncing off the machinery. Green is extremely deep and slopes uphill. One bunker is on the backside of the green.
Clubhouse Pick: 13
Most Beautiful - #11 Par 4 462 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Elevated tee box with a 360 degree view of the golf course and the mountains. The fairway slopes downhill and is wide until the 165 marker that narrows considerably due to the rough jutting in from the right side. Large bunker protects the entire right side of the green, two smaller bunkers protect the back side. Green slopes aggressively uphill.
Clubhouse Pick: 4
Birdie Time - #5 Par 5 511 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Birdie
Another beautiful tee shot hitting into the towering view of the mountains. Trees line the right side, 100 yards off the tee box. Left side of the fairway is a large hill that will push most shots back onto the fairway. Right side, past the trees, is another hill that will take every ball close to the parallel hole’s fairway. Needless to say, hit left side fairway off the drive. Fairway is very narrow but the rough is forgiving on the left side. The approach shot is downhill making this hole play much shorter than the yardage shows.
Green is tiered, high side on the back and low side in the front. Two large bunkers protect the entire left side, one small bunker on the back right allowing you to roll a ball through the neck and onto the green on the right side. Green is very narrow and very deep. Green is very dead and beat up on the backside (high side). Fun hole. Keep your drive left, run up your second shot on the right side and two putt for your birdie.
Clubhouse Pick: 6
Likely Bogey - #4 Par 4 377 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Trees line both sides of the fairway but due to the slight dogleg right, the trees on the right side jut out into the fairway. Stay on the left side and this hole plays much easier. Play from the right side and you will need to carry trees or hit a wicked slice around the trees to an elevated green. Green is elevated so make sure to play your approach 5-8 yards longer than the yardage shows.
Once you reach the green (not an easy feat) is when the trouble comes. The green has three tiers, high side on the back left, middle side in the back and low side in the front. The slope from the front tier to the middle tier is gigantic, resembling a volcano mini golf hole. You must land on the correct level to even have a chance at par. If you don’t, three or four putts are in play.
Clubhouse Pick: 7
Best Par 3 - #13 186 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
The first hole that any sort of water comes into play. Large pond on the left side of the green. Elevated tee box into a large deep green. Bail out area is short right. Don’t let the water play with your mind. Aim for the right side of the green and play it safe.
Clubhouse Pick: #13
Best Par 4 - #17 391 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Another beautiful tee shot off of an elevated tee box. The fairway slopes downhill all the way down to the green. Thick, heavy trees line the left side. Plenty of room on the right side. Fairway slopes aggressively from right to left. A huge bunker protects the entire left side of the green. From the 100 yard marker, the approach shot is straight downhill to the green. Green is very wide with a false front on the right side. Danger to the left and behind the green so error to the right side if you need to. Green slopes uphill.
Clubhouse Pick: 4
Best Par 5 - #14 510 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Water to the left of the tee boxes and along the right side starting around the 200 yard marker. The further water should not come into play unless you slice your second shot. Four fairway bunkers line the right side. Need to hit 260 yards from the tips to clear them. Plenty of room on the left so no need to try and cut the corner. Green is protected by large, long bunkers on each side. Green slopes from right to left. A ridge runs along the middle, creating a shelf on the right side (top) and left side (bottom).
Clubhouse Pick: 14