This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A little more than 104 years ago, a group of Salt Lake City residents ventured way out to the country - a few blocks past 2100 South - and formed Utah's first private golf club, which, perhaps for lack of a better alternative, they audaciously named "The Country Club."
It was a fitting title, actually, because it was the state's first club of its kind, and although about 20 years later it moved from what is now Forest Dale Golf Course to its current location at the mouth of Parley's Canyon, it is still believed by many to be the state's premier country club.
"It was, and still is, the most wonderful place in town, the best buy in the state," says longtime member Dick Wood, 77, former owner of the Fernwood chain of candy and ice cream stores. "And the reasons are simple: location, location, location."
A century later, Utah has 12 country clubs focused primarily on golf, places where their members can go to play the game on lush, manicured and uncrowded fairways, dine on fine food and beverages, swim in sparkling pools, play card games with their friends and swat tennis balls in peace, among other things.
Those clubs entertain about 20,290 people, based on findings that there are 4,667 current country club memberships in Utah, and each membership is enjoyed by an average of 4.3 people.
But Utah is far from being a country club hotbed. It's known as a public golf state, and annually gets recognition for its vast supply of excellent, well-kept public golf courses that offer some of the most reasonable greens fees in the country. Conversely, Utah ranks 49th in the nation per capita for access to private clubs, according to Florida-based National Golf Foundation figures. Utah has about as many country clubs as Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota - all states with lower populations.
Decades ago, several clubs in Utah such as The Country Club had waiting lists for potential members, but none do now. General managers say if you've got the money and a decent credit history and can pass the application process, you are in.
Unlike Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, infamous for not allowing female members, no clubs in Utah have bylaws on their books allowing for discrimination on the basis of religion, gender or race.
CHECKING THEM OUT
From the luxurious Glenwild Golf Club & Spa in the hills north of Park City to the relatively cheap Logan Golf & Country Club - "We're the blue-collar club," one member said - The Salt Lake Tribune examined the clubs in depth, interviewing all 12 general managers and at least one member of each private establishment.
Along with The Country Club, Glenwild and Logan, Park City's Park Meadows Country Club and Jeremy Golf & Country Club, Sandy's Willow Creek and Hidden Valley country clubs, Provo's Riverside Country Club, Farmington's Oakridge Country Club, Highland's Alpine Country Club, the Ogden Golf & Country Club, and St. George's Bloomington Country Club were also studied.
Not included were the Copper Club in Magna, Price's Carbon Country Club and St. George's Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club because, although they have members, they are just semi-private, as they allow public play. Park City's Promontory and Tuhaye developments were not included because potential members must buy home sites for hundreds of thousands of dollars to get golf privileges, although Promontory does allow a limited amount of public play at a whopping $200 an 18-hole round.
BENEFITS OF BELONGING
Nate Williamson, 33, is a serious golfer. He plays almost every day when the season allows. About two years ago, the middle-class father of three started doing the math in between rounds at Tri City Golf Course in American Fork and The Reserve at East Bay, in Provo, both public courses. He figured there had to be a cheaper way to get his daily golf fix - so he joined Alpine Country Club, conveniently located between his home in West Jordan and his job in Lindon.
He paid $8,500 for a membership before last summer, and every month he ponies up $240 in dues.
"I would do it again in a heartbeat," he said. "It's been worth every penny. . . . I can't tell you how nice it is to not deal with five-hour rounds anymore."
Williamson's wife was concerned because Alpine doesn't have a lot of family-friendly facilities, like a swimming pool or tennis courts, but agreed when her husband convinced her it was a good investment. Alpine memberships have since gone up to $12,500, according to general manager Lenna Learned.
"For me, it was like putting eight grand into a savings account," Nate Williamson said. "The nice thing is, the golf course keeps getting better and better. Country clubs just don't get the beating that public courses get."
l Dana Mahoney approached membership at Glenwild from the other side of the spectrum. Mahoney, 49, and her 63-year-old husband Tom came to Utah several years ago looking to escape Arizona's summer heat. Having sold a 600-employee equipment manufacturing company, and already members at two clubs in the Phoenix area, money was not an overriding factor. They went looking for a summer home and the best club and golf facility they could find.
So the Mahoneys bought at Glenwild, which, until 2003, required applicants to buy a lot along with their membership. Now, memberships are available to anyone for $95,000 - the highest in Utah. Monthly dues are $600, also the highest.
