Get ready for the Bank of Utah Championship on the PGA TOUR! In this video, we’ll dive into the unique Black Desert Resort Golf Course, which is set to challenge the players with its stunning backdrop and tricky greens.
We’ll start by exploring the course’s design, created by Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith atop a lava field, offering a true test of golf. Last year’s tournament saw impressive performances, with Adam Svensson’s opening 60 and Matt McCarty’s three-stroke victory at 23-under par.
The course’s expansive fairways and large greens provide opportunities for players to attack, but the greens will be the ultimate decider. Putting averages are expected to be high, and knowledge of the greens will be crucial.
Join us as we analyze the course, discuss key players to watch, and make our predictions for this exciting PGA TOUR event.
Get ready for an exciting golf tournament. The Bank of Utah Championship where the pressure is on and the competition is fierce. A fresh challenge awaits. As the FedEx Cup fall reaches its midpoint, golfers are seeking to find their form and step up their game. Enter the Bank of Utah Championship, a tournament that offers a unique and challenging course for PGA Tour members. The extreme beauty of Black Desert. Last year, the Black Desert Resort Golf Course made its debut and proved to be an extraordinary test. Located in Ivans, Utah, this course is a sight to behold with its stunning backdrop of southern Utah’s natural wonders. The open air and breathtaking scenery will leave any golfer in awe, regardless of their experience level. What lessons can this year’s field of 132 golfers learn from the inaugural edition? What changes have been made to Black Desert since then? Let’s delve into these details and more. Starting with a ranking of the golfers expected to contend. A course like no other. Black Desert is a course that truly lives up to its extreme surroundings. The natural beauty of southern Utah with its vibrant colors, depth, and otherworldly charm creates a sensory experience like no other. However, as a resort course, Black Desert is designed to be more forgiving than the rugged landscape it sits upon. During its first hosting of the Bank of Utah Championship, Black Desert presented an average score of 69.061, making it the second easiest par 71 course throughout the 2024 season. Only TPC Deer Run with its Parkland setting alongside the Rock River had a lower average score. But here’s where it gets interesting. Black Desert has no trees. Tom Wissoff in his final design collaboration with architect Phil Smith created a masterpiece on a lava field challenging fairways and greens. Last year, Adam Spencson opened with a remarkable 60 and Matt Mccardi emerged as the winner with a score of 23 under 261. The expansive fairways allowed golfers to average an impressive 11.76 fairways hit per round, while the 7,000 square ft greens presented a challenge with an average of 13.67 greens in regulation. These metrics ranked Black Desert among the top six easiest courses in both categories last season. While the overall drive distance was modest at 298.8 8 yds. The par 5 9th and 18th holes averaged a lengthy 324.3 yds, showcasing the potential for long drives. The greens at Black Desert proved to be a true test, especially for those unfamiliar with the course. Putting averages were inversely proportional to the ease of finding greens in regulation. Despite the surfaces reaching a standard 12 ft on the stimp meter, Black Desert ranked as the lowest in putts made percentage from 10 to 15 ft and was among the hardest from 4 to 8 ft. A balanced test of skills. Even though hitting greens and sinking putts are crucial, Black Desert offers a well-rounded challenge. Take for instance the performances of Lucas Glover and Kevin Stelman, who tied for third last year. Despite their contrasting strengths, Glover led the field in Green’s hit, proximity to the hole, and strokes gained, ta green, while Streman excelled in fairways hit, strokes gained, putting, and par five scoring. This year, Black Desert stretches 50 yards longer at 7,421 yds with a new TE at the finishing hole now measuring 595 yd. The course has also undergone enhancements near the tea boxes on the par for first and 10th holes. The property is covered in bent grass with 3-in blueg grass rough flanking the fairways and other areas providing a better lie than the ignous rock beneath. Weather conditions and tournament schedule. One significant difference from last year’s tournament is the weather. This year’s event is taking place 2 weeks later with daytime highs in the mid70s, a cooler and more comfortable climate for the golfers. There may be some wind energy, but it should subside by the time the opening round begins. Winds are expected to be moderate at worst, creating a more stable playing environment. Stay tuned for more insights and updates from gatr.com’s Rob Bolton, who will be previewing and recapping every tournament. You can also connect with him on X at Robb Bolton for the latest golf news and analysis. Monday, power rankings. Tuesday, sleepers top 100 watch. Sunday, golf bet recap qualifiers.
