The last time the PGA Tour hosted an event in Utah was when President John F. Kennedy visited Salt Lake City. It was September 1963. This event was the Utah Open held at the Salt Lake Country Club. After more than 60 years, the PGA Tour came back in 2024 and is now returning with the Bank of Utah Championship. Surely, there are many remarkable things about the venue that make it fittingly exciting.

The Black Desert Resort, set amid ancient black lava fields and fiery red cliffs, will host the newly named Bank of Utah Championship. From the final masterpiece of legendary architect Tom Weiskopf to daring drivable par-4s that test every decision, this course promises a tournament full of risk, reward, and unforgettable visuals.

A landscape with the views of black lava

Do you know what’s common at Hualalai Golf Course, Mission Hills Lava Fields course, and Volcano Golf Course? They are all formed on or near lava remains. The Black Desert Resort golf course is the latest addition to this list. It stands out for its setting among ancient black lava fields and vermilion red rock cliffs in Southern Utah’s Greater Zion region. The course winds through these volcanic formations. Overall, it gives a rugged, visually striking aesthetic that few PGA Tour venues can match.

Phil Smith, Weiskopf’s business partner and architect, called it “the most difficult project … that I worked on in my career.” It’s no joke to carve a golf course through lava. The two had to blast it to make place for tees, fairways, and greens. That’s the reason it looks like the golf course is shaped from the earth itself. Since the crew had to blast the lava to get playable land, it was a time-consuming project that started in 2021. Grassing commenced in May 2022, and the course opened in 2023.

Tom Weiskopf’s last masterpiece

The Black Desert Resort golf course marks the last design by the legendary golf architect Tom Weiskopf. Born on November 9, 1942, in Massillon, Ohio, Weiskopf was a renowned American professional golfer until the late 1990s, when he retired. Before retiring, Weiskopf bagged 16 PGA Tour titles. But his passion for the game kept him close to golf. He first took on the role of a golf analyst before becoming a golf architect.

As an architect, Weiskopf was known for his blend of strategic challenge and playability, often featuring drivable par-4 holes. The par-4 holes were inspired by his experience playing the Old Course at St. Andrews. Collaborating first with Jay Morrish and later with Phil Smith, he designed or co-designed over 70 courses globally. Many of his designs are ranked among the best golf courses worldwide, including the Monument and Pinnacle courses at Troon North Golf Club, Loch Lomond in Scotland, and his last design, Black Desert Resort in Utah. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020, he continued to travel and work on the Black Desert Resort golf course.

Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the end and passed away in August 2022, as his condition worsened. Although Weiskopf didn’t work on it till the end, the course closely resembles what he laid out with Phil Smith. In fact, many of the holes on the course are inspired by Weiskopf’s playing days.

He admittedly designed the course’s 17th hole as a “spin-off” of Troon’s eighth. Besides that, the 198-yard par-3 third is inspired by the sixth hole at Riviera Country Club. Similarly, the par-5 13th green is inspired by the 14th green at Pebble Beach.

Thrills on two drivable par-4s

True to Weiskopf’s hallmark style, Black Desert features two drivable par-4 holes, the 5th and the 14th. These holes introduce exciting risk and reward dynamics central to Weiskopf’s design legacy. The 5th hole, about 320 yards, runs through lava fields and is the farthest hole from the clubhouse. It offers multiple layup and aggressive driving options with a chance to reach the green from the tee.

The 14th hole is a drivable par 4 shaped by bunkers and volcanic features, with an amphitheater-like green area hidden from view by lava formations. Golfers with the right skills have the opportunity to score an eagle on this hole. However, those who miss can be severely punished. The presence of these drivable par 4s is a notable feature, reflecting Weiskopf’s influence on modern course strategy.

The Bank of Utah Championship, part of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Fall Series, brings top-level professional golf to a setting unlike any other in the country. Former champion Mat McCarthy will be one to watch, while golfers like Max Homa would like to end their title drought with a win at the Bank of Utah Championship. The tournament promises a memorable debut for both players and fans.