"We couldn't be more thrilled," said Mahoney, who won the ladies club championship. "We play on one of the nicest golf courses in the country, probably the best in Utah, and the [country club] facilities and service from the staff is the best, bar none."
Added fellow Glenwild member Forrest Lorick: "Crowded to us is someone on every other hole."
Designed by the renowned Tom Fazio, Glenwild is the No. 1-ranked golf course in Utah by Golf Digest. The gated-community club also includes three swimming pools, a full-service spa and a fitness center.
l Tom Love, 45, president of Salt Lake City's Love Communications, falls somewhere in between Mahoney and Williamson. Love was a junior member at The Country Club until he turned 35 and was required to either buy a full equity membership for around $120,000 (they are now $80,000, second-highest in Utah, according to general manager Amedee Moran) or give up his privileges.
He loved The Country Club, "but it was simply too expensive," so he turned to public golf and kept his membership at the family-friendly Cottonwood Club, which has a 9-hole par-3 course, but is mostly a tennis and swimming club.
Last year, with the means to join a top-notch golf club, Love started looking again. He ruled out Jeremy and Park Meadows, because their playing seasons are shorter, and focused on Willow Creek and Hidden Valley, both in Sandy.
"I went with Hidden Valley, because it really is the golfer's country club," Love said. "It's got 27 holes [the only one in the state] and if you are a golfer, it is the premier country club in the state."
Acknowledging that Willow Creek is more family-oriented and has a wonderful swimming pool and a six-lane bowling alley (Hidden Valley has neither), Love said it is simply easier to get on at less-crowded Hidden Valley, because of the 27 holes and the fact that Hidden Valley takes tee times and Willow Creek does not.
"Besides," Love said. "I feel Willow Creek has a higher percentage of members who play golf. I have heard of two-hour waits there, on Saturday mornings."
Responded Willow Creek general manager Alex Nicolaidis: "Members don't have any problem getting on their own course here, and frankly, I feel our golf course is better than theirs."
He would get no argument from 70-year-old Willow Creek member Glen Beere, who plays golf every day. "I love every blade of grass on it," said the former high school principal and executive director of the UHSAA. "Willow Creek is all pluses for me. I like everything about it."
l Over at The Country Club, Wood appreciates what Glenwild, Hidden Valley and the other upper-end clubs have to offer. But he says for those who really want to rub shoulders with the state's movers and shakers, there is really only one choice.
"The top attorneys, bankers, government leaders and
What it will cost
Here's what you'd pay if you join one of Utah's 12 country clubs:
Club City Cost Dues Food Min.
Glenwild Spa Park City $95,000 $600 $0
The Country Club SLC $80,000 $340 $1,200
Park Meadows CC Park City $72,500 $520 $800
Willow Creek CC Sandy $37,425 $337 $700
Hidden Valley CC Sandy $25,000 $315 $800
Riverside CC Provo $20,000 $270 $600
Oakridge CC Farmington $13,000 $340 $600
Alpine CC Highland $12,500 $240 $480
Jeremy CC Park City $11,000 $295 $800
Ogden CC Ogden $7,500 $250 $720
Bloomington CC St. George $2,500 $275 $720
Logan CC Logan $2,000 $190 $240
What you get
Many country clubs offer a lot more than just golf and a nice place to eat. Here's what else you get:
Club Golf Course Members Cap Other Amenities Drawbacks
Glenwild 18 holes 165 395 Two pools, full service spa Short season, high dues
The Country Club 18 holes 440 450 Pool, renovated clubhouse Limited practice facilities
Park Meadows 18 holes 315 350 Pool, fitness center Short season
Willow Creek 18 holes 460 460 Pool, bowling alley Course sometimes crowded
Hidden Valley 27 holes 444 446 New clubhouse No pool, future Highland Drive expansion
Riverside 18 holes 450 500 Swimming pool, tennis courts Course sometimes crowded
Oakridge 18 holes 400 400 Olympic size pool Freeway noise
Alpine 18 holes 400 398 Clubhouse built in 1996 No reciprocation with Riverside
Jeremy 18 holes 435 435 Beautiful mountain views No pool, short season
Ogden 18 holes 385 385 Swimming pool, fitness center Limited practice facility
Bloomington 18 holes 340 375 Pool, longer playing season Summer heat, maintenance
Logan 18 holes 400 400 Full-service bar, small-town feel No swimming pool or tennis