Twenty years ago, the Sherwood Hills Resort was built in Sardine Canyon, halfway between Brigham City and Logan with high hopes. But things didn't work out as anticipated when the original owner of the resort ran into problems.
However, the nine-hole golf course, designed and built by Ogden's Mark Ballif, survived and is doing quite well, thank you.Ballif owns the course and serves as the head professional. The course has a men's and women's association and hosts a couple of tournaments a year (in fact the Sherwood Hills 4 Ball is this Sunday) as well as special group tournaments.
Looking at the course from U.S. 89 is deceiving because all you see are a couple of long fairways with no trees around them. But the majority of the holes are hidden among the trees, making for an aesthetic golfing experience.
You start off with a 480-yard par-5 that doglegs slightly to the right. The 135-yard par-3 second hole is very similar to the 140-yard par-3 fourth hole. Both holes are downhill facing south, although the second hole is tucked away among in the trees.
When you're playing the first few holes, you get a feeling of solitude amid the maple trees and quaking aspens with a great view of the nearby mountains. All you can hear are birds chirping, and you occasionally see squirrels and other little animals scurrying across the fairways.
Then you get out in the open on the middle holes, and you see the real world and hear the beeping of the trucks working on Highway 89 (Ballif says the widening of the road has hurt business this year but will be a boon in future years). Number 6 is a "relief hole," a downhill 485-yard par-5 that yields a lot of pars and birdies.
The course finishes tough, back in the trees with the 430-yard par-4 eighth and the 370-yard ninth. Both holes are quite narrow, and drivers aren't recommended for the crooked hitters.
The holes are all named in keeping with the Sherwood Hills theme, from Robin Hood at No. 1 to Sir Edward of Greenleaf at No. 9.
A word of warning - if you play in warmer weather in mid-summer, bring some bug spray. The horse flies and mosquitoes can get nasty in the forest of Sherwood.
Ballif has had plans for a second nine for many years now, but problems with water have scuttled those plans. A driving range is in the works and could be completed within the next year.
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Sherwood Hills Golf Course
Location: Sardine Canyon, U.S. 89, between Brigham and Logan
Head professional: Mark Ballif
Designer: Mark Ballif
Year Opened: 1973
Cost: $8/$16; Carts $9/$18 no range
Reservations: Anytime, call 245-6055
Easiest time to get on: Weekends
Course Record: John Blake, Jason Wright, Don Larsen 67