There's a new golf artist in state.
We now welcome to Utah the honorable Rees Jones, affectionately called "The Open Doctor," for his renovation work on courses that host majors. The project is the just completed private Victory Ranch near Woodland and Francis on the upper Provo River just outside Heber City, 17 miles from Park City.
In the world of golf course design, Jones' first Utah painting is a Picasso.
In the world of Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, John Fought, Gene Bates and Johnny Miller, whose golf landscapes dot the Beehive State, this one may have drawn the palette dry.
Victory Ranch simply gobbles up all of them.
In terms of its scope, vistas, the playability, acreage, choice of shot selection and tee boxes, Jones hung a frame on this one. With bent grass fairways and greens and 18 holes accented by wind-waved fescue, giant eagles soar above cliffs overlooking the Provo River. The word "wow" is glued to your tongue almost every time you speak.
Those other private courses that cater to the upper crust?
You rich folks Obama wants to touch might want your money back.
Victory Ranch shoves aside even the elite and exclusive Glenwild layout near Park City. The greens at Victory Ranch embarrass the newly opened Red Ledges, whose circus putting robs good approaches and decent golf effort. Promontory and Tuhaye wish they had this landscape. Park Meadows, Entrada and Jeremy Ranch? Well, they're neat little layouts near parking lots.
Jones has designed more than a hundred courses the past 30 years. He's the man seven U.S. Open venues have used to doctor up their antiquated layouts.
Six PGA Championship sites have called him in to give CPR to their courses.
Among his notable original designs are Nantucket Golf Club, Atlantic Golf Club, The Golf Club at Briar's Creek, RedStick Golf Club, Ocean Forest Golf Club, Quintero Golf and Country Club, The Bridge and Cascata Golf Course.
A couple of Golf Digest staffers played Victory Ranch the other day. I'm guessing when the 2010 rankings come out, this Jones job easily makes the Top 10 new courses in America and it could step up as the No. 1 golf course in Utah.
Trouble is, it's private. There are now 58 members, most from out of state and just 15 are locals. Because this is part of a resort development, some real estate and marketing folks might be able to sneak you in.
You might get in if you are serious or pretend you are serious about buying a cabin or cottage lot and get the top-drawer tour. On your Rolodex, look up the somebody who knows somebody. In time, Victory Ranch, unlike Glenwild, is open to consider some public events, tournaments and even some corporate outings, but that's way down the road.
If somebody asks you to join them at Victory Ranch, and you are a serious golfer, consider yourself anointed royalty and race there, even if you risk divorce or unemployment.
"I have little doubt this will be the best course in the state," said John Beesley, director of golf, formerly at Talons Cove in Saratoga Springs.
There are tougher courses in Utah but none, even the beautiful Sand Hollow, Hobble Creek, Coral Canyon and Wasatch State Park have this typography.
When owner Bob Larsen approached Rees about designing Victory Ranch, Rees was leery about taking on a project because most simply don't have enough land to do a course justice, something around 200 acres.
"Do you have enough property," Rees asked.
Larson replied, "How will 7,000 acres do?"
The real estate here is almost endless. Because of that, the fairways stretch over two valleys and a mountain. The No. 6 par-3 has 13 tee boxes.
The No. 17 par-3 has 14 tee boxes. If you want, this plays 7,500 from the tips.
You hit it straight, you score. But every green and fairway is bunkered and protected. If you hit it in the knee-high rough, you are done. Two par-5s have first class pucker factor all the way to the putting surface.
From 17 and 18, you can see the Provo River wind through Francis from the High Unitas and glance over left and Kamas and almost Oakley. Look the other way and you clearly see Jordanelle Reservoir and Deer Valley. From the No. 17 green, and rock outcroppings, if you don't see an eagle coasting and guarding the 1,000 foot drop off to the river, ask for your money back.
The dare is on: Don't say "wow."
Rees, take a bow.
e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com