COURSE · RESORT · BUCKET LIST · TIER A
Ivins, Utah, United States · Tom Weiskopf's final masterpiece
Carved through ancient basalt lava fields beneath Utah's vermilion cliffs, Black Desert is one of the most visually arresting new courses in American golf.
01 · Overview
~2 min read
Opened in the spring of 2023 on 600 acres of volcanic terrain outside Ivins, Utah, Black Desert Resort arrived fully formed as one of the most distinctive courses built in the American West in a generation. Designed by Tom Weiskopf — his 73rd and final work — the course threads through black basalt lava fields with a scale and confidence that commands immediate attention.
The course carries a particular weight beyond its design merits. Weiskopf, who won the 1973 Open Championship at Royal Troon and spent decades as one of golf architecture's most exacting practitioners, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before the project reached construction. He finalized the routing and design intent before his death in August 2022, four months before the first nine holes opened for preview play. His longtime collaborator Phil Smith completed the work on the ground, stewarding the vision through grow-in and finish. The restaurant beside the practice ground — Club 73 — is named for the number of courses Weiskopf designed.
On the ground, the course plays across terrain that simply does not exist at other golf venues. Ancient lava flows frame nearly every hole, shifting from distant backdrop to immediate hazard. The par-5 seventh features black basalt outcroppings — called lava islands — scattered through the fairway itself. The third hole draws directly from Riviera's sixth, placing a central bunker in the middle of the putting surface. A shared double green links the second and eighth holes across a stark lava field. Fairways run up to 100 yards wide in places, rewarding aggressive positioning while lava fields make errant shots genuinely punishing.
The course plays to a par of 72 at 7,417 yards, with a course rating of 74.9 and a slope of 138 — demanding enough that professional events followed almost immediately. The PGA Tour returned to Utah for the first time since 1963 when the inaugural Black Desert Championship was held in October 2024, with Matt McCarty winning at 23-under in only his third Tour start. The LPGA followed in May 2025. The combination of resort luxury, public access, and top-tier professional credentials places Black Desert in a category occupied by very few courses anywhere in the country.
THE TERRAIN
Ancient black basalt flows define the character of nearly every hole, functioning as rough, hazard, and visual frame simultaneously. There is no raking your way out of the lava.
THE SETTING
The vermilion sandstone cliffs of Red Mountain form a constant backdrop. The contrast between rust-red canyon walls and jet-black lava gives Black Desert an almost theatrical sense of place.
THE DESIGN
Fairways up to 100 yards wide invite aggressive positioning, but two drivable par 4s, lava-island fairway hazards, and a mid-green bunker reward only the precise.
THE GREENS
Surfaces range from the Riviera-inspired donut green on the third to the vast shared double green linking holes two and eight — each requiring a different approach to putting and positioning.
02 · The Holes
5 of 5 · tap any hole to watch creators play it
Six holes carry more of the course's weight than the other twelve combined — and the creator vlogs that prove it.
HOLE 3 · par 3 · 196y
Directly inspired by Riviera's celebrated sixth, this par 3 positions a central bunker in the middle of the putting surface itself. Any pin location demands a thoughtful decision on which side of the island to land — and a tidy short-game escape if the answer is wrong.
196 yards · One of only a handful of mainland U.S. holes to feature a mid-green bunker in the Riviera tradition.
HOLE 7 · par 5 · 592y
A long, semi-blind par 5 where black basalt outcroppings sit as hazards within the fairway corridor itself. Positioning the tee shot between or beyond the lava islands dictates the angle and viability of any second-shot attempt at the green.
592 yards · Fairway hazards composed of actual volcanic rock — not a design metaphor but a geological fact.
HOLE 2 · par 4 · 418y
A 50-foot downhill tee shot drops into a lava field below, with the approach finding a massive green shared with the eighth hole. The double-green concept echoes the great shared greens of links golf, transplanted into one of the starkest desert settings in the game.
418 yards · Shares its green with hole 8 — one of the few double-green arrangements built into an American desert course.
HOLE 18 · par 5 · 573y
The closing hole plays toward an amphitheater-style lake complex, combining water, lava rock, and spectator terrain into a finishing sequence that has already proven capable of hosting tournament drama. A fitting, open-armed close to Weiskopf's final design.
573 yards · The amphitheater lake area was designed with spectator galleries and broadcast angles in mind from the outset.
