12 Best Public Golf Courses Near Salt Lake City (2025 Guide)
Your Guide to Salt Lake City’s Best Public Golf Courses If you're new to Salt Lake City or a seasoned resident on the hunt for fresh fairways to conquer, you're in for a treat. The area is home to an impressive selection of public golf courses, each offering unique challenges and picturesque scenery. With 32 courses within a 15-mile radius, there's no shortage of options. However, it’s not really golf unless it’s 18 holes. Sorry 9-hole courses, this list isn’t for you. We’re focusing on the cream of the crop: the 12 best 18-hole public courses within a half-hour's drive from the city. Whether you're a weekend enthusiast or just starting, this guide will help you discover your next favorite course. How We Picked These Courses Our selection process was straightforward. We featured only public courses located within 30 minutes of Salt Lake City, each offering an 18-hole experience with clear pricing and accessible scorecards . If we couldn’t find the price and/or the scorecard, the course wasn’t included on this list. Just because a course isn’t here doesn’t mean it isn’t a great course — it simply means we couldn’t find the price or scorecard, so to keep things fair and consistent, we had to leave it off. We considered factors such as reputation (via Google reviews), course difficulty (slope and rating, taken from the blue tees), cost, and convenience. Our goal? To showcase the finest experiences for the casual golfer. Note that prices mentioned are for standard rounds and exclude additional costs like cart, rentals or balls. 12 Must-Play 18-Hole Golf Courses Near Salt Lake City Glendale Golf Course Glendale Golf Course, located just 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, offers an accessible and affordable golfing experience, making it a popular choice among locals. The course features a gentle slope, accommodating golfers of all skill levels, while its central location provides a cost-effective outing with scenic views of the valley. However, its popularity can sometimes result in crowded conditions, and the course lacks some of the high-end amenities found at other facilities. As noted by Alex Kidder in a Google review, "Excellent golf course!! Located right in the center of the valley, super convenient and has great views." Best for: Golfers who want a quick, budget-friendly round close to the city. Meadow Brook Golf Course Located about 20 minutes from Salt Lake City, Meadow Brook Golf Course strikes an excellent balance between affordability and playability. Perfect for golfers of all skill levels, the course offers a friendly layout with wide fairways that won’t intimidate newcomers. The lush greens and scenic views enhance the experience, making each round enjoyable and relaxing. As Brytt Blatter puts it, "Beautiful course and fairly easy. There's a decent bit of tall native, but for the most part, it's just fairway parallel to fairway. Only lost 5 balls haha." Whether you're aiming to improve your game or just enjoy a leisurely day outside, Meadow Brook is a fantastic choice. Best for: Players looking for a relaxed, forgiving round with solid value. Bonneville Golf Course A classic Salt Lake City destination just 5 minutes from downtown, Bonneville is famous for its stunning mountain views. The course challenges seasoned golfers while remaining fun for casual players. Joshua Merrill notes it's "This was probably one of the most challenging courses I've played this year. Most of the layouts are nice, but those greens are no joke. Most of them are tiered with crazy breaks and slopes. Had a few come back right to where I started from. Some good wide open and interesting holes. It kicked my butt but I'm looking towards the next time I play. There were 2 par 3s that were an awesome layout. 18 was a great hole to finish on." Best for: Golfers who want a traditional, challenging course with city convenience. Eaglewood Golf Course Nestled in the picturesque landscape of North Salt Lake, Eaglewood Golf Course is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and challenging layout. Consistently rated among the best in the area, it attracts avid golfers who appreciate both the views and the course conditions. The course offers a true country club ambiance, yet remains accessible to the public, making it a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Brandon Bowden aptly summed up his experience: "What a beautifully maintained golf course! Played all 18 holes, and every single one was both challenging and in excellent condition. The grounds crew deserves huge credit for their amazing work. The atmosphere has a true country club feel, yet it’s a public course. I’d absolutely recommend it and can’t wait to play here again and again!" Best for: Players seeking a scenic course with a polished, country-club feel. Murray Parkway Golf Course Murray Parkway Golf Course is a haven for casual golfers seeking an affordable and enjoyable experience. Known for its forgiving layout, the course ensures that players of all skill levels can have fun without facing too much frustration. It features well-maintained greens and fairways, adding to its appeal as a go-to spot for locals. The gentle slopes and beautiful views of the surrounding area make each round a relaxing experience. John Mayo sums it up perfectly: "Awesome course with great views. Greens and fairways have always been in great shape." Best for: Beginners and casual players who want an easy-going, affordable round. Old Mill Golf Course Old Mill is celebrated for its elevated views and