Utah course may host USGA event

The Soldier Hollow Golf Course is making a push to host the first USGA event in the history of the state.

Chris Newson, the head pro at Soldier Hollow, said his course is in the running for the 2013 U.S. Public Links tournament. Newson is leaving for Norman, Okla., today and will attend next week's Public Links tournament and meet with USGA officials.

Utah is one of just three states that has never hosted a USGA event, along with New Hampshire and Alaska, and the USGA would like to add Utah to its list of tournament sites.

"The USGA has been to the site and (the officials) were very impressed with the Gold Course," Newson said. "The USGA believes the (Heber) valley would be a good fit and is anxious to get a tournament in Utah."

Newson said the selection won't be made for another six to eight months. Hosting a USGA event is not cheap with the host site expected to come up with as much as $200,000 for food transportation and other costs.

In the past, Utah has been close to getting the U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Team Championship at the Salt Lake Country Club.

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