HOLE 6 · par 4 · 446y
Water hazards press in from both sides of the fairway before an uphill approach to a bunker-guarded green. The hole offers no safe bailout — carry is required off the tee and again into the green, making bogey a genuine risk for any lapse in execution.
446 yards
05 · In Their Words
4 on-camera verdicts · spoken while filming here
The golf course is absolutely stunning, truly world-class.
Big shout out to Black Desert who's been having us out.
The golf course has been in great shape. They've treated us so much better than we deserve.
It was a dream to come out here and play this course.
06 · How to Play Here
5 routes to a tee time
Resort Guest Tee Time · hotel package
Priority access and reduced rates for guests staying at the Black Desert Resort. Rates include green fees, cart, forecaddie, and on-course food/non-alcoholic beverages.
Non-Resort Guest / Daily Fee · single
Public tee times available for non-guests, typically bookable up to 30 days in advance. Includes green fees, cart, forecaddie, and on-course food/non-alcoholic beverages.
Championship Stay & Play Package · package
Includes accommodations, one round of golf per person per night, cart fees, on-course food/beverages, TrackMan practice access, and a keepsake gift.
Resort & Golf Membership · members only
Exclusive golf access and private amenities for homeowners and members, including priority booking windows and dedicated member facilities.
St. George Golf Packages · external
Third-party operators like StGeorgeUtahGolf.com and Golfbreaks offer custom stay-and-play packages including Black Desert and other area courses.
07 · History
8 moments · 2018–2025
2018
Reef Capital Partners announced plans for a $2 billion mixed-use development across 600 acres of lava fields in Ivins and Santa Clara, Utah.
2020
Despite a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Tom Weiskopf finalized the routing and design plans for his 73rd and final golf course, carved through ancient basalt lava.
2022
The 1973 Open Champion passed away in August 2022, four months before construction of his final course at Black Desert was complete. Phil Smith carried the project to completion.
2022
The first nine holes opened for limited preview play in November 2022 as grow-in continued on the back nine.
2023
The complete 18-hole course opened to daily-fee play on May 27, 2023, with fairways up to 100 yards wide and a dedicated 19th bonus hole.
2023
Before the course was even fully mature, both Tours announced events at Black Desert — bringing the PGA Tour back to Utah for the first time since 1963.
2024
Matt McCarty won the first PGA Tour event held at Black Desert in October 2024, finishing at 23-under par in only his third Tour start.
2025
South Korean Haeran Ryu claimed the first LPGA Black Desert Championship in May 2025, finishing five shots clear of the field.
08 · Common Questions
7 questions · sourced from 7 vlogs
Yes. Black Desert Resort operates as a daily-fee facility, meaning non-resort guests can book tee times. Public tee times are typically available up to 30 days in advance. Green fees, cart, forecaddie, and on-course food and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the rate.
The most direct route is through the resort's own website. Guests staying at the resort receive priority access and reduced rates. Stay-and-play packages — which bundle accommodation, a round per night, and TrackMan range access — are also available through the resort and third-party operators such as StGeorgeUtahGolf.com.
The course closes every Tuesday for maintenance. It also closes for tournament preparation in the window surrounding its PGA Tour and LPGA events, roughly mid-September to early October. Christmas Day is also a closure. Check the resort website for specific dates around tournament weeks.
The easiest option is to fly into St. George Regional Airport (SGU), approximately 20 miles away, with shuttle service available for around $45 per person. Alternatively, fly into Las Vegas (LAS) and drive north — the resort is roughly 120 miles and 90 minutes away through scenic desert landscape.
The resort itself offers nearly 800 luxury rooms and suites on-site, with resort guests receiving priority tee time access and preferred rates. Nearby options include vacation rentals at The Ledges and several hotels in St. George, about 15 minutes away, including the Hilton Garden Inn.
The course carries a course rating of 74.9 and a slope of 138 from the back tees at 7,417 yards — a genuinely demanding test. The lava fields that frame nearly every hole impose a severe penalty for missed shots, and the prevailing desert wind can shift conditions hole to hole. The PGA Tour's inaugural event here saw the winner finish at 23-under, suggesting the course can yield low scores in ideal conditions, but errant play is punished swiftly.
A forecaddie is included with all rounds, and the resort's booking packages bundle cart fees into the rate. The terrain — which includes significant elevation changes and lava fields between holes — makes walking the full course challenging. Confirm walking-only options directly with the resort when booking.
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