It's the third oldest golf course in Utah, but the Copper Club may be one of the least-known courses in the Salt Lake Valley.
Built nearly 70 years ago - in 1926 with sand greens - the Copper Club is located in Magna and is, like its name implies, a club. However, while it may not be open to the general public, the Copper Club isn't a country club on the same basis as the likes of Willow Creek or Hidden Valley.The Copper Club membership is on a year-to-year basis - like a season pass - with previous members having top priority each year.
Although the club has a cap on memberships and has been full in the past, there is room for members at the present time, according to head pro Jeff Wathen. While the majority of members are from Magna or West Valley City, Wathen said he has members from as far away as Bountiful and Sandy.
Members are attracted by the Copper Club's old-fashioned layout, which is well-kept and less crowded than the average public golf course.
There's nothing fancy about the golf course, which is flat and has a lot of straight, tree-lined fairways. You won't find any elephant mounds on the greens or railroad ties around hazards. In fact, there isn't even a single water hazard on the course.
The No. 1 hole is about as long and straight as a hole can be at 557 yards heading due east. The fourth hole may be the best, a dogleg right with three bunkers surrounding a large green.
No. 7 is a drivable par-4 at 280 yards, but the green is tiny and it has three bunkers waiting to gobble up stray drives. The ninth is a tough finishing hole a par-4 close to 450 yards from the back tees.
That's right, the Copper Club has only nine holes. But there are four tees on every hole - whites and golds for the men and red and silver for the women - that are varied to make golfers feel they are playing different holes on each nine.
The Copper Club is surprisingly wind-free, due in part to the many large trees on the course and the Kennecott dike on the north.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Copper Club
HOLE PAR YARDS*
1 5 557
2 3 195
3 4 340
4 4 418
5 4 367
6 5 503
7 4 280
8 3 168
9 4 409
TOTAL 36 3,237
*Middle tees
LOCATION: 8970 W. 2600 South, Magna
HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Jeff Wathen
YEAR OPENED: 1926
COST/GUEST FEES: $8/$16, carts $8/$14, range $1/$2
RESERVATIONS: 250-6396
EASIEST TIME TO GET ON: Weekday afternoons
COURSE RECORD: Jim Blair, 62
DIFFICULTY: 4
LAYOUTS/SCENERY: 2
ENJOYABILITY INDEX: 3
(5=Highest,0=Lowest)