St. George, Utah — The southwest corner of Utah won the geographic lottery. Its world-famous collection of national and state parks showcase a landscape where, in the space of a single day, visitors can experience soaring sandstone cliffs, sprawling desert, even beaches and boating. That same topography also serves as a dramatic backdrop for 13 golf courses – six of which rank among Golfweek’s top 10 statewide – in what is commonly known as the Greater Zion area.
Suffice it to say, when you plan your trip, your biggest concern will be how much you can cram into your itinerary – and what activities you should leave for future visits.
Here are some suggestions for your next Great Zion adventure.
Day 1
Start at Sand Hollow Golf Course, which is a true “destination course” – one that golfers travel great distances to play. Since 2009, Golfweek has ranked Sand Hollow No. 1 among public courses in Utah. It is the American answer to Ireland’s Tralee – a classic, elegant front nine that gives way to a raucous, vertiginous back nine. The cliffside par-4 12th and the par-3 15th are two of the most-photographed golf holes in the American West.
After that thrilling back nine, keep the adrenaline pumping next door, racing all-terrain vehicles across the dunes of Sand Mountain Recreation Area, which is the closest thing you’ll experience to a Martian lunarscape. Sand Mountain is the highest dune in the Great Basin, offering an extraordinary, 360-degree panorama of perhaps the most stunning landscape in the American West.
After playing in the sand, it’s time to hit the beach. Yes, the beach. Drive into Sand Hollow State Park, where you can go cliff-jumping or jet-skiing in the reservoir. Me? I’m going to wind down with a little paddleboarding on the calm waters, then enjoy the sun setting on the red sand and reservoir.
Day 2
Johnny Miller is best known for the many years he spent as a player and announcer, but he also has a sneaky-good résumé of building golf courses. One of his best is Entrada at Snow Canyon, ranked No. 3 on Golfweek’s state list. This is where you’ll start your day. (Visitors are able to play at Entrada if they stay at the amenity-rich Inn at Entrada.) This is thrilling target golf played through red clay and black lava.
Beginning in late 2020, architect David McLay Kidd, whose seminal design work launched Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, will be freshening up Entrada. If you’re visiting while Entrada is closed for renovations, consider an equally compelling golf landscape nearby at The Ledges of St. George, ranked No. 10 statewide.
After golf, it’s just a short drive to Snow Canyon State Park – so short you can see the park’s red-rock formations from the par-3 12th at The Ledges. Movie buffs might recognize Snow Canyon as the backdrop for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Like Butch and Sundance, you can ride horses here, though most visitors prefer hiking and mountain biking among the black lava and sandstone cliffs.
When the sun goes down, the lights come up nearby at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, which is carved into Padre Canyon, a short drive from Snow Canyon. Depending on which night you visit, you might enjoy either a Broadway-style musical or brand-name rock band.
Day 3
The Greater Zion region is all about enjoying the outdoors, but after two fast-paced days, perhaps it’s time to slow down and pamper yourself. Consider starting the final day of your visit with a spa treatment at Red Mountain Resort or Amira Resort & Spa.
Then it’s off to Coral Canyon Golf Course, where the demands presented by Keith Foster’s daunting layout are softened by the vistas of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.
But you’re going to end your trip just a few miles away, at Quail Creek State Park. Rent a boat, drop a line, and maybe you’ll catch a few trout as you ponder all of the new ad