A Guide to Golfing in Greater Zion, Utah

It was 7 a.m. and pitch black when I pulled into the parking lot of Copper Rock Golf Course, just outside of Hurricane, Utah. I was the first golfer there (with the enviable first tee time of the day), and I milled about as an attendant drove golf carts out of the garage, lining them up in preparation for a deluge of weekend golfers.

My playing partner and I headed to the first hole as the sun rose, illuminating the red sandstone mountains and warming the dew on the fairways. The red-green combination was so vibrant it made me think of Christmas. Who knew golfing in Southern Utah could be this sublime?

“Within the golf circle, we’re well known,” Chad McWilliams, sports and adventure sales manager at Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office, told me at the Bank of Utah Championship. The PGA event was hosted by Black Desert Resort this year.

As a newer golfer (just over two years in, with a handicap of 23), I’d only ever heard about the stalwarts of American golf: PGA West, Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst. 

Greater Zion flies under the radar, then, and perhaps partly because it sits in the shadow of its namesake: Zion National Park. But that’s also what makes it so special.

“This is a destination,” McWilliams said. “There are a lot of beautiful golf courses around the world, but when you leave that golf course, what is there to do? Here, you’ve got Zion. You’ve got four state parks. With a bachelor party, [guys] could go rent some OHVs [off-highway vehicles] and spend a couple hours ripping it up on the dunes or going rock crawling. They could go hit the jet skis."

Having had the chance to experience Greater Zion and see what it has to offer golfers once they’re done playing, I agree with McWilliams. And I wouldn’t think twice about recommending it to my fellow duffers.

Where to Play Golf in Greater Zion

I have played Copper Rock Golf Course, Coral Canyon Golf Course and Sand Hollow Resort; all were challenging, but still fun. To note, Copper Rock Golf Course was voted as the best golf course in Southern Utah [https://www.copperrock.com/] for five years in a row, while Coral Canyon Golf Course recently upgraded its course with new bunkers, new cart paths and well-maintained greens.

For a step up, Black Desert Golf Course offers a championship experience, having been used for the Bank of Utah Championship (PGA) and the Black Desert Championship (LPGA). Surrounded by lava rocks and with a distance of 7,500 yards, clients will need to hit their balls long and straight.

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For novelty, golfers could consider a quick round at Dixie Red Hills Golf Course, the first one built in St. George, Utah. This 9nine-hole, par-34 course is credited with taking the town from a “desert gas station stop to a true place of beauty and tourism.” It might be worth it for the history alone.

All in all, Greater Zion has 14 public courses, and the scenery is stunning from at each one. It’s hard to go wrong.

Bucket-List Course: The Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort

The Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort is a must-play course that should be on every golfer’s list. A 25-minute drive from St. George, it’s just outside Sand Hollow State Park and nestled among red rocks that are so colorful and craggy that they look fabricated, as if transported straight from Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride.

The course, designed by John Fought, is suitable for golfers of all skill levels. The fairways are forgiving while still requiring strategic approach shots to score well. The greens are big and there are bunkers everywhere, filled with red sand (instead of the traditional white) that matches the landscape. It’s a small detail that has a big impact. When I saw the first set of bunkers, I whispered to myself, “That is so cool.”

What also sets this course apart are the stunning vistas from its back nine; the holes are set along the jagged cliffs and mesas that define Greater Zion. Elevated tee boxes give expansive, awe-inspiring views, and if a golfer hits the ball with too much curve, it’ll descend into the red rock canyons below (the most thrilling out-of-bounds I’ve ever experienced). The course combines playability and visual splendor like none other.

A final note: Be sure clients check the wind report. When I played, the winds were coming in 30-plus miles per hour. A twosome I was paired with got a refund for their tee times, but I persevered, unsure of when I’d be back. When the wind let up around hole 10, I knew I had made the right choice. If players can muscle through and have confidence in their low-flying shots, I’d recommend sticking it out.

Sand Hollow Resort also has The Links Course (a par-36 that resembles links courses found in Britian) and The Wee Course, Southern Utah’s only par-3 course designed for the whole family.

Where to Stay in Greater Zion

I stayed at The Ledges, a charming golf community with vacation homes. Ideal for groups, the homes can accommodate parties of up to 36 guests. While the rentals have full kitchens and private barbecuing areas, an onsite restaurant, Fish Rock Grille, makes meals convenient. They also have their own golf course, The Ledges Golf Course, that is well-regarded.

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For a luxury experience, book clients at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah. It’s the state’s largest resort, with 447 rooms and suites, seven food and beverage options and a wide range of activities, including guided hikes and a 15,000-square-foot spa. Ivins has a small town center that includes a FeelLove Coffee and is only 15 minutes from downtown St. George.

Clients looking for a slightly more remote location should look at Open Sky, a luxury glamping experience with 13 safari-style canvas tents set within Zion’s natural beauty. Each tent has been designed with comfort in mind, equipped with an ensuite bathroom, heating, and air conditioning. There’s an onsite restaurant, Black Sage, which is only open for dinner, but each tent has a gas grill, mini fridge and microwave. Off the beaten path, its closest golf courses are Copper Rock Golf Course, Sand Hollow Golf Course and Coral Canyon Golf Course, and it’s 38 miles to downtown St. George.

Other Activities in Greater Zion

With McWilliam’s advice, I made sure to explore after my rounds. After Copper Rock Golf Course, I went to Zion National Park and spent an afternoon hiking the Pa’rus Trail, taking in the park’s energy and contemplating my place in the universe.

The park is, of course, a must-visit for any client coming to Greater Zion. Whether a client hikes, cycles or rappels, there’s no shortage of ways to see this majestic park. Zion Guru is a reputable outfitter that can arrange tours and rentals.

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For a less-crowded park experience that’s closer to St. George, Snow Canyon State Park is regarded as Zion’s “little sibling.” Visitors can hike, horseback ride, cycle or climb here. I took in a sunset in the park, after scrambling to the top of a rock so I could look over the canyon.

Other outdoor adventures abound via land, water or air. A standout option is taking an OHV (off-highway vehicle) through the many trails and sand dunes in the area. Sand Mountain, adjacent to Sand Hollow State Park, offers 15,000 acres to explore that include dunes, canyons and mesas.

For a water adventure, most of the state parks offer kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and jet skiing at their reservoirs, with Sand Hollow State Park having the biggest. If a client wants a more relaxing time in the water, they can rejuvenate at Zion Canyon Hot Springs, which offers 34 geothermal hot springs and 16 mineral soaking pools, as well as cold plunges and barrel saunas.

If a client wants to see Greater Zion by air, local outfitters offer aerial tours via helicopter, airplane or even hot air balloon.

And nightfall in Greater Zion doesn’t mean it’s time to sleep. Astronomy buffs should take the opportunity to enjoy the stars with Dark Sky Astronomy Tours, co-founded by two Air Force veterans who bring a variety of telescopes to help visitors glimpse the cosmos. Be sure to check the weather conditions — I was scheduled to go, but the clouds rolled in and our date was postponed.