Meadow Before Mansions
Tom Fazio routed all 18 holes before a single home property was staked, allowing the course to flow naturally through wildflower meadows and valleys. Developers followed his map, prioritizing golf above real estate.
The verdict
Utah’s No. 1 Private Retreat
Glenwild delivers Tom Fazio strategy and Wasatch views at the region’s top private club. Its challenging layout flows through wildflower meadows, striking the perfect balance between mountain drama and playability. Utah’s best round—and a club experience worthy of the setting.
Course DNA
Difficulty
87
Scenery92
Conditioning93
Shot Variety84
Walkability72
Green Complexity89
Wow Factor81
Design Quality85
Don't miss
If invited, arrange a late-afternoon tee time—the sunset light over the Wasatch Range and wildflower meadows makes the final stretch unforgettable.
At a glance
Quick facts
Elevation
6,600 feet—shots travel farther
Greens mix
Mach 1 bentgrass to be installed post-renovation
Slope (Blue tees)
141 rating—serious challenge
AJGA debut
Host of Utah’s first AJGA tournament
Finish
Back nine returns to clubhouse, strong home stretch
Lakes & water features
Several holes embrace irrigation lakes/streams
Clubhouse setting
Perched with panoramic course and mountain views
The design
The architecture
Glenwild’s Fazio pedigree shows in every strategic decision, with holes crafted to accentuate the wildflower valley setting rather than overpower it. The design’s genius is its ability to create a championship-caliber test that remains walkable and visually memorable, thanks to clustered holes around lakes and streams, clever routing, and seamless transitions from tree-framed to open-meadow fairways. Greens are both the defense and the soul of the course: contoured, quick, and expertly bunkered, challenging players to respect angles and short-game imagination throughout.
Tom Fazio was granted first pick of all land to ensure every hole flows naturally with the terrain, setting the standard for modern mountain golf.
Defining features
- Smart, flowing mountain-valley routing
- Finely contoured and run-off greens
- Strategic use of irrigation lakes and streams
- Well-placed bunkering for both visuals and challenge
- Risk-reward par 5s with multiple angles
- Strategic renovation: new Mach 1 greens, bunkers, and tees coming soon
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
Sweep of the Valley
PAR
5
YARDAGE
618
This sweeping par 5 stretches across the valley floor, inviting a bold opening but demanding three precise shots for most. Layup position is essential here, as water and bunkers shape the risk-reward calculus on the approach.
Play it smart
Position for a clear angle on the layup; aggressive players must flirt with fairway bunkers to reach the green in two.
Where it bites
A misjudged layup or push off the tee brings water and complex bunker patterns into play.
Course management
Shots to think about
Long-altitude approach shots
Trust your adjusted yardages—balls fly farther at 6,600 feet.
Greenside run-offs
Prioritize safe targets; aggressive lines can quickly tumble off slick surrounds.
Finishing stretch pressure (holes 16–18)
Stay composed—errant shots are magnified near the lakes and severe bunkers.
Wind on open meadows
Check treetops and flags—gusts shift quickly in the broad valley.
Club selection on par 3s
Don’t trust just the scorecard—adjust for slope, elevation, and wind.
Layups on par 5s
Lay up smart—not too close to water or bunkers; Fazio rewards intelligent restraint.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Championship-level, firm fairways, fast contoured greens—private club standard.
Pace
Efficient private pace; four-hour rounds are common.
Vibe
Exclusive, quietly upscale, with a mountain-resort sense of seclusion.
Dress code
Traditional private-club attire required—collared shirts, no denim.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Altitude adjustment
Practice clubbing down; at 6,600 feet, your ball will travel at least 10 percent farther.
02
Short game focus
Bring your best chipping touch—the run-off areas and Fazio’s tight greens demand precision.
03
Check for construction
If visiting during the 2026–27 renovation period, confirm course or hole closures in advance.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2001
Course opens—Tom Fazio original design debuts
- 2002
First full golf season and early acclaim
- 2003
Ranked #1 in Utah by Golf Digest—start of a long run
- 2013
Peaks at #125 on Golf Digest's national list
- 2019
Hosts inaugural AJGA Glenwild Junior—first AJGA event in Utah
- 2026
Begins full-course renovation by Jackson Kahn Design
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Utah’s AJGA First
In 2019, Glenwild made statewide golf history as the site of the first AJGA tournament ever held in Utah, launching the AJGA Glenwild Junior and putting the state on the national junior-golf map.
Mountains in Every Direction
Golfers are greeted by 360-degree Wasatch mountain views throughout, with bunkers and lakes perfectly sited to catch the eye—and the occasional stray approach—on the open valley holes.
Strategic Renovation
A full-course renovation beginning in 2026 will see strategic green reshaping, new tee complexes, and complete infrastructure modernization, keeping Glenwild at the leading edge of premier private golf.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Tom Fazio routed the course before a single home property was planned.
2
At nearly 7,600 yards, the Blue tees are among Utah’s longest—but the elevation compresses distance.
3
Glenwild’s greens are among the most contoured and challenging in the region.
4
The course hosts the first AJGA event ever held in Utah.
5
Lakes, streams, and strategic bunkering are core to Fazio’s layout vision.
Build the trip
If you're making a Park City mountain golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Soldier Hollow Golf Course
Public
Two scenic mountain courses with wide fairways and beautiful Heber Valley vistas.
Wasatch Mountain Golf Course
Public
A Park City-area public gem known for elevation changes and spectacular autumn colors.
Bonneville Golf Course
Municipal
Salt Lake City’s classic muni; walkable, fun, and perfect for a relaxed pre-flight round.
Bald Mountain Golf Course
Public
Laidback mountain golf with welcoming staff and a relaxed Park City setting.
Promontory Club
Private
Pair with Glenwild if you have private-club access for a mountain-golf doubleheader.
Park City or Kimball Junction—close to Glenwild, dining, and mountain recreation.
Course DNA
If You Like Glenwild Golf Club and Spa
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.5
The Broadmoor Golf Club East Course
Colorado Springs, ColoradoWhy it matches: If Glenwild Golf Club and Spa is your kind of course, The Broadmoor Golf Club East Course is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match7.7
Horseshoe Bay Resort
Horseshoe Bay, TexasWhy it matches: Horseshoe Bay Resort is a natural next stop after Glenwild Golf Club and Spa: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.3
The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course
Colorado Springs, ColoradoConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course's own setting.
The architect's other work
More from Tom Fazio
Oak Hill Country Club - East
Rochester, New YorkChampionship pedigree and Ross magic, restored
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, CaliforniaAmerica’s classic canyon championship, reborn for the century
Glenwild Golf Club & Spa
Park City, UtahMountain exclusivity, pristine Fazio drama, Park City’s best
Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club: Fazio Course
Wolcott, ColoradoDramatic mountain golf with sweeping Vail Valley views
Wollaston Golf Club
Milton, MassachusettsClassic New England parkland challenge with muscle
The Golf Club of Oklahoma
Broken Arrow, OklahomaScenic Fazio Challenge Among Lakes and Woods
Community Sentiment
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