Golf Between The Mighty 5®

• Millsite Golf Course
• Millsite State Park
• Arches National Park

The journey begins two hours and 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City. Drive down Interstate 15 and cut east through scenic Spanish Fork Canyon. You’ll pass through historic mining towns such as Helper and Price before arriving in the small town of Ferron, known for its hospitality and agricultural heritage. Here, you’ll also find Millsite Golf Course, nicknamed “Utah’s best kept secret gem.”
 
Millsite is an 18-hole, par-71 target style golf course owned and operated by the city. It opened in 1988 and was built in the mountain area of Castle Valley. A round on Millsite will involve carries over ravines and washes, passing by a raging waterfall and taking in all kinds of scenic overlooks of the Millsite Reservoir and Manti La-Sal mountains. The views on the back nine are so majestic, it may be hard to concentrate on the golf! 

Take an aggressive approach and you’ll be rewarded, but hit too far and your ball may sail over a cliff or into the surrounding desert. The greens can get a little bumpy depending on the time of year and drought conditions, but that just adds to the challenge and character of this course.
 
The clubhouse features a full-service pro shop with rental clubs available. The typical golf season runs from mid-March to early December. Rates are incredibly affordable and 9-hole rates are also available.
 
After your round, head to Millsite State Park, located right next to the golf course. A great spot for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding or fishing. The park also includes well-maintained campsites and picnic areas. You won’t find many lodging options in town aside from Big Mountain Lodge, which offers golfers a free cart with each 18-hole round purchased.

After your round, drive two hours southeast to Arches National Park where you’ll find some of the most unique natural stone arches in the world, including Delicate Arch, an icon for Utah and the southwest (if you need proof just look at Utah's state license plate). Stretch your legs at Park Avenue trail an easy scenic stroll through nature’s skyscrapers or Windows Primitive Loop and Turret Arch, a short hike to a lovely arch with exceptional views.

• Canyonlands National Park
• Green River State Park
• Ray's Tavern

A hidden gem nestled in the heart of desert landscape, this 9-hole, par-36 course is a perfect leisurely stop in the heart of The Mighty Five.

Situated along the winding Green River, Green River Golf Course offers stunning views of the surrounding red rock Book Cliffs, named for their striking appearance, which resembles the spines of books lined up on a shelf.
 
What sets Green River apart is its perfect blend of natural beauty and playability. The course was designed to take advantage of the rugged terrain, with elevated tees, natural hazards and strategically placed bunkers. Its laid-back vibe, uncrowded tee sheet, affordable rates and proximity to outdoor adventures make it a unique spot for both locals and travelers passing through the area.
 
If you’re craving more action after 9 holes, try checking out the 18-hole disc golf course. Disc golf supplies are available at the clubhouse along with disc rentals.
 
Grab a bite at Ray’s Tavern, a popular joint in town known for their quarter-pound charbroiled burgers and selection of Utah-made craft ales and lagers. Then head an hour south to Canyonlands National Park. When you arrive at the park, head to the Grand View Point Overlook, a perfect spot to gaze at miles of corrugated canyons and watch the sun set. A little further south of Canyonlands, you could also make a stop at Newspaper Rock, one of the better roadside petroglyph panels in Utah that covers a 50-foot-high sandstone face.

• Capitol Reef National Park
• Palisade State Park
• Palisade Golf Course

On the western side of the Manti-La Sal National Forest is another secluded, yet one-of-a-kind course, Palisade Golf Course.
 
Located in Palisade State Park, Palisade Golf Course is a 10-minute drive from Manti, a Central Utah town known for its Gothic Revival architecture and Mormon pioneer roots.
 
The 18-hole course is suited for golfers of any skill level. Wide fairways and large sloping greens keep things fun and allow you to chase birdies. But don’t forget to be strategic, as some holes are lined with towering pine trees and water hazards.
 
You’ll kick things off with a 532-yard uphill par-5, the longest hole on the course. As you make your way through the front nine, you’ll tee off elevated plateaus, including the fourth hole tee box, that looks out toward the Gunnison Reservoir. The fourth hole, also the signature hole, is the most intimidating. A 170-yard par-3 that plays over a large gulley of exposed mountain terrain. Because of the elevation change, you’ll likely hit one to two clubs shorter.
 
Nestled in the cove of the mountains, you’ll feel connected to nature on every hole. Palisade Reservoir and the surrounding foothills complete the perfect peaceful panorama as you make your way around the back nine. A good rule of thumb: the greens will break toward the lake.
 
The course is well-maintained and lush, thanks to the nearby reservoir. You’ll also find chipping and putting areas as well as a driving range and grill open every day and offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. For basic accommodations, rent a state park cabin or book a campsite with a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Although no gas motorized watercrafts are allowed, you should still take a dip in the lake after your round, an excellent place to cool off.

