On the Red Rock Golf Trail

Each year, the first Saturday in June in the U.S. is designated National Trails Day. Though the day’s organizer, the American Hiking Society, didn’t have golf in mind, this is still a great time to remind golfers about the country’s many splendid golf trails. One in particular that’s gaining in popularity is the Red Rock Golf Trail in St. George, Utah.

According to Roxie Sherwin, Red Rock Golf Trail marketing manager, Utah’s only golf trail was formed in 2004 with eight quality golf courses. “We actually started the golf trail to increase tourism to the area and put St. George on the map as a golf destination,” Sherwin explains. “The number of golf rounds have increased dramatically since the inception of the Red Rock Golf Trail.”

Located two hours drive northeast of Las Vegas, the St. George courses are known for challenging designs, affordable green fees, and spectacular scenic features, like Zion National Park a few miles away. All of the courses that comprise the Red Rock Golf Trail are within 15 minutes of St. George. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect on the Red Rock Golf Trail.

Coral Canyon Golf Course—Set amidst the beauty and splendor of the southwestern Utah landscape, Coral Canyon uses the backdrop of Zion National Park as its framework. Measuring 7,029 yards, this par 72 offers scenic views of Bryce Canyon’s snow-capped pink spires in the winter and Zion National Park’s verdant springtime bloom. Coral Canyon features 80 acres of turf, 55 sand traps, two lakes, and a variety of dry washes scattered throughout the course. It’s a great place to perfect your target golf game.

Sunbrook Golf Course—Once rated the best golf course in Utah by Golf Digest, Sunbrook, too, is loaded with scenery. It’s the only golf course in southwestern Utah with 27 holes, and each group of nine holes is distinct. For example, the Woodbridge Nine is named after the fifth hole. After teeing off from a bluff overlooking the island-green fourth hole, golfers must carry a lake featuring a picturesque country-style wooden bridge. The course measures 6,818 yards and is a par 72.

The Ledges Golf Club—You won’t want to forget your camera when playing this scenic course, which is seven miles north and 900 feet above St. George. With its impressive red rock backdrops, immaculately designed greens, and picturesque views of Snow Canyon State Park, The Ledges Golf Club is certainly a picture-postcard golf experience. In addition to being part of a planned community, The Ledges will soon offer a state-of-the-art golf academy. The academy will feature three indoor hitting bays, ideal practice greens, and perfect putting and chipping areas, along with a full-length practice range.

Sky Mountain Golf Cour-se—This city-owned public course features 18 holes of golf in one of the most scenic areas in the country. Sky Mountain in nearby Hurricane, Utah, is unique with its rolling fairways and tabletop greens, framed by the red sand and lava-filled desert surroundings. Several tee boxes feature elevated greens, including the first, fifth, seventeenth, and eighteenth holes. From these vantage points, it’s easy to see where Sky Mountain got its name. Always in terrific shape, Sky Mountain Golf Course offers a picturesque setting. The par 72 course measures 6,312 yards.

SunRiver Golf Course—Like its counterpart courses nearby, SunRiver also provides breathtaking views. Set next to the Virgin River, the layout is surrounded by exquisitely colored desert landscape. Featuring the only bent grass tees in southern Utah, SunRiver is also the southernmost course in St. George. A relatively new course, it offers a nice combination of challenging desert golf with generous fairways and true greens. With its player-friendly design and scenic beauty, SunRiver Golf Course is a par 71, measuring 6,704 yards.

St. George Golf Club—This municipal golf course is operated by the city of St. George. With favorable greens, the course has been a part of the St. George landscape for more than 30 years. This is a walker-friendly course that features several challenging par 3s over water. A peninsula hosts the par-5 ninth green and the par-4 eighteenth green. Your accuracy and use of the short irons will be tested here. This delightful par 73 measures 7,217 yards.

Dixie Red Hills Golf Course—This is the first golf course developed by the city of St. George; the course opened for play in the mid-1960s. A favorite of recreational golfers, Red Hills is a nine-hole, par 34 layout that meanders around the sandstone cliffs of “Utah’s Dixie.” It measures 2,733 yards. This golfer-friendly course features hundreds of mature cottonwood, Mondale pine, and mesquite trees that provide the much-appreciated shade during St. George’s warm summer months. Of the three par 3s, the sixth hole measures only 150 yards, but carries over a crystal-blue lake. So, bring a well-tuned seven iron or a few extra balls!

Southgate Golf Club—This is one of the most player-friendly courses in the area. It has undergone a great deal of redesign over the last 15 years. The front nine meanders along the picturesque Santa Clara River, while the back nine traverses the foothills of Tonaquint Mountain with stunning views of downtown St. George and its red rock backdrop. Eight of the nine holes on the front nine feature either a lake or the Santa Clara River. This enjoyable par 70 measures 6,100 yards.

The 19th Hole (and a few chip shots)
Some things take a little time—like getting your first hole-in-one. In April, 102-year-old Elsie McLean aced a 100-yard, par-3 hole that she’d been playing for decades. She became the oldest person to achieve that feat. According to ESPN.com, prior to Elsie acing the fourth hole at Bidwell Park Golf Course in Chico, California, the oldest person recording a hole-in-one was Harold Stilson of Boca Raton, Florida, who recorded his ace on May 16, 2001, at 101 years of age. To celebrate her accomplishment, Elsie appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com