modern design. Although on the pricier side, many golfers believe its spectacular layout is worth the cost. Gilberto Avalos praises, "This is definitely a challenging and fun course, the different layouts makes it interesting, some holes you have to play smart and some others you can hit as hard as you can on the wide open fairways, helpful and friendly staff, the views of the city and the mountains close by are great." Best for: Golfers who don’t mind spending more for incredible views and variety. Bountiful Ridge Golf Course Often cited as one of Utah's most scenic courses, Bountiful Ridge boasts stellar reputation and course conditions, though it can challenge beginners. Ozzie Johnson comments, "I’ve played almost every course in Utah (including country clubs) and the greens here are easily top 3 in the state in my opinion. Firm and fast while rolling very true. One of my very favorite courses" Best for: Experienced golfers who want beautiful scenery and pristine greens. Mountain Dell Golf Course Located up Parleys Canyon, Mountain Dell provides a crisp mountain escape just 20 minutes away. Cooler in summer and visually stunning, it's not for the faint-hearted. William Venanzi shares, "This course is awesome for views and we'll maintained. It is not for the novice golfer, however. Hood golfers will be challenged from Black and Blue tees. There are 3 sets of forward tees to provide some relief from long tee to fairway carries. Two courses here; played Lakes today. Excellent proshop staff." Best for: Golfers looking for mountain views and a challenging, cool summer round. Riverbend Golf Course In Riverton, Riverbend caters to long-distance hitters. While affordable, its challenging layout may test casual golfers. Desiree Newman states, "One of my favorite courses in the valley. It’s well kept and has absolutely beautiful views! You can also spot some interesting wildlife, which is always fun. It gets a little windy, but that’s to be expected I suppose. We love playing here!" Best for: Golfers who enjoy longer layouts and don’t mind a tougher challenge. Mountain View Golf Course Mountain View Golf Course is a fantastic choice for those seeking an affordable and enjoyable round of golf. Known for its playability, this course is particularly well-suited for casual players who appreciate a relaxed golfing experience. While it may not boast the prestige of some of the more renowned courses in the area, it offers a welcoming atmosphere and ample opportunities to improve your game. Local golfer Heeyoung Kim shares, "The fairways are nice and wide — I like that. Not too competitive for booking. An almost flat course in Utah — easy to walk." Best for: Casual golfers looking for a flat, walkable, and easy-to-book course. Rose Park Golf Course Rose Park is budget-friendly, with gentle slopes making it accessible for beginners. Reputation and conditions could be improved, but Julio Guzman finds it ideal: "Staff is amazing. Easier course compared to others so great for beginners. Grass and greens aren’t the absolute best but that’s what you can expect from most public courses. Great price for range also." Best for: Beginners and budget-minded golfers who want a simple, low-pressure round. South Mountain Golf Course Located in Draper, South Mountain offers a scenic, though challenging, experience. Pricey and demanding, it's better suited for advanced players. Erica Astle describes, "Very nice course with gorgeous views! We booked a tee time online and had a seamless experience even with a sold out day. The golf cart path was really fun to drive between holes. We loved how the course was beautifully integrated into the existing mountain landscape. Absolutely stunning." Best for: Experienced golfers who want stunning views and don’t mind a challenge. Live Close to the Fairways at Sugar Alley Salt Lake City's public golf scene offers a feast of fairways for every golfer, from those seeking a leisurely round near home (think Glendale or Meadow Brook) to those in search of a scenic mountain escape (such as Bountiful Ridge, Mountain Dell, or Eaglewood), and even those craving a challenging experience (like Bonneville or Old Mill). Living in Sugar Alley means your golfing aspirations are always within reach, thanks to its convenient location just off I-80, putting you close to some of Utah’s premier courses. But it’s not just the location that makes this community a hole-in-one—it’s the lifestyle. With wellness amenities like an ice bath and infrared sauna, you’ll have everything you need to unwind, recover, and be in top form for your next tee time. With numerous golfing options nearby, Sugar Alley is the 'sweet spot' of Salt Lake City's vibrant golf scene. It's more than a home; it's your gateway to the city's thriving golf culture. Swing by and discover why Sugar Alley is the perfect place to call home. To learn more about making the move, reach out today! .collage-container { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; max-width: 100%; padding: 10px; } .collage-container img { width: 100%; height: auto; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); transition: transform 0.3s ease; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .collage-container { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } .responsive-image { max-width: 80%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; max-height: 800px; /* Prevent it from being too tall on desktop */ } @media (max-width: 600px) { .responsive-image { max-height: none; /* Let mobile scale it naturally */ } }
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