A couple of weeks ago I was down in southern Utah to visit the spectacular Sand Hollow 27 hole facility and the Oasis Palmer Course in Mesquite, Nevada. During my travels I found a new course, “Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf.”
Entrance to Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf. Love the desert landscape.
Location
Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf is located in the desert of southern Utah, a few miles northeast of Sand Hollow Resort in the town of Hurricane (pronounced “her-uh-kn” by the locals). The course is part of the Comfort Inn facility, located in the desert behind the motel.
The desert area around the course provides great scenery, as well as presenting a challenge to the player if his ball finds the native areas outside the hole boundaries. I recommend playing the course in the early morning like I did. The lighting can be fantastic.
Design
I was unable to get much information on the course designer. No name available. The only other course I’ve played in which I couldn’t get a designer’s name was the Old Course in St. Andrews.
Certain missing qualities in the layout do tell me that this isn’t a Tom Fazio design. There are a few elements of Robert Trent Jones II, Tom Doak and Olympic designer Gil Hanse, but those are overshadowed by traits more similar to a Coore/Crenshaw layout. With many holes lined by bricks, one might think this is a Pete Dye design (bricks instead of railroad ties).
Regardless of who designed Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf, the architect did a fine job utilizing the existing landscape and shapes in the terrain to route a challenging and aesthetically pleasing 18 hole layout.
Tee
From the tee the course can be intimidating and visually menacing. It is hard to stay focused on the target and not the hazards which penalize bad shots. The hole shapes and routing force the player to work the ball both directions from the tee, with a few holes requiring the hardest shot in golf, the straight ball.
From the first tee (pictured above) to the last, Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf is very challenging. I love how the designer brings the natural desert vegetation into play (left of tee).
Fairway
The fairways at Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf are extremely tight. Landing areas average only about 3-4 feet in width. Tee shots which don’t find the fairway will find the native desert area. Snakes, bunnies, cacti, sagebrush, tumbleweeds and random wind-blown trash will make recovery shots difficult. Missing the fairway at Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf is a quick way to make bogey or worse.
The most notable fairway is the quadruple dogleg 6th, pictured below.
Hard to keep it in the fairway on the quadruple-dogleg 6th hole. As you can see, my conservative tee shot did make the fairway, but the next shot is extremely challenging.
Green
The greens at Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf are perhaps the greatest challenge. Many obstacles and slopes require the utmost in concentration and putting skill. Two-putting is more than acceptable and one-putts will gain many strokes on the field.
Don’t let this short hole and easy looking green deceive you. This is a tough hole.
Price
Perhaps the best part of playing Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf is the price. Unlike many resort courses which can range anywhere from $150-$500 per round, Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf runs $2.00.
Caddies?
Caddies are available upon request.
Conclusion
This course is a hidden gem in the Utah desert. Not a long drive from Sand Hollow or Coral Canyon, Free High Speed Wireless Internet Mini Golf will give all aspects of a player’s game a fine test. Combine that with the fantastic scenery of the area and the very reasonable price and the result is a winner.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
Excellent review. I’ll add it to the list along with Bandon and Cypress.
#Sarcasm
EXCELLENT coverage. I think the lack of Wall Drug Signs and jackalope warnings might bring this place down a notch or two aesthetically. But I’m sure it’s a pleasant stop.