Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: At its height, The Hideout was regarded by some national magazines as the #1 public course in Utah which frankly blows my mind. The deplorable conditions, cramped hole designs, and extreme terrain combine to deliver a lackluster experience with little reason to visit unless you are in nearby Moab looking for a round. Grade C-
Quick Facts
Designer: Forrest Richardson 2001
Cost: $27 - $34 ($18 cart) Click for current rates
Phone Number: 435-298-8120
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Hideout Golf Course's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 648 S Hideout Wy, Monticello, Utah 84535 – UNITED STATES
Photos: See additional photos of Hideout Golf Course
What to Expect: Located an hour south of Moab, UT which is famous for its outdoor recreation and proximity to Arches National Park, The Hideout has long been considered a hidden gem and argued as the best public course in Utah. A true municipality owned course, The Hideout appears to be a shell of its former self. The deplorable conditioning made the course virtually unplayable at times and certainly took away from the architectural design elements that Forrest Richardson employed. Even if in prime shape, the course feels crammed into places despite having tons of acreage to work with. That is probably because it doesn't appear much dirt was moved to help counter the extreme terrain found at the high elevation site (over 7000') that features hills, ravines, a variety of tree species, and some expansive views. As a result, there are several holes where the sloping fairways will require players to layup to find safety since hitting longer shots will certainly be repelled to the weeds and trees. The course is overgrown at this point and would benefit from clearing several trees and bushes to open up the corridors and visuals. On a positive note, there are a couple of good individual holes, but as a collection the course left me wanting something better. In the end, The Hideout is a better layout than you'd expect to find in a city with less than 2,000 people residing in it, but the better option would have been to put in a short course where the terrain would be a highlight rather than a detriment to the course.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6654 | 71.1 | 134 |
| Blue | 72 | 6225 | 69.7 | 126 |
| White | 72 | 5635 | 66.8 | 120 |
| Red (Ladies) | 72 | 4895 | 67.1 | 121 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 17th Hole – 181 Yard Par 3 – A downhill one-shotter with junk to clear the entire way to the green. The elevated tee offers extensive views to the mountains beyond while an amphitheater of trees loom behind the green. The putting green is much wider than it is deep, so calculating the proper distance is paramount to success and is made more difficult by the elevation drop.
Best Par 3: 11th Hole – 170 Yards – A quaint one-shotter perched in the side of a hill, the 11th requires players to hit their tee shot over a ravine with anything coming up short being in a world of hurt. The wide green doesn't feature a lot of forgiveness depth wise, but the best option is to error long as the hill behind the putting surface can kick balls towards the flag.
Best Par 4: 18th Hole – 475 Yards – The Hideout's final hole is a quality two-shotter that plays downhill to a fairway that doglegs left. The approach shot features a creek coming in from the left and snuggling up to the green along the front and right side. It is a demanding finish that requires players to be on their game all the way home.
Best Par 5: 9th Hole – 591 Yards – The closing hole of the outward nine is a double dogleg that opens up by turning right around a grove of trees. The fairway banks back to the left with a narrow hazard crossing short of the green which is back between some trees that try to block players from reaching it in two. The tiered green ensures you'll need flatstick skills to navigate the putting surface successfully and walk off with a good score.
Birdie Time: 15th Hole – 292 Yard Par 4 – The uphill 15th doesn't even reach 300 yards and should be an opportunity for players to let the big dog eat. Drives that finish on or near the green will yield a golden opportunity to big up a birdie, players just need to be precise with their second shot considering the small size of the green.
Bogey Beware: 8th Hole – 402 Yard Par 4 – The dramatic 8th hole plays over extreme terrain that slopes hard from right to left. The wise play is to lay up to the 150 yard pole and hope that the fairway doesn't kick your ball into the neighboring ravine before hitting an approach shot from a tilted lie. A hazard crosses in front of the green as an additional obstacle to consider while coming downhill towards the target. There is no room for error during any shot on this hole.
