Entrada Golf Course Review

The word “Entrada” means “the best golf course for many miles” in the language of the ancient Anasazi Indians, who once inhabited the area that now incorporates the Entrada development.

We’re kidding of course.  But, there may be a sliver of truth in our jest.

Entrada actually is the Spanish word for “entrance”.  The developers choose the name Entrada as the property sits near the mouth of the spectacular Snow Canyon.   However, in some Spanish dialects, “entrada” also means “first course”, as in the first nourishment served in a meal.

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After playing a round of golf at Entrada, we think you’ll embrace the second Spanish meaning of the word.  You’ll be telling all your friends that Entrada is unquestionably the “first course” they should play when visiting southern Utah.

Golf Digest agrees.  Entrada, which opened in 1997, is ranked the “first course” of Utah.  More specifically, the #1 rated year round golf course in the state by Golf Digest Magazine.

Entrada head pro David Hall isn’t surprised by the #1 ranking.

“In must plays if we’re #1 – and we think we no doubt are – Coral Canyon is a close second,” Hall was quoted saying in an online golf blog.

Entrada has also consistently ranked highly in Zagat Survey’s America’s Top Golf Courses, in addition to other prestigious awards and recognition.

The first time you play Entrada, you’ll have a hard time concentrating on your golf game.  It’s difficult not to be distracted by the amazing scenery. It’s almost as if you’re on another planet.  Where else on earth do you get to experience the color and texture contrasts of Snow Canyon’s smooth white face against a backdrop of jagged red sandstone cliffs, with bountiful jet black, dimpled lava rocks dominating the natural floor surface?  Oh, and don’t forget the normally clear, bright blue desert sky and lush green of the golf course grass.

There are some courses in Hawaii with lava features, but not quite like Entrada.  Sister St. George golf course Sunbrook also features 9 holes that include some ancient volcanic rock, but not at the scale or magnitude of Entrada’s vista splendor.

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Entrada is simply an artist’s dream-scape.  It’s a designer’s heaven.

Most people say Entrada was fortunate to be able to entice Hall of Fame golfer, and world renowned golf course designer Johnny Miller to join the Entrada team.  I actually think it’s Miller who hit the lottery.  He was lucky to be the chosen artist to paint a golf course on the grandest of all canvases.  Make no mistake – Miller painted a master piece.

But just as in nature, what is beautiful can also be deadly.  And hungry.

The Entada golf course eats golf balls.  Bring plenty with you, you’ll need them.  It’s especially easy to lose balls on the back nine’s expansive fields of lava.  You’d think a white ball would be easy to find against black rocks, but hard golf balls tend to ricochet long, random distances post a lava collision.

Miller made Entrada a challenge.  This is no easy course, even if you play the  5400 yard tees rather than the full course length of 7262 yards from the back tees.  Entrada can be hard on your golfing confidence.  But, don’t be scared.  What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger – a stronger golfer in this case.

The green approach on more than one hole is tremendously narrow.  The putting surfaces can be slopping, speeding greens that would probably challenge Miller himself.

The 410-yard, par-4 #2 hole slivers past two lakes in the middle of the desert.  But, it’s never more apparent that Entrada isn’t an easy round when you get to the last 3 holes.  A taxing par 5, par 4, and par 4 will close your round.

The par-4 17th hole is actually the #1 handicap.  The hole starts off will a sharp dogleg left roughly 300 yards after the tees into a usually strong wind.  Once you get past the dogleg, you need to make sure you don’t land in the bunkers on both sides of the skinny putting green opening.

The par-4 18th hole is considered to be Entrada’s signature hole by many.  The 18th finishes facing an amazing view of Snow Canyon and the accompanying ring of red sandstone cliffs.

Don’t come to St. George without playing Entrada.  Heck, don’t go on a golf vacation to Las Vegas without making the 100 mile drive up I-15 to St. George.  It’s that good of a course and experience.  Seriously.

Entrada is a private country club available for members and their guests, or guests who stay at the Inn at Entrada or Lava Falls.