Olympic Origins
The course is unmatched in the U.S. for being crafted directly on the grounds used for the 2002 Winter Olympics Nordic skiing and biathlon events, preserving the site's competitive spirit for golfers.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Soldier Hollow Golf Course – Silver
Midway, Utah
Established
2004
Architect
Gene Bates
Access
Public
Par
Par 72
Length
5,373 – 7,355 yds
Green Fees
$$
The verdict
Utah’s Mountain Golf Benchmark
Soldier Hollow Silver delivers a big, bold taste of high-elevation golf in the heart of the Wasatch. The combination of Olympic pedigree, stunning views, and strategic shotmaking makes it one of Utah’s must-plays for public-access seekers.
Course DNA
Difficulty
79
Scenery89
Conditioning85
Shot Variety78
Walkability68
Green Complexity76
Wow Factor82
Design Quality75
Don't miss
Stand on the No. 16 tee box at sunset for one of the best panoramic vistas in Utah golf—Olympic rings to your back, Wasatch glory in front.
At a glance
Quick facts
Elevation
Approx. 5,500 feet above sea level
Setting
Built on 2002 Olympic Nordic site
Holes with Water in Play
Few — native and links-like rough dominate
Longest Par 5
No. 16 at 615 yards (Gold tees)
Fairways
Wide, rolling, exposed
Wind Conditions
Variable, with frequent sweeping breezes
Championship Pedigree
Host of national and state championships
Olympic Connection
Only U.S. course on a Winter Olympics site
The design
The architecture
Soldier Hollow Silver is a modern mountain course that maximizes the grand Wasatch terrain, with rolling fairways that climb, plunge, and tilt across the Olympic site. Gene Bates' design spreads holes across wide, open hillsides, leveraging natural contours and native vegetation, but with a friendlier, more playable routing than its championship sibling. With relatively few trees but plenty of wind, the open scale adds both visual drama and authentic mountain feel, while broad corridors offer inviting targets and promote strategic choices for a diverse range of golfers.
Gene Bates’ intention with the Silver course was clear: provide a more inviting, player-friendly experience than the championship-level Gold course, yet keep the thrills and scale of mountain golf.
Defining features
- Expansive, rolling fairways with native grasses
- Long par 5s demanding both power and precision
- Multiple elevated tee shots with panoramic views
- Open, wind-exposed corridors amplifying shot selection
- Greens complex enough to challenge without punishing
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Duel in the Foothills
PAR
5
YARDAGE
573
This early par 5 tumbles through a broad valley, with brush and native rough on both sides ready to punish errant shots. It's a true three-shotter for most yet rewards perfectly placed drives with a tempting chance to go for the green in two.
Play it smart
Drive favoring the right side opens up the best second shot landing; lay up smartly to avoid native grass, then attack a green that slopes sharply back-to-front.
Where it bites
Stray left or right off the tee brings tangled native growth into play, and careless lay-ups can find tough, irregular stances.
Course management
Shots to think about
Long approach into wind on par 4s
Always double-check yardage at elevation—the ball flies farther but the wind can knock it down quickly.
Second shot on par 5s
Tempting as it is to go for the green, lay up wisely to your favorite wedge yardage and avoid the thick stuff.
Tee shots on exposed holes
Wind shifts wildly in the open—pick an intermediate target and commit, not just a distant mountain peak.
Uphill putts on sloping greens
Mountain slopes can trick the eye; read breaks with the valley in mind but trust the contours you see.
Chipping from native rough
Focus on making clean contact, as thick grass grabs the club—envision a splash more than a check spin.
Twilight rounds in changing light
Watch shadows as sunset approaches; the mountain light can make depth perception tricky.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Firm, maintained fairways and pristine putting surfaces—true championship-level prep most weeks.
Pace
Generally steady but can stretch on busy weekends; plan extra time for summit views and open-air shots.
Vibe
Laid-back but competitive mountain-town energy; welcoming to visitors, with friendly locals and staff.
Dress code
Standard public golf; collared shirts expected, denim discouraged, but generally relaxed for mountain play.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Wind and Weather
Bring enough layers—mountain conditions can shift from brisk mornings to sunburned afternoons fast.
02
Altitude Adjustment
Remember that the thin air can add significant carry—calibrate your clubs on the range before you tee off.
03
Course Scale
Grab a yardage book or GPS—the scale is immense, and hazards aren’t always apparent from the fairway.
04
Hydration & Sunblock
Stock up, especially in summer—the open, elevated terrain is exposed and can be deceptively draining.
The lore
How it came to be
- 2002
Site hosts Winter Olympics Nordic events
- 2004
Soldier Hollow Golf Course opens
- 2006
First Utah State Amateur at Soldier Hollow
- 2012
Hosts USGA U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship
- 2015
Returns as Utah State Amateur venue
- 2023
Hosts Utah State Amateur again
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Utah's Championship Step-Up
When the course hosted the 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links, Soldier Hollow became the first site in Utah to hold a USGA national championship, forever changing the state’s golf prestige.
Distinct Twin Identities
Soldier Hollow features two contrasting routings—Silver for playability with wide fairways, and Gold as a true championship test with narrow, challenging corridors and more severe greens.
Fast Friend to the Amateurs
Utah’s best amateurs know Soldier Hollow—it's been a frequent and beloved venue for the Utah State Amateur, with its large-scale design perfect for big fields and gallery-friendly viewing.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The only U.S. golf course on a former Winter Olympic site.
2
37 acres of native grass and Olympic biathlon course runs frame the property.
3
Was the first venue to host a USGA national championship in Utah.
4
Both Gold and Silver courses can be played on the same day for a true mountain golf doubleheader.
5
Massive elevation changes—not just from tee to green, but throughout the panoramic landscape.
Build the trip
If you're making a Wasatch Mountains golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Wasatch Mountain State Park Golf Course
Public
Scenic, friendly, and mountain-profiled—just minutes from Soldier Hollow for a perfect back-to-back day.
Thanksgiving Point Golf Club
Public
Gene Bates parkland layout with water and strategic play, offering a contrast to the mountain openness.
Red Ledges
Private
Tom Weiskopf design; dramatic mountain routing if you snag an invite.
Park City Golf Club
Public
Classic municipal play with walkable layouts right in the heart of Park City.
Midway or Heber City for convenience; Park City for amenities and nightlife.
Course DNA
If You Like Soldier Hollow Golf Course – Silver
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.1
Teton Pines Country Club
Wilson, WyomingScenery
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Teton Pines Country Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.6
The Alpine at Boyne Mountain Resort
Boyne Falls, MichiganScenery
Why it matches: The Alpine at Boyne Mountain Resort is a natural next stop after Soldier Hollow Golf Course – Silver: it shares a memorable sense of place.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Trump National Golf Club Charlotte
Mooresville, North CarolinaScenery
Why it matches: Trump National Golf Club Charlotte is a natural next stop after Soldier Hollow Golf Course – Silver: it shares a memorable sense of place.
The architect's other work
More from Gene Bates
Salish Cliffs Golf Club
Shelton, WashingtonDramatic Elevation, Pristine Forest, Championship Test
Green Mountain National Golf Course
Killington, VermontScenic mountain golf with sweeping Vermont views
Wasatch Mountain Golf Course (Mountain)
Midway, UtahUtah’s most scenic mountain golf test
Logan Country Club
Logan, UtahMountain valley tradition meets fresh redesign
Due Process Stable
Colts Neck, New JerseyElegance and exclusivity in Colts Neck countryside
Triple Crown Country Club
Union, KentuckyKentucky’s Championship Test in Horse Racing Tradition
Community Sentiment
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