Hole 2: The Big Step

A relatively long par 4 which challenges most players to clear the step up on the first shot for an unobstructed view of the green. This fescue lined fairway with trees to the right and bunkers greenside keeps things interesting for all players.

Hole 3: The Beaver Trap

The first of several “across the ravine” shots. All players will need to clear the river on their first shot to reach the green. A trap to the right provides a consequence for even a slightly errant shot to the right. Be sure to enjoy the roar of the cascading river, watch for any wildlife nearby, including beavers, and don’t miss the views up the 13th fairway as you approach the hole. Wildlife seen on the golf course includes: Moose, Elk, Deer, Turkey, Goats, Skunk, Rattlesnakes and many other smaller creatures.

Hole 4 : Gene’s Dream – The 1st of the difficult GOAT holes

This Par 3 hole is bounded on one side with a beautiful stream and a lush vegetation mountainside on the other. The green is two tiered with deep bunkers on the front left and front right. The expanded green allows for the pin to be tucked behind the right bunker to test the skills of the very best players while allowing for a safe play to the left. Keep an eye out for the Old Ephraim wood stump carving on the hill greenside. Gene applied more changes to this hole than any other, the result is spectacular. The changes were influenced by advice Jack Nicholas once gave to Gene, “never take a draw away from a player, so few can pull off a draw, they should be rewarded for that”. So away went the trees and in came a whole new hole design!

Hole 5 : Blind Man’s Stumble - The 2nd of the difficult GOAT holes

Known by many as the most difficult match hole in Utah, this hole has dashed the hopes of many who were confidently on top of the leaderboard. With the green obscured by trees and rolling hills from the tee box, players must choose carefully their initial club choice. The fairway has almost no level playing surfaces, but plenty of right to left slopes, complimented by a stream on the left and a steep, wild grass covered slope to the right. The second shot is often a blind approach toward the green. Once on the green, there are very few pin placements that are considered easy. This hole has had very few changes made to it because it has been unforgettably difficult for most players for over 50 years!

Hole 6 : Easy Does It - The 3rd of the difficult GOAT holes

A short, but unforgiving hole. Tee box options include a below the hole approach, or an “over the ravine” look. A 10+ foot deep bunker protects the green on the front right. These GOAT holes come from a time when goats actually grazed the hillside. At times some can still be seen outside the city water treatment plant nearby. Today many players call them the G.O.A.T. holes because it is the Greatest Of All Time ways to lose a bunch of golf balls!

Hole 7 : Birdie or Bunker - The 4th of the difficult GOAT holes aka

Elevated tees provide stunning views of the valley as the hole runs parallel to the Bonneville trail in the Cache National Forest. A drivable par 4 for the best players, but a series of bunkers in front of the green awaits any effort that falls short. To the left are deep grasses on a steep hillside while to the right is a drop off and deep fescue (formerly known as birdie flats, until the fescue was introduced, perhaps it is now bogey flats?).

Hole 8: Old Ephraim – The notorious, grizzly bear!

This longest of the par 4’s hole is all about the carry, while staying out of the fescue which lines both sides of the fairway and is complimented by several fairway bunkers for added caution. Playing the wrong tee box will yield frustration if par is the desire. Being a Par 4 at over 500 yards this likely leaves a long 2nd shot for nearly every player. One may say it is a bear to get there!

Hole 9: The Birdhouse

A drivable par 4 for the longest hitters. A favorable approach favoring a draw on the drive leaves a manageable 2nd shot for most players. A series of bunkers down both sides keeps most players honest and will influence their choice of clubs. This ends the front nine and provides a chance to refuel and refresh at the Turn Truck or Club32 before making the turn. Be sure to watch for the oversized, Helmut Koch original, one of a kind, handcrafted German birdhouse between the tee boxes of the 9th and 12th holes, a unique feature for a truly unique course!