Drive less than two hours south to another mighty national park: Capitol Reef. Here, 100 miles of geologic monocline (a wrinkle in the Earth’s crust) reveals millions of years of sedimentary rock layers. Colorful cliffs, canyons, and domes create an awe-inspiring landscape. Compared to Utah’s other national parks, Capitol Reef is less crowded and has an off-the-beaten path feel. From hiking and canyoneering to scenic drives and picking fruit in the orchards of Fruita, there are loads of activities to explore.

• Beaver City
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyon Breeze Golf Course

As you make your way further south, you’ll pass through the town of Beaver, a convenient stop for travelers heading to Zion or Bryce Canyon national parks.
 
If you want to stretch your legs for a couple hours, head to Canyon Breeze Golf Course, which is self-proclaimed as “Utah’s toughest 9-hole golf course" at the edge of the Tushar Mountains.
 
Canyon Breeze is a quaint, nine-hole course that revolves around one unique feature: a horse track.
 
Horse racing and golf paired together isn’t a new concept. In fact, some of the game’s most historic courses — such as Musselburgh Links in Scotland, which hosted the Open six times in the 19th century — once featured a horse track that encircled a 9-hole golf course. The design was often driven by shared land use and the desire for multi-functional recreational spaces.
 
The signature hole at Canyon Breeze is the seventh. It’s a 485-yard par-5 with a tee box that’s positioned in the middle of Beaver City’s horse racing track. Your second shot will play to a green outside the track. Take heed, horses have the right of way.
 
Small greens and water hazards add an element of challenge, but for the most part, the course is forgiving and very walkable.
 
Canyon Breeze is a fun, smalltown course for a quick round and fair pricing. Green fees are just $18 for 9 holes, $10 more with a cart. After your round, grab a seat at the clubhouse patio, which has a nice view of the horse exercise area.
 
Behind the course is an active dairy farm and right down the road is The Creamery, a beloved landmark celebrated for its high-quality dairy products. It’s a post-round must for handcrafted cheese, ice cream and fresh curds. An on-site café offers fresh-baked treats, sandwiches, soup and pizzas — all made with their famous cheeses.

Keep driving down I-15 and veer east toward US-89 to arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park. Vibrant red, orange and white formations known as hoodoos cover the place. These spire-like structures were carved over millions of years by erosion, creating a stunning amphitheater. The Fairyland Loop will take you along the plateau down into the canyon where you can experience the magic of being surrounded by the grandness of the otherworldly landscape.

• Black Desert Resort
• Zion National Park
• Snow Canyon State Park

Set amidst the vermilion sandstone cliffs and black lava beds of the Greater Zion area, Black Desert has made waves in Utah’s golf scene by quickly becoming the premier destination for golf and hospitality. End your trip with a bang and spend a couple nights on property, enjoying one of the resort’s 800 brand-new rooms and suites.
 
The championship golf course, designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Weiskopf, hosted Utah’s first PGA Tour event in 60 years, the 2024 Black Desert Championship. It will host an LPGA Tour event in spring 2025.
 
Golf at Black Desert isn’t just a game, it’s an experience. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a forecaddie who will act as your group’s navigator, green reader, ball locator and general guide throughout the day.
 
Arrive early to take full advantage of the driving range, featuring 10 Trackman monitors, as well as Club 73, a walk-up eatery located just steps from the expansive 36-hole putting green known as 'The Yard.' Club 73 serves everything from breakfast sandwiches and burgers to yogurt, fruit and dirty sodas. All food and beverages (excluding alcohol) are included with your round — so enjoy to your heart’s content.
 
Spanning 7,500 yards, the verdant fairways wind through ancient basalt rock formations, giving the course its name, “Black Desert.” Unlike other Southern Utah courses that have a few dramatic scenic holes, every hole at Black Desert is surrounded by black lava and visually striking views of the red mountains. A stunning reminder that the grand Zion National Park lies just 45 miles east of the course. 
 
Wide forgiving fairways and large pristine greens make this course a fun experience for all skill levels. If you find yourself questioning a yardage, use your GPS-equipped cart with hole-by-hole commentary from Weiskopf.
 
Once you arrive at hole 11, you’ll encounter “Oasis,” a refreshment spot that serves delicious Mexican-inspired cuisine, including churros, ceviche, tacos,  and street corn, as well as Dole whip desserts. 
 
At the end of your round, you’ll have the chance to play the bonus 19th hole — a short par-3 over water, where a gallery of resort guests watches from the patio.
 
Black Desert rivals the grandeur of Zion National Park, as both stand at the pinnacle of their respective worlds—one showcasing Utah's finest golf experience, the other a crown jewel of natural beauty. 40 minutes away you’ll gaze upon Utah’s most famous natural wonders in the park. Feel the adrenaline rush of hiking to the peak of Angels Landing or serenity of wading through the Narrows, a gorge with walls a thousand feet tall.