Weiskopf’s Wild Goodbye
This is the last course Tom Weiskopf ever touched: he died in 2022, but his fingerprint is on every risk/reward tee. Phil Smith finished the build with reverence, letting the volcanic contours shine through.
The verdict
Dramatic resort desert golf unleashed
Black Desert emerges as a must-play for anyone eyeing the southwestern U.S. It’s an instant classic: wide fairways, bold bunkering, and volcanic drama give every shot a sense of occasion. This is Weiskopf’s wild farewell.
Course DNA
Difficulty
85
Scenery96
Conditioning91
Shot Variety82
Walkability62
Green Complexity83
Wow Factor89
Design Quality87
At a glance
Quick facts
PGA Tour debut
2024 Black Desert Championship (FedExCup Fall)
LPGA event
2025 venue for professional women
Widest fairway
Some fairways span 80+ yards
Volcanic landscape
Built into ancient lava flows
Course rating / slope
75.4 / 139 (Tournament tees)
Greens grass
Bentgrass
Tee times
12-minute intervals—unhurried pace
Final Weiskopf course
His last completed design
The design
The architecture
Black Desert is a prime example of bold modern desert architecture, where Tom Weiskopf’s routing exploits every inch of the volcanic Utah terrain. Expansive, canted fairways invite aggressive lines but punish faltering swings with lava-lined penalty areas. Multi-tiered greens and creative bunker complexes force players to calculate angles, club selection, and spin control. The panoramic red rock scenery is in play on nearly every shot, giving the course both strategic edge and visual power. Every hole is routed to maximize decision points while never feeling forced, resulting in a coherent desert epic that respects both playability and danger.
Tom Weiskopf crafted this site to play bold, fair, and visually unforgettable—his signature parting shot at modern American resort golf.
Defining features
- Routing zigzags seamlessly through lava rock corridors
- Over 80-yard-wide fairways on select holes for strategic angles
- Target-oriented tee shots with risk/reward carry choices
- Greens with deceptive breaks and strong internal undulation
- Bunkers melded into the volcanic landscape for natural intimidation
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 4
The Lava Gate
PAR
4
YARDAGE
490
A muscular par 4 that doglegs through a corridor of lava and desert scrub; the landing zone is generous, but angle to the green is everything. Approach shots play visually uphill into a perched green tightly guarded by bunkers and volcanic outcrops.
Play it smart
Favor the left half of the fairway for the best angle; anything right brings lava into play on the second shot.
Where it bites
Misses right or short are guaranteed to tangle with black rock and gnarly desert brush.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach from a sidehill lie above lava scar
Adjust stance for ball-above-feet lies; avoid over-drawing—take extra club and trust your yardage.
Drivable par 4 with desert on both sides
Weigh aggression versus the narrowest landing; consider hybrid short of trouble for an easy wedge in.
Downwind short par 3 over rock
Let wind do the work, but tee up enough club to clear lava—short rarely ends well here.
Second shot on long par 5 with risky route
Assess lie and wind; if unsure, lay up left for a full wedge rather than risking lava long and right.
Desert wind gusts late in the round
Adjust aim and club up; embrace a ‘chase-and-run’ approach to avoid over-spinning into gusts.
Chip from tightly mown area into perched green
Read the break, play low-runner, and avoid spinning it back into the fairway apron—trust touch.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Firm, pure, tournament-caliber with impeccable presentation and smooth roll on greens.
Pace
Efficient: 12-minute tee intervals, but take time for photos—this is a spectacle.
Vibe
Upmarket resort energy: service, smiles, big-stage feel, and fellow golf pilgrims everywhere.
Dress code
Modern resort attire—collared shirts required, sharp shorts/pants, no denim.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring wind-ready game
Southern Utah breezes can pick up and make yardages tricky—practice clubbing up and controlling trajectory.
02
Mind the lava
Stock up on balls and play conservatively off the tee: wild misses are severely punished by rocky native areas.
03
Hydrate and sun-protect
The desert air is dry and exposure is ever-present—carry water, use sunscreen, and bring a hat.
04
Book ahead
Prime seasons fill fast due to championship demand—secure tee times and lodging in advance.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2021
Groundbreaking: routing and blasting through lava bed begins
- 2022
Grassing and shapers finalize fairways, greens, and bunkers
- 2023
Official course opening (May 27)—immediate national attention
- 2024
First PGA Tour event, Black Desert Championship, returns Utah to the calendar
- 2025
Hosts LPGA Tour event and debuts on multiple Top 100 lists
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Desert Championship Returns
When Black Desert hosted the 2024 Black Desert Championship, it marked Utah’s first PGA Tour event in over 60 years. The field raved about the wide landing areas and lava rock danger.
Carving Golf from Volcanic Bones
Constructing Black Desert meant routing fairways and greens among black lava flows—not over or around them. The construction team literally blasted through rock, leaving dramatic outcrops as both beauty and hazard.
Epic Resort Service
Every round at Black Desert hits luxury notes: food and beverage service, polished conditions, and a true 'championship-caliber' energy greet both journeyman and scratch golfer alike.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Widest fairway on property stretches over 80 yards across—desert golf, but not suffocating.
2
Black Desert restored top-tier men’s professional golf to Utah for the first time in more than 60 years.
3
Its volcanic setting literally required routing and blasting holes through ancient lava beds.
4
Greens are pure bentgrass—unusual for Southwest public golf.
5
Food and beverage are included in many green fee packages—a genuine all-resort experience.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Greater Zion swing out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Sand Hollow Resort
Resort
Dramatic red rock, rival desert visuals—must-play companion to Black Desert
Copper Rock Golf Course
Public
Modern daily-fee, praised for design and strong conditions
Entrada at Snow Canyon
Private
Top-shelf lava/inland golf, area signature experience
The Ledges of St. George
Public
Strong value, scenic corridors, well regarded by locals
St. George Golf Club
Municipal
Easy booking, affordable, classic local rounds
St. George—best regional base for golf, dining, and easy access to all courses
Course DNA
If You Like Black Desert Resort
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.0
Aurora International Golf Club
Rendezvous Bay, AnguillaScenery
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Aurora International Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Shooting Star
Teton Village, WyomingScenery
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Shooting Star shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Black Desert Resort.
Strong DNA Match8.8
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, CaliforniaScenery
Why it matches: If Black Desert Resort is your kind of course, Pebble Beach Golf Links is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Community Sentiment
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