Utah’s Golf Paradise: Exploring Black Desert Resort

Utah’s Golf Paradise: Exploring Black Desert Resort

What if I told you you have an opportunity and an invitation to play a golf course that hosts both a PGA Tour and LPGA Tour event in a setting this spectacular with backdrops that amazing? Well, here’s the good news. You do have that invitation to visit a place in St. George, Utah called Black Desert Resort. That story is straight ahead. Hello friends, Bill Hobson here. Thank you for joining us on this special travel feature as we have made our way to one of the most beautiful regions in all of America, St. George, Utah. We came in via Vegas, made a spectacular drive up of about 2 hours to pull onto the still growing property at Black Desert Resort, and this place almost defies description when it comes to the quality of everything that you experience here. In fact, the golf course itself is so good that it’s about to be joined by three more 18hole championship courses and a most unique short course along with a water park and a whole bunch of other things that are coming down the road. But for right now, when you come to Black Desert Resort, you get to enjoy a golf experience so special that it hosts both the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour and you if you want to make your way out here. and I kind of think you do. So, let’s dig into the story by first introducing you to what makes this Tom Weissoff design so truly special and then we’ll talk more about the resort itself and why it’s a great destination for the entire family. How do you describe this course? Boy, that is a great question. I’ve lived here for a long time, so I think I take it for granted a little bit. Um, it’s really just grass and turf blended into the lava rock with amazing red rock vistas. Um, it’s it’s pretty remarkable to see how they built this, knowing all the lava they had to remove, but to some holes just sit fit seamlessly through the lava as well. So, it’s pretty spectacular. We hope people don’t get caught off guard by the views and not focus on their game because it can destroy a score in a hurry. Yeah. And if you’re spraying it off the tea, probably going to be a long day for you, right? There’s not a whole lot of room to roam. No, there’s really not. It’s interesting. If you can be hit it well off the tea, do you like, as you mentioned, you can score well. Uh the greens are very playable. They’re large enough that if you get on the putting surface, you do have an opportunity to make some putts. You know, one of the things that I’ve really enjoyed here is that your group goes out with a caddy, a four caddy. Um I have found that to be beyond valuable when it comes to strategy and knowing where to hit it and of course on reading the greens. Such a special experience. It also winds into all-inclusive food and drink and beverage on the golf course. We we have what we call trunk-to- trunk experience. We want that person when they first pull up to we pull their clubs out of the trunk. They don’t touch them. We try to do the best we can to where they’re not thinking much about anything. We’re taking care of it for them. So with that four caddy, they do they they provide that experience of course conditioning, uh raking bunkers, fixing ball marks, but also giving direction where to hit the shot, what greens are going to do, what they’re how the break is going to be. They order food for the group out there. As you mentioned, it’s all inclusive. and we just want that person to come in and feel welcome and this is their course for the day. We get multiple requests for that same caddy to caddy for that same group another day because they enjoy the experience so much. Um, and I will say I’ve played here numerous times obviously I enjoy taking a caddy every single time even though I feel like I know the course very well. It’s just the experience of it is is something else. This region has over the past couple of decades exploded as a golf destination. Here of course being the core for our story, but within 30 45 minutes, there’s a lot of I mean, you’ve been at you’ve been at a number of those places. What is what is this part of the country like as a golf destination? That’s the thing. I think we’re kind of in that little blurp in southwest Utah. We’re only an hour and 40 minutes north of Las Vegas. I think once we’re discovered, people realize the great value that golf is here. And the quality of golf is remarkable. I think it’s kind of that we’re getting more and more discovered, which is great. Um, but I think for a long time, it went undiscovered for the quality of golf courses we have and the affordability of it. Where’s Tom Weissoff in your personal architectural rankings? He’s one of my all-time favorites. How about yours? Oh, absolutely. I I you know, I’ve I’ve always enjoyed his work. I’ve only played a few of his courses, but just seeing the detail of it and listening to Phil Smith, his co-designer, talk about what went into building this. And I mean, they would walk the lava fields, figuring out the holes, and just come back bloodied from the knees down walking through there because they wanted to get out there and be on the course. And that’s one thing that I think stands out for me with Mr. Weissoff is he was there every step of the way to do the work. And yeah, I just think he makes it so playable, but he makes it so challenging enough to your point about the fairways earlier that I think people will really enjoy what he’s done. It’s not every day that everybody in the public has a chance to play a tour. You ever step out here in the morning and just go, “This is my office.” I mean, this is pretty hard to beat, you know? I I drive the course with our superintendent about every other week and and then once or twice a week, I’ll go out by myself just to look at things and I get that all the time. Yeah. I grew up here in southern Utah, so I think I take it for granted a little bit, but I do catch myself driving through there and just yeah, I feel pretty fortunate. The story of Black Desert Resort is still being written, but the portion that’s here right now is spectacular. Patrick Manning is managing partner of this awesome place. How do you describe Black Desert Resort? Wow. Maybe uh maybe I’ll quote Phil Smith, that’s Tom Weissop’s architect. He was asked uh one time to describe Black Desert. Of course, he was focused on the golf course, but he said it’s Kona meets Sedona. And with all this great black lava and that the uh the golf course just chiseled with surgical precision through that lava bed, uh the the contrast of colors is pretty striking. Everything is pretty striking. and