SPRINGVILLE — In a day when local golf courses are resorting to heavy marketing to attract golfers, Hobble Creek Golf Course has no problem drumming up business.
The scenic and short track nestled five miles up the canyon east of Springville has always been — and continues to be —one of the state's most popular golf destinations. Its layout is perfect for golfers of all calibers, its picturesque setting is relaxing to experience and the course conditions are among the best anywhere — especially this season.
Several country-club golfers who played in June's Art City Amateur were giving rave reviews after completing their rounds, saying Hobble Creek is in more plush condition than their own private course.
"The crew out there works very hard and does a remarkable job with the resources they have available to them, especially when you consider the amount of play the course gets," head pro Sonny Braun said of the groundskeeping crew led by superintendent Chris Jensen.
Hobble Creek is one of those rare courses that doesn't have one poorly designed hole. They all have unique features and character, and all require different kinds of shots depending on where the tees are placed and the hole cut.
"Players like the course because of the variety and because it's fair for players of all abilities," assistant pro Craig Norman said. "It can play tough and be set up to challenge the best players, but where the average player can still handle it."
There are doglegs, straight-away holes, strategically placed bunkers and trees, and of course the creek — which comes into play on 11 of the 18 holes. The greens are sloped, smooth and normally quick, but they're fair because properly placed approach shots give a good shot at birdie on every hole.
With so much natural beauty provided, Hobble Creek will always remain popular as long as the staff continues to put out the "Open" sign.
"We recently had a group from Arizona come up and play and they couldn't believe that they could get this kind of golf for less than $40 a round," Norman said.
MOST DIFFICULT HOLE: If you were to keep track of scoring on each hole, the dogleg-left par-4 No. 15 would likely rank the toughest. Most hit an iron or fairway wood from the tee, with trees on the left, a bunker on the right and tall cottonwood trees on the right. Tee shots with a fade or hit slightly to the right are in danger of rolling under the cottonwoods or into No. 13 fairway. The uphill approach shot, with trees to the right, is to a deep green with a slight tier in the middle. The green is a challenge to hit, a challenge to putt and a challenge to chip to. It's the beginning hole of Hobble Creek's Amen Corner.
MOST ENJOYABLE HOLE: There is no hole at Hobble Creek that is more scenic, more challenging, yet more rewarding than the short par-4 No. 2 — especially when the tees are on the back level. This is another hole where the driver is left in the bag, but the long-iron or fairway-wood tee shot must avoid oak trees left, the creek to the right and stop short of the creek straight ahead. The short approach shot is to another deep green protected by a bunker left and trees to the right.
BEST CHANCE FOR BIRDIE: The par-5 third hole is reachable in two for most players. First, however, the tee shot must avoid trees left and the creek right, but the fairway is fairly wide. The green is big and protected by a bunker, with the creek gobbling up errant shots to the right. Once near or on the green in two, however, birdies are common.
BEST PAR FIVE: A glance at the scorecard and golfers will think the par-5 13th hole is a piece of cake. At only 470 yards, the green is reachable in two for almost everyone. But accuracy is more critical here than any other hole. A drive too far left is blocked by tall cottonwoods, as is a tee shot too far right. The second shot must carry the creek, avoid trees left and a bunker right. Hit one bad shot on this hole and you can forget birdie and might even end up with a seven. Still, No. 13 also is the best shot at eagle.
BEST PAR FOUR: There could be a good argument made that No. 17 is the toughest hole. It's surely the best par-4, with trees and oak guarding the right side of the fairway and the creek left. Tee shots in the left side of the fairway leave golfers with a second shot over tall trees. Get too close to those trees and there's nothing left but a chip out. The second shot on the slightly-dogleg-left hole is to another sloping green from back to front, with bunkers on each side. Bogeys and double-bogeys are more common than birdies on the finishing hole of Amen Corner.
BEST PAR THREE: The par-3 No. 6 is not forgiving of bad shots. The tee shot on the 170-yard hole must split two sections of tall trees that line the creek, and avoid oak trees to the right and the creek left. The green is very large and severely sloped from back to front. Fail to hit this green and a double-bogey becomes a good possibility.
Hobble Creek Golf Course
Year opened: 1967 original nine, 1971 second nine
Course designer: William Bell
Head professional: Sonny Braun
Superintendent: Chris Jensen
Par: 71
Yardages: Blue — 6,315 yards ; White — 5,950 yards; Red — 5,435 yards
Address: Five miles up Hobble Creek Canyon
Directions: From I-15, take the south Springville exit. Turn east (left) on 400 South and drive to 1300 East in Springville. Turn right and follow Canyon Avenue up the canyon.
Tee-time policy: Times taken on Mondays for the following seven days by calling 489-6297
Green fees: Sunday-Thursday 18 holes $22 walking, $34 with cart. Fri.-Sat. 18 holes $24 walking, $36 with cart.
Driving range: Small $3; large $5
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com