From its small beginnings in 1963, the Davis Park Golf Course has matured into one of the most enjoyable golf courses in the state.
Located in Fruit Heights, just off Highway 89, Davis Park provides a scenic, playable and all-around fun golf experience for golfers of all levels of ability.The present back nine at Davis was built first, designed by Bill Neff and longtime Davis professional Pierre Hualde. Two years later, in 1965, the present front nine was completed with Neff and Bill Neff Jr. as the designers. Although three other Davis County courses have since been built, Davis Park has never lost any of its appeal.
The course is fairly short, just under 6,000 yards from the middle tees and only 6,456 from the blues. The terrain is quite hilly with several holes starting on an elevated tee and finishing with an elevated green. But it's also a very walk-able golf course
Davis Park is away from the bigger cities, but not too far, between 20 and 25 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and a similar distance from Ogden. It's not as noisy as Valley View to the north with all the airplanes and it doesn't feel squeezed into a confined area like many courses that are surrounded by houses. The greens at Davis are large and in good shape.
The course seems to attract a varied clientele, from the hard-core regulars to people of all ages and from all locales.
"I've been here 17 years and every day I see people I haven't seen before," said Davis professional Brad Stone. "This golf course fits a lot of different players."
The front nine features the "mirror hole," the 357-yard par-4 No. 4 hole. It is a downhill dogleg that bends to the left. Just behind the tee is a small mirror situated up on a high pole for golfers on the tee to check for golfers out of sight down below. However it doesn't show the green, for those very good golfers who cut the corner and go straight for the green over the trees.
No. 9, a par-4 dogleg left, goes right up to the clubhouse - the green must be closer to the clubhouse than any in the state. So watch out for stray balls when you walk in to sign up.
The most memorable hole at Davis is the beautiful 155-yard par-3 11th. The hole is tucked in the southeast corner of the course, almost off by itself, surrounded by trees. Just before you get to the tee area you're greeted by a beautiful garden of petunias and quaking aspens.
Although school is starting and the summer is almost over, Stone says business won't slow down at his course until the end of September. "We're busy every day. You just have to be lucky enough to get a tee time."
*****
(Additional information)
Davis Park Golf Course
Hole Par Yards*
1 4 350
2 3 146
3 5 495
4 4 357
5 4 338
6 4 356
7 3 188
8 5 458
9 4 356
__ __ _____
OUT 36 3044
10 5 475
11 3 155
12 4 412
13 5 504
14 3 166
15 4 343
16 3 176
17 4 382
18 4 272
___ ___ _____
IN 35 2885
TOTAL 71 5929
*Middle tees
Difficulty**
Layout/Scenery ***
Enjoyability Index ****
(5=highest rating, 0=lowest)
Location: 1074 E. Nicholls Road, Fruit Heights
Head Professional: Brad Stone, Pierre Huadle
Cost: $6/$12, $7/14 Carts
Reservations: 544-0401, one day in advance for weekdays, Thursday for Friday-Saturday-Sunday
Easiest Time to get on: Afternoons, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Course Record: Vance Christiansen 63 (competitive)