This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Having already enjoyed playing Salt Lake City's Wingpointe Golf Course in the early 1990s, I appreciated the design even more when a friend brought home a yardage book from a high-end course in Hilton Head, S.C.

Wow, that's practically Wingpointe, I said to myself. It truly was remarkable to think that an Arthur Hills-designed course was part of a municipal golf system. I'm a big fan of architect Gene Bates and his many outstanding Utah projects, but Wingpointe will always have its own distinction.

Yes, even as a parking lot. That's the likely use of the property, for airport construction workers, now that the Federal Aviation Administration has chosen to charge a market-value lease for the course — effectively shutting it down. I'll always believe city officials conceded too easily, but part of that feeling is based on the realization that I long stopped taking advantage of a fabulous amenity in this town.

This is a big loss for Salt Lake City, not just the golfers. Anyone who drove in and out of the airport has been treated to a beautiful, open-space view, although Tribune reporter Jay Drew enjoyed it more than most people, while reliving his hole-in-one on No. 8 — the most visible green from the road.

During the 25 years of the course's existence, which is coming to an end sometime this month, I played Wingpointe less and less as the fees kept increasing. Admittedly, I was spoiled by having paid $6 to walk nine holes from 1990-92, in contrast to $18 now. Naturally, now that Wingpointe is being taken away, I realize what a bargain it really was to play such a well-designed course, even at the higher cost.

My most recent visit, after several years, came in October when the city was commemorating the 25-year history by offering a $25 rate for 18 holes with a cart. That's my price point, all right — and I was not the only one who came back. The course was booked almost all day long for much of October, with foursomes lined up one after another. Certainly, the chance to play Wingpointe one last time was part of the attraction.

What I always liked most about Wingpointe was the feeling of isolation, in a metropolitan setting. The views of the skyline were outstanding, yet by the time you were walking down the No. 2 fairway, you felt far removed from the city.

I recently asked some of Utah's top amateur golfers what they would miss about Wingpointe, and the responses were interesting. Sadie Palmer's memories went beyond golf, about how her family would stand on the driving range and watch planes take off and land. Brandon Hargett recalled how Wingpointe marketed itself as a "players' course" and attracted so much talent that he couldn't even make the 8-man team for state competition. Darrin Overson liked the unusual routing of consecutive par-5s on the back nine. Ryan Brimley recalled a round during the Salt Lake City Open when he was paired with Jimmy Blair, who shot a front-nine 29 with pars on the two par-5s.

Sure, it was windy out there — some days, more than others. I remember a couple of afternoons when I barely could stand over the ball, because the wind was blowing so hard. I once walked up to the counter and suggested to Wayne Fisher, then a Wingpointe assistant pro, that the wind was probably no stronger than usual. He just raised his eyebrows and sent me to the first tee. Later, I heard that the winds were reported at 60 mph at the airport.

The thing was, the east-west design of most holes meant they played with a crosswind, rarely into the teeth of the wind. Growing grass in the alkali soil on the western holes was an issue that never was fully solved. Otherwise, the fairways were maintained wonderfully and the greens were always some of the best in the state.

And for my last round, the flags on the greens were barely moving. The temperature rose into the high 50s on an overcast afternoon and my closing round was memorable. The shot I'll replay in my mind was an 80-yard pitch to the No. 15 green. The ball rolled to the top of the ridge in the middle of the green, then trickled back down within 6 inches of the hole for a tap-in birdie.

In the early years, I wrote about how Wingpointe might have been built too tough for the average golfer. That concern was valid. The course was challenging to anyone. The par-4 No. 3 and the par-3 No. 4, with a big lake coming into play, are undoubtedly the toughest back-to-back holes in the state. Wingpointe's design penalized errant shots, and made you work for a decent score.

Knowing where to miss shots was a big part of playing Wingpointe, and nearly every hole created potential problems. But the course definitely rewarded good ball-striking and consistent play. And it was playable, judging by Sandra Kragthorpe's breaking 50 on the back nine, as our parting shot to a great municipal golf course.

Twitter: @tribkurt