When you play golf at Nibley Park Golf Course, you become a part of history for a couple of hours at one of Utah's oldest and storied golf courses.
Nibley, celebrating its 70th birthday later this month, is the oldest municipal golf course in the state (Forest Dale is older, but it was originally a country club). The course has changed a few times over the years, with the last renovation coming in 1982 when the new clubhouse was built, a driving range added and the hole order changed around. But most of the original greens are still used.The land on which Nibley Park sits was orginally an open-air amusement park. It was built in 1864, just 17 years after the first pioneers came to the Salt Lake Valley. Called Calder's Park resort, it attracted people from all over the valley for swimming, fishing, boating, bicycling and horse racing.
In 1902 it was sold to the LDS Granite Stake and became Wandamere Park. In 1921, a railroad magnate named Charles W. Nibley bought the property and gave it to Salt Lake City for its first municipal golf course. In the deed, he stipulated that it could never be sold, subdivided or desecrated. Six months later, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant dedicated the course and hit the first ball off the No. 1 tee. They've been hitting ever since.
Among the early pros at Nibley were such local golf legends as Mick Riley, Tom McHugh and Alex McCafferty. And many of today's top local golfers got their starts at Nibley, which for years played host to the Utah Junior Open.
Nibley isn't the kind of course that will wear you out. It's flat and doesn't feature any trickery. The 5th, one of the re-done holes, can be played as a par 5 or a par 4, the latter making it a tough hole to par at 443 yards.
Many of the holes are just straight ahead with nothing fancy about them. In fact, the 401-yard, par-4 6th hole is used for the state and regional long-driving contests every year because it is so straight and flat.
The shortest hole on the course, the 110-yard 9th, is still one of the most fun holes around. The tee shot is all carry over a large pond. If you're a low-ball hitter, just make sure you wait for the people-friendly ducks to waddle out of the way.
Because it is easy to walk and to score well, the course attracts a lot of senior, women and junior golfers. But according to first-year head pro Steve Elliott, Nibley has its share of "business types," especially on the range. "It appeals to a lot of people," says Elliott.
A Ladies League plays every Wednesday afternoon, while a Men's League plays Friday evenings. The best time to get on the course is between 11 and 1, but that's also the busiest time for the driving range because of businessmen who spend their lunch hours smacking balls.
GRAPHIC
Nibley Park Golf Course
Hole Par Yards*
1 4 350
2 4 323
3 3 170
4 4 301
5 5 453
6 4 401
7 4 383
8 3 180
9 3 105
___ ___ ____
Total 34 2666
*Middle tees
Difficulty: **
Layout/Scenery: **
Enjoyability Index: **
(5=Highest rating, 0=Lowest)
Location: 2780 S. 700 East, SLC
Head Professional: Steve Elliott
Yr. opened: 1922
Cost: $6/$12, Carts
$7/$14, Range $1.50/$3
Reservations: 483-5418
Monday for Tues-Wed, Wed for Thu-Fri, Thu for Sat-Sun-Mon.
Course Record: Joe Cornwall, 26, Eric Hogg 28, 60 (Competitve)