for me to see kind of the big picture of what’s still to come and what’s here now. Um, you mentioned to me off camerara that you’re you’re in a marathon. It’s definitely not a sprint. What’s here now so that our audience can enjoy it and then we’ll talk a little bit later about what’s still to come. Sure. Yeah. So, we have the hotel here, of course, right behind us. And, uh, we’ve got a 19-hole Tom Weissoff Golf Course. That’s the only spot in the world that has both a PGA and an LPGA. And fun fact, I was told it was it was impossible to get the PGA and the LPGA. And we had them both under contract, multi-year contracts before the first round of golf was played. We have the hotel, we have about 450 rooms open right now. We have seven restaurants. Uh we’re we’re hosting concerts here uh pretty much non-stop. And um but I know we you said we’ll talk about the future, but we just broke ground on not only our pickle ball facility that will host a uh national championship, but also we’ve broken ground on our water park, uh which is going to be one of the most incredible water parks that a resort has anywhere in the country. And uh the boardwalk is coming and it’ll have a 4,000 seat concert venue, another like 10 restaurants and 10 shops. And it it already is quite special from a golfer’s perspective. Uh you mentioned the visuals and the striking um just kind of the surroundings of this golf course, but how do you describe the golf side of this as it as it kind of weaves into the resort experience? Yeah, I think uh I think Tom Weissop, one of my favorite architects of all time. Yeah, he’s such a good guy and and uh but he this being his final course he designed um he put so much into this course. And what I love about it is that a resort guest that’s more a casual golfer can go out here with generous fairways and strategically placed bunkers. I mean, he built this for a casual golfer to enjoy, but then left room to make it challenging for the PGA Tour in the LPGA. So, as you welcome in guests from literally around the world, what is the experience you want them to take back with them? Well, I think um what’s unique about Black Desert, truly unique, is that there’s nowhere else in the United States where three major ecosystems converge in one spot. right here where we’re standing, you’ve got the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin all come together right here. That’s why wherever you look, it’s different. There’s a different geology, different flora and fauna, and they all bring their own parts to the party. And um so because of that, we have more state and national parks surrounding us than anywhere else in the country. I think if there’s anything that I would really love for people to take away is this is a luxury base camp, you know, to experience the most incredible geography and parks that there are in the United States. And people are coming here be- because they want to challenge themselves. They want to have a better life, a healthier lifestyle. It’s hard not to get caught up in just looking around. It’s hard to imagine that it’s real, but uh it is in fact real and it’s it’s such a great place. Snow Canyon right behind us, one of the great outdoor activities. Uh you can hike, you can bike, you can, you know, do all of that. And golf’s a huge part in southern Utah and when you’ve got a desert climate provides, you know, 300, you know, 50 days of sunshine and it’s just a it’s a great place to come and be. Tom Weisskoff, one of my favorite designers, he’s got a couple of wonderful courses in in my home state of Michigan. What what do you think he did with this property? I mean, he had a pretty cool canvas to work with. Um, I’ve always enjoyed Tom’s design. I just think he has a practical approach to to design. You know, he talks about how he uses the bunkers as, you know, not only sight bunkers, but also protection. So, you, as you played Black Desert, you notice there’s a few places where it’s like, okay, that’s where I need to hit it, but if I miss it, the bunker will grab it so it doesn’t get into the lava. I think he’s very fair, very generous off the tea. Um, and I just think he was he did a really good job with envisioning what could be in an otherwise desolate landscape. Like it was this was a place for many many years that you wondered if anything could be done with it. And so it’s remarkable to see the green that has emerged throughout this this this property. Um, I love his collection of par 3es. When you play Black Desert, you’re going to hit short irons, wedges into these. And I think it’s a cool collection of the four par 3s short irons. And if you can design a par three that gets your attention with a wedge in your hand, to me that’s architecture. Anyone can make something hard because you have to hit a four iron into it. But when you’ve got something that’s got your attention with a wedge in your hand, you’ve done something special. It’s just a it’s a masterpiece. It’s one of those places you have to come experience. If somebody had told you, let’s say 20 years ago, that at some point in the not too distant future, Utah is going to become a national golf destination. What would your response have been back then? I’ve been here for 30 years, and I I love golf in Utah, but it was much more of a a small scale addition. And u now here we have PGA and LPGA descending here on Black Desert. This was built for those type of events. It’s got the property. It’s got the infrastructure and and the golf course that that can handle that. So, it’s super exciting. Um I I think it’s spectacular. I’m super proud to have been a part of this and um to be able to walk this property with with Tom before he passed and to hear his vision and and to have him expound some of his wisdom. Um what what a great man and uh and we’re super uh proud to be able to have this golf course here. If you think of Black Desert Resort as if it were a book, then what’s here right now is basically chapter 1. And as we all know, any good book starts with a kind of a chapter one that gets you hooked. It gets you intrigued, and you cannot wait to see what’s coming in the subsequent chapters. That’s exactly the feeling I have as we say farewell to this very special place in St. George, Utah, and extend to you an official invitation to come here and stay and relax and tea it up and eat way too much and soak in the unmatched views of this part of America, this St. George area, this mountainous region, the red rocks, the contrasting colors on the golf course. It’s all so very special. So, thanks for being with us. We look forward to seeing you down the road when you visit Black Desert Resort.

