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2.9
7 Reviews (7)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
2.9
Value
3.2
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
2.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
2.2
41.2%
Recommend this course
5 out of 7 reviews
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0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
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Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
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Average Rating
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2.5
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.0
Layout
4.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
1.5
StaffFriendliness
2.0
50.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 2 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7080 yards
Slope 130
Rating 73.4

Designed by PGA Championship and US Open winner David Graham and amateur title holder Gary Panks, South Mountain Golf Course is one of the newer golf courses in the Salt lake area. It was built several years ago as an upper scale private golf course by Crown Golf Properties. It has since been sold to Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation and is one of premier courses owned and managed by them. Since the change in ownership a few of the amenities have been eliminated (e.g. bag attendants), but the green fees have been lowered and the course is still in excellent condition.

From the moment you drive up Rambling Road and catch a few glimpses of several holes on the back 9, you get the feeling that you are in for a great golf experience. Upon arriving at the parking lot you can pull up to the bag drop off area to unload your clubs.

The clubhouse is beautiful and well stocked with all your golf equipment and clothing needs in the pro shop. One half on the main floor is a restaurant with set tables and huge windows providing a view of the course and valley below.

After checking in and paying, take your receipt down to the waiting cart where an attendant will direct you to the practice area or the first tee. If you have paid for some range balls the attendant will provide them.

There are two reasons to show up early and practice. First is that the course is tough and it is important that you are warmed up before teeing off. The second reason is that the driving range and adjacent practice facility are some of the best you will ever see. There is a cart parking area in the center that is surrounded by several putting and chipping areas that are in perfect condition. To the right is the driving range with real greens for targets. The practice area also contains more club and ball cleaning devices than most golf courses.

The course's holes have been built out and back across the mountainside. A lot of expense went into the cart paths, bridges, tunnels and rock work that take golfers between holes. Because of the long distances and elevation changes between greens and tees it would be a very difficult course to walk. Anyway, carts are mandatory so that's not an option. Just be careful when driving the carts down some of the very steep downhill paths, especially those on the back 9.

The foothills that South Mountain Golf Club is cut from contains very few trees. But that does not mean that you can expect to find or play your ball from off of the fairway. The natural rough contains scrub brush, sage, long grass and wild wheat. Even if you can find your ball there is no guarantee you will be able to get a club on it. The wheat is especially tough to chop through when compared to similar length grass.

The course is built on soil which is very sandy. This makes for soft greens and fairways. Divots are easy to take and high shots will stick to the greens easily.

The course has a good deal of hole variety. Several long holes require both big drives and second shots to get home in regulation. Others are short but allow risk-reward decisions on the green. Many holes have blind shots and optional landing areas so course familiarity is a big plus. As a general rule the first time you play this course, hit a club that will keep you safely in the fairway.

The shorter holes are the most memorable. Number 1 is a short par 4 which requires an accurate drive to a small fairway that looks like a grass bowl. Go right or left and you're dead. Like several other greens on the course it is downhill and requires less club to reach.

Hole number 4 has a deep gorge in front of the green that will make long hitters think twice before using their drivers. A lay-up with an iron is the smart play and leaves a wedge to the elevated green.

Starting out on the back 9 is the longest par 4 on the course. Number 10 at 500 yards from the gold tees and 450 yards from the blue tees means two long hits are needed. Luckily the fairway is wide and forgiving allowing players to go all out.

Number 11 is the best looking par 3. The green sits out on a ledge tucked into a bend in the hillside. A high wall of large rocks fronting the green must be cleared our your ball will end up lost below.

Hole number 12 is the best short par 4 on the course. It offers a true risk-reward shot from the tee. The safe shot is to aim right at the corner of the dogleg and then hit a short second shot into the green. But the angle of the fairway creates the opportunity to carry a waste area and go for the green.

South Mountain provides a great overall golf experience. The course is beautiful and except for some turf and drainage problems on hole 14, it is well maintained and in great shape. If you are ready for a challenge in a great setting on a great new course give South Mountain a try.

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect David Graham (1998) Gary Panks (1998) Gary Stephenson (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Utah (2020 #10)

Reviews

2.9
7 Reviews (7)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Club House personnel are very rude/arrogant

The club house personnel only works for free golf. I asked to go out the back for 9 at 6 25PM and the “pro” denied access. The course was wide open after the wind and rain came through. I asked if you get paid to work and he laughed. He said he gets paid $10 an hour (which was a lie), he told me the only reason he works there is for free golf. Apparently he is retired. Please hire people that are there to treat paying customers with respect. The main goal of the golf course operators is to encourage positivity to the game of golf and above all else grow the game. If your retired go home!

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played

Great layout/horrible conditions

Wow this course is in terrible conditions, the design and layout is really stimulating but the conditions is horrible, the fairways are filled with dead patches and grab grass and the greens have many dead zones and are terriblely ball marked. The county should invest some money and it might be the best course in the valley

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Greens

Greens were very receptive. Very challenging to know how the ball would roll.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Nice course, but very narrow and unforgiving

I struggle with this course. It is super narrow and if you miss, your ball is gone. It's very tough. However it is a good quality course and usually pretty good shape. And the bets part of all - it has incredible views of the Salt Lake valley.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Challenging Golf

South Mountain is a very challenging layout, with uneven fairways, and 12 of 18 greens that are double tiered. It is a course where all the holes are different, and none of them abut others, so you don't have to worry about errant shots coming in from adjoining fairways. You have to hit all the shots on this layout, as each hole has very challenging angles into the green. There are no water holes, but enough bunkers to keep you thinking about your next shot. This is my favorite course in Salt Lake County, but is not for the faint in heart. Outstanding views of the Salt Lake Valley, as this course is situated high on the east bench in Draper.
If you want a course that tests your ability, and requires a lot of precision, this is for you.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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