Copper Rock will blow golfers away in Hurricane, Utah

HURRICANE, Utah - The Copper Rock Golf Course is already in better shape than many local munis, but it won't open until spring 2020.

What's another six months of waiting on a project that, according to Development Manager Cameron Knudson, has taken 18 years to come to fruition? Utah's newest course will be the centerpiece of a 960-acre housing/resort development still emerging from the dramatic landscape about 30 miles northeast of the St. George Airport and roughly a two-hour drive (130-plus miles) from Las Vegas. I found Copper Rock to be endlessly playable and enjoyable during a pre-opening round Oct. 20.

"We are trying to make it a stay and play destination," Knudson said, noting there are plans for a three-story clubhouse hotel that will have a spa, multiple restaurants and anywhere from 100 to 300 rooms.

The 6,970-yard course was designed by local architect Dale Beddo. The front nine is relatively flat before the back nine starts riding more tumultuous terrain. Each nine ends at the same place - an elevated, double green below the spot where the clubhouse will eventually be built. A pond separates the ninth and 18th fairways.

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The brand new Copper Rock in Hurricane, Utah

Beddo doesn't waste any time introducing a unique feature on the par-5 first hole, where a series of mounds hides the back left side of the green. I found out the hard way that any tucked pin is hard to reach, making double. He shaped berms in the middle of the fairway on the third (460 yards) and fourth (305 yards) holes to force accurate tee shots. Both no. 4 and no. 6 play 295 yards from the 6,456-yard white tees, making them risky, but drivable, par 4s.

A manmade water feature, starting at a high point near the 12th green, winds as a stream along several holes of the back nine. Knudson said the community has its own water source, so high water costs that hamper other courses in the West shouldn't be an issue. He didn't have information on greens fees, although it should be comparable to the Greater Zion region's top courses (roughly $80-$120 depending on the season).

Golfers could easily stay at Sand Hollow Resort 20 minutes away until Copper Rock builds homes for a rental pool or the resort comes online if all goes well in 3-5 years. Being less than a half hour from Zion National Park is certainly a draw.