Remodeled 'Fox Hollow' golf course impresses

AMERICAN FORK — Imagine having three bosses. Three employers who have their own mindset and, when they send out memos or call you on the phone, you have to listen and respond and try not to get whiplash.

Crazy.

Add to the fact your bosses are politicians and money is involved. Mayhem.

Try being the head golf professional at Fox Hollow, formerly Tri City Golf Course, a property owned by Pleasant Grove, American Fork and Lehi.

That's the life of Rick Roberts: "Hey, it's Pleasant Grove Mayor Mike Daniels on the line. Oh, Rick ... can you take a call from American Fork Mayor Heber Thompson? And when you're through, could you answer this cell phone call from Lehi's Mayor Howard Johnson?"

But one night these community leaders all got in the same room and knocked out a plan to pour $4.5 million into Tri City and rename it Fox Hollow. They splurged a little by approving the Taj Mahal of Utah clubhouses.

Outside of The Ledges in St. George, you won't find a more beautiful golf clubhouse anywhere in Utah — even at private country clubs. Thanksgiving Point may have just come in third.

And that is the idea, said Roberts.

A beautiful stone-and-woodwork structure, complete with tile-and-rock walkways and nearly one-half-acre of a waterfall and pool landscaping, this building has a custom metal roof and giant banquet room fit for hosting weddings and corporate events. The pro shop is spacious, and the snack bar deals out a mean cheeseburger.

Fox Hollow just threw out the gauntlet for munis in Utah. Sleepy Ridge has designs for a giant clubhouse with combination office suites and a reception area, and who knows when Cedar Hills will shake off financial challenges and lay some brick. But so far, both are working out of trailers.

"We're barely into the clubhouse 10 days ago," said Roberts, "and play has been through the roof and people are loving it, it's been amazing. All you have to do is walk through it and, short of The Ledges, nobody can touch us."

The most pleasing aspect for Roberts, however, even more impressive than three cities getting on the same page, is the response he got from builders on the project because many of them donated time and labor and are going beyond the contract to apply spit and polish to the clubhouse.