Hole 10: An Olive Branch

The first hole on the back 9 brings a long stretch of fairway with several bunkers along the way. Fescue to the left and an OB to the right for added intrigue. The name is an ode to the many Russian Olive trees that once infested the property. If your game isn’t going well yet, the course offers you here a symbolic Olive branch, before changing things up later on the back nine to further test your skills.

Hole 11: Around the Bend

A short par 4, risk/reward hole with a dogleg left and the hole hidden behind a grouping of tall trees and protected by large bunkers on the front green and right fairway. Fall short going for the green and you must deal with the fescue and trees. Play it safe down the fairway and a clear shot to the green will reward you.

Hole 12: The Watering Hole

This par 4 has the slightest dogleg to the left and is protected with tall trees on both sides and an OB on the right. A number of fairway and greenside bunkers (mostly hidden from the tee box) provide a real challenge for most players who may find themselves in the white glistening sand. Once on the green the patrons of the Club 32 watering hole are treated to a continual show of putting skills (or expressions of frustration and near-misses). While the players can’t see anyone through the glass, you can expect there are a number of patrons putting down a pint while watching your every putt.

Hole 13: The Hazards of Water

A favorite hole for all players enjoying an elevated tee for extra carry distance. The longest drives will need to watch for the fairway bunkers (the one on the right can be particularly challenging). The second shot (or third shot) to the green from the right side fairway will need to carry the large greenside pond. To the left is a greenside bunker. For the risk adverse players, a generous landing area before the pond allows for a nice pitch shot onto the green.

Hole 14: Dean’s Beach

The further back the tee box, the more elevated the shot becomes. A shot over the river and onto the green brings great satisfaction. Taking a detour to Dean’s beach (the greenside right bunker) will be the peak of frustration on this hole.

Hole 15: The Stretch

The longest hole on the course requires precision off of the tee box. With an OB and highway to the left and very healthy fescue to the right (aka Dean’s office, he says he spends a lot of time here) finding yourself there can take par out of the question. Several fairway bunkers await being navigated on the second shot, but are placed to help guide the attentive golfer to the right place for the perfect approach shot. Don’t forget to take a wave at the spectators watching from the clubhouse as you approach the green.

Hole 16: TD’s Gambit

A longer par 3 from the back tees, sporting OB down the left, fescue on the right, all complimented with 3 large bunkers around the green. The green has a couple of tight tuck ins for the pin (Tom loves how this plays) when the supervisor wants to make things a bit more challenging.

Hole 17: All or Nothing

For the longest of hitters, this hole has a bonus tee box (Erik’s Revenge) off the side of the hill near the highway for a 300+ yard carry for another “over the ravine” to the green. This hole provides a great match play risk/reward opportunity. Others players can still make the call on risk/reward depending on how far over the ravine they can carry the ball from the regular tee boxes, or simply play it safe with a nice pitch onto the green from the elevated fairway right. Beware the deep bunker front left, it loves to capture the “almost made it” ball. The infinity green (Dave’s Design) provides stunning views into Logan Canyon and the 3rd dam reservoir, but provides no stopping a fast moving ball from going OB over the edge.

Hole 18: Stairway to Heaven – the 2nd infinity green

This final hole has risk/reward written all over it. The temptation to go for the green seen across the ravine is tempting for the long ball strikers (with a well over 300 yard carry). The course’s newest green is treacherously positioned on the edge of the ravine with OB dangerously close to the left greenside. With eight bunkers there are plenty of hazards to navigate if you take the long route. As you make the sharp dog leg left you view the “stairway” of bunkers up to the green (heaven) (Dave’s Design). From these bunkers, the infinity green is not visible, and the design of the green demands caution to avoid the adjacent OB, not to mention that the front and right of the green is also protected by deep bunkers.

The green is a long, narrow “Biarritz green” which will test even the best of putters on this final, all important hole (thank Dave). When the game is over, your attention immediately turns to the surrounding views which are unmatched, as you overlook the beautiful Cache Valley and Wellsville Mountains to the west and Logan Canyon to the east, you may ask “Is this Heaven”? No, it’s Cache Valley, but it's about as close as it gets! Let’s play again!