Welcome to a special road trip led by Michigan Golf Live host Bill Hobson, taking you inside one of Utah’s most extraordinary resort-golf destinations: Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah’s Greater Zion region.

🏜 About Black Desert Resort

Nestled among red rock cliffs, black lava fields, and expansive desert horizons, Black Desert Resort is a fresh icon in luxury, golf, wellness, and adventure. The resort spans roughly 600 acres and blends high-end hospitality with rugged natural beauty.

Its signature feature is a Tom Weiskopf–designed 19-hole championship golf course (with a bonus “19th hole”) carved through lava rock terrain and framed by vermilion cliffs—his final architectural masterpiece. This awesome course was the final design of Weiskopf’s career and the resort has already drawn national attention, hosting both PGA TOUR and LPGA events, marking the return of a professional tour to Utah after more than six decades.

⛳ The Golf Experience

At Black Desert, every round is immersive. You’ll enjoy 15-minute tee times, GPS carts with hole-by-hole commentary, full practice facilities including a 36-hole illuminated putting green, and a forecaddie for your group. The course stretches to over 7,200 yards, demanding both strategy and creativity through its volcanic terrain and daring elevation changes.

Your green fee even includes food and nonalcoholic beverages served at Oasis and Club 73 during your round, adding to the all-inclusive golf experience that sets Black Desert apart.

🛌 Accommodations & Amenities

The resort features nearly 800 hotel rooms and luxury residences across multiple collections—Hotel, Plume Wellness, Resort, and The Terrace—tailored to fit every guest’s lifestyle. Guests can enjoy a 15,000-square-foot wellness and spa center, pools, fitness facilities, hiking trails, and an upcoming waterpark experience.

Dining is equally impressive, offering a range of experiences from a signature steakhouse and upscale BBQ to casual local favorites—all designed to reflect both luxury and local flavor.

🌄 Adventure & Surroundings

Black Desert isn’t just about golf. It’s your gateway to some of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest, including Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow, and Kanarraville Falls. Whether hiking slot canyons, off-road exploring, or visiting cultural destinations like Tuacahn and the Kayenta Art Village, every day brings a new adventure.

🎥 What You’ll See in This Video

A guided behind-the-scenes look at the course layout and signature holes

On-site moments with Bill Hobson exploring the resort

Stunning visuals of the resort’s lodging, spa, dining, and landscapes

Tips and highlights for golfers and travelers planning a visit

✔️ Watch now and start planning your next golf escape.

✅ Like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more golf adventures with Michigan Golf Live TV and Bill Hobson.

💬 Comment below: which part of Black Desert Resort would you love to experience first?

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