Architect: William H. Neff (2000)
435-986-0001
4210 S Bluegrass Way St. George, UT 84790
Utah Golf Guy Grade
| OVERALL | 7.13 |
| BEAUTY | 6 |
| VALUE | 5 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 8 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 8 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 7 |
| CONDITIONS | 7 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 9 |
| FUN | 7 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 6 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| BLACK | 3531 | 3489 | 7020 | 72.6 | 126 |
| BLUE | 3298 | 3336 | 6634 | 70.7 | 120 |
| WHITE | 3032 | 3057 | 6089 | 68.9 | 117 |
| RED (Women) | 2805 | 2863 | 5668 | 72 | 129 |
Course Summary
Sun River Golf Club in St. George is an 18 hole course located in a beautiful 55+ community built for active seniors. The layout of the course is fun, well-designed and accommodating for all skill levels. An interesting fact, in 2005 a major flood completed destroyed and washed away 12 entire holes on the course. It has since been rebuilt and re-routed to the layout that you play today. The course offers some pretty views of desert vistas and red rock mountains.
The front nine is completely different than the back nine. The front is relatively flat with essentially the same layout; desert waste lining both sides of the fairway all the way up to the green. The back has a lot more variety with elevation changes and more beautiful scenary as it winds throughout the neighborhood. The course is not long nor is it difficult. On the front nine, wayward shots off the tee (not counting #7) are still playable from the desert brush, acting like an extended sand bunker. It is very rare to lose a ball on the front nine. The back nine plays tougher and is overall more beautiful.
The practice facilities are overall good. The driving range has quite a few bays and the putting green is large and spacious. Between the putting green and the driving range is a chipping green. This green is in terrible shape but it does have a sand bunker to practice out of. To the right side of the driving range is a chipping green with a bunker that is either under construction or was given up on. If they can complete this area, it will definitely increase the value of the practice facilities.
Conditions
The high heat and heavy winds of southern Utah are brutal on a golf course. Even so, the overall condition of the course was decent. Tee boxes were in decent shape but there were too many dead spots throughout the fairways and even greens. For the price of green fees, I would expect the condition of the course to be much better. This course either needs clean up the course or lower their rates ASAP.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #12 Par 5 538 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
The back tees (Black and Blue) require a little distance off the tee to carry the desert wasteland and provide a little nervousness as you can only sit a tiny sliver of the fairway. Fairway is much wider than what you can see from the back tees. The forward tees are much simpler, with views of the entire fairway and nothing to carry on the drive. The fairway is lined with various bunkers on both sides; three on the left and two on the right. The fairway starts off relatively flat and then 275 yards from the green is slopes aggressively down to the green. If you can reach the slope off the drive you have a great chance to reach this green in two.
The cart path runs across the fairway at around 200 yards from the green. Three greenside bunkers on the left side and one large bunker on the right. The bunker on the right blends into the desert waste creating a ginormous sand type shot on that side. Green is very wide and slopes uphill from front to back.
Clubhouse Pick: 8
Most Beautiful - #17 Par 5 502 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Elevated tee shot for a short Par 5. Lake Charles sits on the left side of the hole and continues all the way up past the green. Stay out of the water and this hole becomes a likely birdie hole. Two fairway bunkers on the right side. Get past the first fairway bunker and your ball will take the downhill slope an extra 20-30 yards. Fairway might now have a level spot with large sweeping undulations throughout.
Green is protected by one bunker on the left side. Two more bunkers on the right side, one directly to the side and the other behind the hole to the right. Green is very skinny but extremely deep. Green has slopes throughout with most funneling the ball back to the center. If you have the chance to play this hole near sunset, you will be in for a great surprise. Looking back to the hole, behind the green will give you a spectacular view of the lake glistening in the sunset.
Clubhouse Pick: 17
Birdie Time - #17 Par 5 502 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
See “Most Beautiful”
Clubhouse Pick: 15 or 17
Likely Bogey - #7 Par 5 566 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
While no hole is extremely difficult on this course, #7 poses the biggest punishments for missed shots. Lake Charles runs from the tee box all the way to the green. A separate lake is behind the hole and any shots long (possibly trying to reach in two) have the potential of finding this watery grave. The left side of the fairway has a fairway bunker to collect errant drives and a second fairway bunker to collect wayward layups. Past these bunkers is desert wasteland going all the way up the hole. This will take three good shots to stay out of sand or water. Red rock mountains are prominent in the background making this hole pretty.
Fairway is relatively skinny so must be accurate on the tee shot. Only 10 yards seperates the green with the pond on the right side. Green is deep and relatively skinny. Green is slightly elevated and a mound is on the left side. Hitting in this area could potentially spill your ball into the left side bunker. Behind this green is yet another pond so do not blade a shot past the green. A ridge runs across the first 1/3 of the green and then slopes aggressively uphill. Green has a few dead spots and weird color configurations but overall this hole is fun and pretty.
Clubhouse Pick: 7
Best Par 3 - #16 254 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Pine trees line the left side of this hole. Two large bunkers protect the right side of the green. Tee shots are slightly elevated hitting down to the green. Green has two ridges, one on the left and one on the right. The backside of the green can act like a mini backstop brining any shots a few yards long back to the center of the green.
Clubhouse Pick: 8
Best Par 4 - #10 444 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
The first hole of the back nine does not disappoint. This is the first hole where residential homes can be seen. Houses are on both sides of this hole. The fairway is U-shaped, with an elevated tee shot into a descending fairway that goes back up towards the green. A small creek runs along the left side but it should never come into play. The right side fairway bunker has a huge lip which will require a lofted club to get out. Approach shot is uphill so you will need to play at least an extra club. Two huge bunkers protect the front left and one bunker protects the right side. Green is undulated with various slopes and valleys.
Clubhouse Pick: 10
Best Par 5 - #15 521 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Will need to hit a decent drive to clear the desert area; 200 yards from the tips. Tee shot is elevated and provides a beautiful view. Hazard penalty all along the right side of the fairway. Fairway bunker on the left side. Two more fairway bunkers on the right and one more on the left could potentially grab a wayward 2nd shot. A short but deep valley run across the fairway 155 yards short of the green. Green is extremely undulated and moves downhill from left to right. A small backstop will allow for some long approach shots to come back towards the middle of the green.
Clubhouse Pick: 17