So, where to start on this little nonscientific pursuit?

Of course, surveys always work well. So that's what we did, asking for responses in the newspaper and on our Web site. We also passed out surveys at the recent Men's State Amateur, hoping to get responses from some of the state's best players - most of whom have played all around the state.

We got almost 80 responses - 30 or so from State Am players and the other 50 via e-mail from readers. The survey included these topics: Utah's best overall course, best private course, best public course, best golf value, best greens, best hole, best unknown gem, worst hole and worst course.

Some Utah golf leaders and officials questioned the need for those last two. Why be negative, they asked. Well, if you are going to throw down anywhere from $35 to $125 for 18 holes and a cart, you deserve to get your money's worth, we say.

Here it is, our midsummer grading of the best and worst in Utah golf:

drew@sltrib.com

BEST OVERALL COURSE: Glenwild Golf Club & Spa, Summit County

Golf Digest has been saying it almost since the exclusive private course opened in the hills north of Kimball Junction in 1991, and Utahns agree - Glenwild is simply the state's best golf course.

It costs $115,000 to join Glenwild, more than any other private course in the state. Relatively few Utahns have played the course, but it still garnered one-fourth of the votes.

Director of golf Ken Weyand said Glenwild is known for its immaculate condition, exclusivity, fast greens and distinctive holes. The last two, 17 and 18, are probably the best two finishing holes in the state as well. It also has the state's only caddy program.

BEST PRIVATE COURSE: The Country Club, Salt Lake City

The Country Club edged Willow Creek, Hidden Valley and Glenwild in our survey, perhaps because some voters didn't realize Glenwild is private.

Washington's John Harbottle did a masterful job redesigning the venerable layout, especially the back nine, according to more than a dozen readers. "Best back nine in the state, hands down," noted Brady Stanger, a State Am regular.

The Country Club has so many memorable holes that a half-dozen were singled out in the survey. The par-5 ninth is the ultimate risk-reward hole; the par-3 10th is a thrilling downhill; and Harbottle brought the creek into play more on the challenging par-4 11th. The Country Club has seemingly reclaimed its status as the best private course in the state not named Glenwild.

BEST PUBLIC COURSE: Wasatch Mountain State Park Lake Course, Midway

Voting was incredibly close in this category, but state-owned Wasatch Mountain's Lake Course carried Utah, perhaps because of its beautiful setting and cooler temperatures when most Wasatch Front residents are sweltering in the July heat.

Thanksgiving Point, which is usually given the nod by national publications as Utah's top public course, had a strong showing. Layton's Valley View, Bountiful Ridge and Hobble Creek in the hills east of Springville came close. Hurricane's Coral Canyon, Smithfield's Birch Creek and Mountain Dell's Lake Course are also reader favorites.

BEST RURAL COURSE: Roosevelt Golf Course, Roosevelt

This category wasn't defined well, so the votes were all over the board. Still, one course stood out: the 18-hole layout at Roosevelt, which several readers said is actually two entirely different nines in one out-of-the way location.

Roosevelt edged another rural masterpiece, The Hideout Golf Club of Monticello, by just a few votes.

BEST GOLF VALUE: Salt Lake City Golf Courses, Salt Lake City

Many golfers singled out the frequent player discount card that Salt Lake City offers for all nine of its courses, enabling golfers to save 30 percent on green fees and range balls. Mountain Dell's two layouts, the Canyon and the Lake courses, were noted often as great values ($40 for 18 holes and a cart; $33 twilight rate on the Canyon).

Hill Air Force Base's Hubbard Golf Course charges just $32 for military personnel, $36 for civilians, and rivals nearby favorites Valley View and Davis Park for playability.

BEST GREENS: Soldier Hollow Golf Club, Midway

Having just played Soldier Hollow's Gold and Silver courses when they filled out their surveys, most State Am players had nothing but praise for the 36 putting surfaces. Willow Creek Country Club, Coral Canyon and Taylorsville's Fore Lakes (seriously!) also received more than just a few votes.

BEST HOLE: No. 18, Bountiful Ridge Golf Club, Bountiful

For better golfers, this is an easy par-5 that is easily reachable in two shots, measuring 485 yards from the blue tees and 440 from the whites. But for the average golfer, it is one of the funnest holes around, and a chance to end a round with a birdie and feel good about it.

"The landscaping around the green and the waterfall cascading down the last 100 yards of the hole make for a magnificent backdrop," noted Sandy's Chris Conklin.

BEST UNKNOWN GEM: Wolf Creek Resort, Eden

The site of the 2005 State Am gets high marks for its greens, scenery and playability. "Not one bad hole, which is saying something for a mountain golf course," said Ogden's Steve Esklund.

South Jordan's Glenmoor G.C., Birch Creek, The Hideout and Talons Cove in Saratoga Springs were also tabbed as great tracks that aren't on the beaten path.

WORST COURSE: Old Mill Golf Course, Salt Lake City

Funny that one of the busiest courses in the state is also one of the most despised. Why? Our respondents, especially the State Am players, say Salt Lake County tried to cram too many holes and a driving range on a small piece of property, and the result is that the holes are too close together, occasionally putting golfers in the line of fire.

Orem's Cascade G.C., Draper's South Mountain and Schneiter's Pebblebrook in Sandy were also big vote-getters, Cascade for its subpar design, South Mountain for being overpriced and poorly maintained, and Pebblebrook for its poor condition.

WORST HOLE: No. 12, Eaglewood Golf Course, North Salt Lake

Admittedly, no hole got more than three votes in this category. But Eaglewood's back nine had several nominations. "If you like paying for broken windows on top of your green fees, play this hole a few times," wrote Russ Swonson. "Check out the nets on the right side of the fairway. UGLY!"

Oddly, the island green hole at Sunbrook in St. George, No. 4 on the Woodbridge nine, got votes for best and worst hole.

-Jay Drew