Utah County's Dream 18: The front nine

The Back Nine

Jack Nicklaus has two courses where he's tried to replicate what he considers some of his best-designed holes.

So when golfers play Bear's Best Atlanta and Bear's Best Las Vegas, they get to experience the Golden Bear's best in one location. It's like playing the dream 18 of Jack Nicklaus-designed courses in one layout. Those who have played either or both of these courses say it's a real treat to get the greatest hits of the legendary golfer and legendary course designer all in one round.

Surely, as golfers traverse the 11 public-access courses in Utah County, they too must imagine how fun it would be to play their favorite holes in one layout. So, imagine if you will, your favorite holes from all of the 11 local public courses, rebuilt at one location for your pleasure. You'd go from one outstanding hole to another. If we could, this is how our dream course would look.

The Front Nine

1. THANKSGIVING POINT No. 3 (308-yard par 4) — The multiple ways to play this short bunker-infested hole would make it a perfect way to begin a round of golf. It forces golfers to decide early whether they're going to play aggressive or conservative.

If golfers want to wait a hole or two before letting the big dog rip, then they can simply take out a middle iron and lay up in front of the large bunkers on the left that extend down the final 140 yards of the hole.

Or, they can be somewhat risky and hit a long iron to the narrow landing area on the fairway's right side.

Even using a driver presents a few options. You can attack the narrow opening on the green's right side, bomb away and try to drive the green or just blast a drive into the bunker in front of the green.

The narrow green with sand in the front and trouble behind makes every approach shot, regardless of distance and regardless of whether it's coming from sand or grass, a challenge. The green has a fair mix of slope that offers chances for straight uphill putts, straight downhill putts and challenging breakers.

2. FOX HOLLOW No. 15 (475-yard par 4) — There was once a time when many considered this hole as Utah County's most difficult. It's certainly one of a few that fit into that category.

What makes the hole so challenging is that a driver is almost a necessity off the tee to make the second shot manageable. But this is no easy driving hole, with the creek through the fairway straight ahead and the fairway taking a right turn once it gets past the pond on the right side.