Golf Course of the Week: Sun Hills

SUN HILLS

Location: 3185 N. Northhills Drive, Layton

Directions: From south, exit I-15 at Hwy 89, go 10 miles north to State Road 193, go west 2 miles, turn right at Northhills Drive. From north, exit I-15 at Clearfield exit 336, go approximately 4 miles east.

Head Professional: Jeff Jerman (director)

Superintendent: Brody Jerman

Course Designer: Bruce Summerhays

Year Opened: 1996

Cost: $11, $22 Srs., Jrs. $8, $16 M-F carts $5 per player per nine, range $4, $6

Reservations: 771-4814, 7 days in advance, Mon. for weekend

Easiest time to get on: Weekday mornings

Course record: 63, Barry Schenk, Vaughn Robinson

Course description: Owned by Japanese investor Takashi Morishita and situated on the southeast side of Hill Air Force Base, Sun Hills has been called a "poor man's Valley View" after the popular course down the road. It's not as tough as Valley View, but it has the same rolling terrain and is a well-manicured layout. The layout is fairly wide open and there are just three lakes that don't come into play much. From the tips, the course plays just 6,550 and a comfortable 6,012 from the middle. A lot of folks may not be aware of the course because of its location, but it usually isn't too crowded and sits in a peaceful environment, except when the jets from nearby Hill AFB are flying. On weekday mornings, you can play 18 holes for $25, including a cart.

Holes to remember: The par-3 No. 3 hole is long from every tee, ranging from 184 yards from the front to 231 from the back, and slicers must beware of the out-of-bounds fence down the right side. The par-4 7th is a right-angle dogleg left with houses (hopefully) keeping golfers from trying to cut the corner too much. On the back side, the par-3 13th is a pretty downhill hole with a lake on the left, and the par-4 17th is a fun downhiller with a small lake and two bunkers guarding a green that some folks may try to drive.

Difficulty: OOO

Layout: OOO

Scenery: OOO

Enjoyability: OOO

Hole Par Yards*

1 4 380

2 4 351

3 3 206

4 4 355

5 5 487

6 3 151

7 4 341

8 3 143

9 5 473

Out 35 2887

10 4 336

11 4 428

12 4 376

13 3 176

14 5 470

15 3 124

16 5 493

17 4 372

18 4 350

In 36 3125

TOTAL 71 6012

*Middle tees