Land of the Red Sand - Sand Hollow Resort
By Charles Gwynn
In true EAC fashion, I started my summer break off with a golf escape. Becoming a tradition, I find the best way to celebrate the the coming of summer is with a May golf trip.
This year, our selected destination was the up and coming St. George, Utah, which is home of the #1 ranked golf course in the state, Sand Hollow. A very appealing destination, Sand Hollow has reasonable green fees for the caliber of course that it is, as well as affordable accommodation options. All things necessary for college students.
Sand Hollow offers little beyond a golf course. The clubhouse leaves much to be desired - lacking proper locker rooms along with an underwhelming pro shop and dining area, the experience is nothing notable. However, once stepping upon the first tee, it is easy to see why Sand Hollow is acclaimed so highly.
Straightforward, challenging golf holes in great condition makeup an excellent front nine. Vast views of the surrounding mountains surround each hole, with red rocks occupying the foreground, coming into play on selective occasions. A modern design, Sand Hollow is exemplary with a variety of risk reward par 4s along with difficult lengthy ones. Scoring opportunities exist, but the course requires an organized approach in order to keep the ball in play and to maximize those opportunities. The front nine is flat and fair and winds through a few residences, but the real drama begins on the back nine.
Beginning on 10, the layout of the back nine is already noticeably different. In a more open setting, the back nine explores the open plaines of southern Utah. No structures can be seen, and away from the clubhouse you go. Signature hole #12 is a par four seemingly carved into the cliffside of the plateau the entire property sits upon, making it difficult to focus on the tee shot considering how dramatic the surroundings are.
After hole 12, there are a couple more par fours with similar views and are followed by the impressive par three #15 which stretches out to a whopping 230 yards from the back tee box. The green is once again carved into the rocks of the cliffside and has a marvelous and intimidating look to it from the tee. Scoring on this hole is challenging especially if one has a good round going.
Sand Hollow gets a lot of things correct as a resort golf course. Challenging from the back tees, a good round feels earned and deserved when playing well. The course is not overly punishing and it does not have a steep learning curve. I found it possible to make plenty of good scores and put together a respectable round of golf even without ever playing the course before. One of the friends I played with just happened to shoot his best round ever here. The views alone make this course supremely fun and memorable. Additionally, Sand Hollow has a strong layout with no weak holes.
I would highly recommend a trip to St. George to check this course out. It's well priced, in great condition and has a few of the most stunning holes you'll ever play. Especially considering the plan to build houses on the back nine which seems imminent, I would urge readers to try and play in the next couple of years while the feeling of playing in the middle of nowhere still exists.
Written and Shot by Charles Gwynn
