Black Desert GC ( Weiskopf) in Ivins, Utah

[Steve_ Shaffer]

New Course looks very interesting:
https://golf.blackdesertresort.com

[Tom_Doak]

I think I looked at that site 6-8 years ago.


But I'm curious why are they still using CGI models of the course to promote it, if it's actually complete?

[Mark Kiely]

But I'm curious why are they still using CGI models of the course to promote it, if it's actually complete?

Brian Oar has some fantastic photos of it on his Instagram (@brianoar): See posts from Feb. 25, Jan. 26, Jan. 9, Dec. 25, Dec. 24.

[Tom_Doak]

But I'm curious why are they still using CGI models of the course to promote it, if it's actually complete?

Brian Oar has some fantastic photos of it on his Instagram (@brianoar): See posts from Feb. 25, Jan. 26, Jan. 9, Dec. 25, Dec. 24.

I don't really care to go find them.  I was wondering why the developers weren't making it easy.

[Bill Satterfield]

The Trackman CGI flyovers are fairly accurate on some holes wildly inaccurate on others.  I took some drone shots on Saturday and it took a fair amount of time to label the pictures because several holes weren't matching up with the CGI versions on their website.  Fortunately they also have drone flyovers of the holes now which helped clear some things up.  One major difference is the 3rd hole which CGI shows as par three over a pond but in actuality it is a "Rivera #6" style par three with a bunker in the center of the green and no pond.  They have nine holes that people can play right now and will have the full course open by May is my understanding.  Here are a handful of pics:

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Black Desert Resort Golf Course: Ivins, Utah, course is named the future host of a yet-to-be-determined LPGA Tour competition in 2025. Tom Weiskopf, in collaboration with architect Phil Smith, designed the par-72 course.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Course just opened on May 27:




Flyover of 18 holes on You Tube with narration by Tom Weiskopf:


Masterful Tom Weiskopf Golf Course at Black Desert Resort - YouTube




I'm planning a visit to Black Desert and revisit to Sand Hollow.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Black Desert Resort Golf Course opens to glowing reviewsLPGA Tour announces 2025 event at Southern Utah’s newest course.
Ivins, Utah (June 20, 2023) – Black Desert Resort Golf Course in Ivins, Utah near St. George, has opened to glowing reviews, from everyday golfers to experienced golf course raters. The 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-design with its emerald fairways carved amid ancient black lava fields and surrounded by Southern Utah’s red rock mountains, opened for daily-fee play on May 27, 2023. Since then, the course has played host to hundreds of rounds and the positive reviews are now pouring in:
“Black Desert blew me away,” said one Golfweek rater. “It has everything I would want in a modern course.  The combination of setting, vistas and course itself is the total package. The black lava rock is so unique, I've never seen it anywhere else in the mainland. You also have the beautiful sweeping vistas of the red canyons visible from every hole.”
“An amazing design and absolutely stunning contrast of the lava rocks with the greenery and surrounding red mountains,” commented another Golfweek rater. “Truly an oasis.  Several holes can be played in multiple different ways depending on your confidence that day as risk/reward options abound. It’s a beautiful course, one you’ll remember for a lifetime.”

A golfer on GolfPass rated Black Desert five stars, stating, “Tom Weiskopf did a wonderful job working with the natural terrain to produce a course that flows beautifully through the area lava fields with the beautiful Kayenta sandstone as a backdrop. Nothing felt forced or tricked out.”
In addition to the flattering reviews, the LPGA recently named Black Desert as a future host of an LPGA Tour competition beginning in 2025
Read more:
https://www.firstcallgolf.com/industry-news/release/2023-06-20/black-desert-resort-golf-course-opens-to-glowing-reviews

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Resort opens in Fall
PricingNon-Resort Guest$ 250Accompanied Guest$ 200Owner$ 150Junior Golfer (15 and Under)$ 125
https://www.blackdesertresort.com/black-desert-experiencelay

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Now on Television on Golf Channel for the Black Desert Championship.


First Round leaders are at -9.


The course is in Southern Utah. Beautiful weather in the low 90s.


Steve Shaffer

[Craig Sweet]

A couple of weeks ago I played with two Black Desert members at Old Works.  They were very happy with the finished product, but they were making a swing north seeking cooler weather.

[Kalen Braley]

A couple of weeks ago I played with two Black Desert members at Old Works.  They were very happy with the finished product, but they were making a swing north seeking cooler weather.

Its been a very very warm fall so far, 12-15 degrees above normal now for weeks on end, which means Southern Utah is still very hot.

P.S.  I was hoping to get down there this weekend for an up close look at this course, but it didn't work out.

[Craig Sweet]

Kalen, I hope to make a St George swing in mid-late November. I'd be happy to pick you up on the way down.

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen, I hope to make a St George swing in mid-late November. I'd be happy to pick you up on the way down.

Ha ha, maybe we can make it work.  At the very least you should pop in on the way down or back up and i'll host you at my place for a meal and/or place to crash overnight if you need it!  PM me when you got more details.

[Pete_Pittock]

With the Thursday set-up four pros hit every fairway and green. No one had done it on tour this year. Only three pros have ever done that twice.  Having only seen 14 and 17 on the telecast I have no idea if this fits into a "dumb blonde" category.  Yes, I know that is demeaning, but see little alternative in describing it differently.

[Craig Sweet]

The fairways are very generous. They were like trampolines this week with long, long, long run outs.

[Kalen Braley]

Pete may be right could be a dumb blonde, but it does offer some unique contrast with the holes playing thru the lava. Given its technically a resort course it does need the extra width as the lava is almost always gonna be lost ball/unplayable.

#17 is a short 3 template hole based on the postage stamp
#3 has the bunker in the middle of the green
#14 is an interesting short 4 where the approach shot reminds of a long 2nd shot into #7 at Wine Valley where its effectively a bowl on 3 sides (short, right, and long).

The only hole that really looks crap is #11 with the pond and faux waterfall.

[Phil Burr]

I’ll first admit I haven’t seen any of it on TV, but I look at the photos and wonder if anyone from the PGA Tour staff assessed the viability of the course as a tournament facility.  Are spectators clambering across lava to try to see anything?  Do they watch from the cart paths?  It just looks as if it would be a miserable experience for people who want to be on-site.  They said it was in the 90s earlier this week.  I’ve stood in a lave field in 90 degree temps and it’s not pleasant.

[mike_beene]

I wish they would mark the lava as a hazard. Golf looks silly with ruling after ruling.

[Pete_Pittock]

I wish they would mark the lava as a hazard. Golf looks silly with ruling after ruling.

203 ruling over the four days from lava unplayable lies or lost balls.

[Daryl David]

I wish they would mark the lava as a hazard. Golf looks silly with ruling after ruling.

203 ruling over the four days from lava unplayable lies or lost balls.

Sounds like the players need to just hit it straighter. Pay attention to angles. 

[Joel_Stewart]

Did anyone notice how Weiskopf or really Phil Smith built a irrigation lake with a white liner into the lava?


It reminds me of last week I played Hualalai in Hawaii which is a Nicklaus course.  Its carved through some amazing lava flows but Nicklaus took a great site and made it average with some bad decisions on fake ponds, bad mounding and flat greens. In all fairness, Nicklaus did what he was told, build a resort course for the wealthy but it could have been much better.