The Hills Par-3 Course and Golf Academy
Promontory’s third course, The Hills, will usher in a new era of golf at Promontory. Fun and enjoyable for all, The Hills is a full 18-hole experience with all par-3 holes. Along with the new course, you’ll find several signature amenities, including The Hills Golf Clubhouse with Sage Italian Restaurant and outdoor patio as well as four indoor golf simulator bays with state-of-the-art Trackman technology. Cascade Greens, Promontory’s 18-hole putting course was creatively inspired by the famous Himalayas at St. Andrew, and is complemented by a full practice facility and on-range Golf Academy complete with multiple hitting bays and a TaylorMade Fitting Center. The Hills, with its well-appointed amenities, will become Promontory’s new center of golf instruction for its members.
“Fun” is the operative word at The Hills. Each hole has its own personality. Each tee shot an incredible view. Each time you step up to the tee it’s yet another chance for birdie or even the holy grail — an ace. With diversity in yardage among the holes (75 yards to nearly 240 yards), The Hills is a trek across ancient fields where lava once flowed. Today, native sagebrush defines the landscape, along with clusters of trees and flowering shrubs. The course looks wide open, yet each hole demands accuracy as it unfolds.
The view to Bald Mountain is more than just a view — it’s your general line of play as you begin your round. The straight-forward aim becomes more challenging with the bumps and moguls sprinkled across the approach. A good plan is an entrance slightly from the left as the green will not hold any shot that may be headed to the right. Running the ball up from the left is most always better here than gambling with the aerial shot that can easily run off the right or back. From down below to the right of the green, your recovery will require a well-played lob shot to a green you’re sure not to see. Named for its rather kind and hospitable ‘introduction,’ Handshake only poses a problem when you try to take on more than necessary. Play it cool.
Take note of that lone bunker guarding the left side of the green. Referred to as a ‘deception bunker,’ that seeming little pit of sand is actually well short of the green despite appearing right at the front edge. The best angle into the green is nearly always just left of this bunker, or right over it if you can stop the ball. Fall-Away does just what it says: The entire hole falls away. This may be one of the best approaches to consider the ground game. A well placed shot just above the bunker can be the trick to getting it close. Only with a game that plays right to left will you be able to weigh trying a shot in from the right.
First tip: This hole pays slightly uphill, so don’t let the short yardage get the best of you. Secondly, the green is mostly a pocket where balls tend collect toward the center. That, of course, depends on how far off-line you may be. Take note of the shelf on the green at the far back-right. A flagstick in this location will require an extra bit of length, or the consequence of having to putt up the steep slope. Notch is named for the gap formed at the green’s front edge. One needs to be careful not to toy with the surrounding slopes that create this gap and the green’s pocket design as the slopes can propel the ball in all sorts of directions. Some aren’t ideal.
The original Redan goes back to the 1800s. It graces the West Links at North Berwick Golf Club in Scotland. Named for the French word Redan, a word to describe a narrow opening, typical of the openings in castle parapets that become narrower toward the outside. These openings allow a rifle to be aimed outward, while the openings facing the enemy are but narrow slits. Such is the Redan in golf — a hole with a narrow opening, and one where incoming shots must carefully be aimed if the result is to gain any entrance at all. The typical Redan green slopes away from the player. This creates yet another demand, where you must carefully control where the ball lands. Most always a Redan will involve a shot needing to land well short of the hole location in order to give it room to roll and come to rest. At our Redan it’s typical to aim left and use the slope to work a ball to the right and onto the putting surface. Playing over the bunker at the right side is rarely a good option as the green’s slope will not allow the brakes to be applied in time. That bunker at the left — just like the original Redan — is what makes that entrance narrow. The best advice is to think about the roll-out. It can often be two clubs less to get the ball to stop near the hole. One more thing: This is our longest hole, and can be extended to 240-yards.
Biarritz, France was the home to the original green of this design — a long shaped green with a deep ‘chasm’ running across from left to right. Willie Dunn Jr., a Scottish clubmaker and professional, created the first example in 1881 at the famous Biarritz Spa on the southwest coast of France. That par-3 no longer exists, but thanks to golf pioneer Charles Blair Macdonald, the Biarritz green was brought to America just after 1900 along with many other ‘replica’ greens that Macdonald considered essential in any course. The Richardson Hills Biarritz is a downhill tee shot with bumps and native sage pop-outs that can careen or capture an unlucky bounce. The most crucial decision is based on where the flag has been set. At that flat portion of the green at the front, you will need to use the ground game and land a ball short of the green’s surface or it’s likely the ball will roll down into the Biarritz trough. At the back level, it’s a matter of gauging the tee shot so you are able to hold that back surface. If you land on the downslope of the trough, it’s anyone’s guess what may happen. Of course, the Biarritz offers a reprieve to these two more difficult ‘level’ portions of the green at front and back — that’s the actual trough itself. A hole location deep in the trough is among the easier of all. Just get the ball to find its way in and you are bound to be close.
Nearly six stories above the green, the upper tees offer one of the greatest views on the course and create one of the most dramatic tee shots. No. 6 begins what we refer to as ‘The Lower Canyon’ holes, Nos. 6, 7 and 8. These three holes share the most rugged terrain along with the finishing holes, Nos. 16, 17 and 18. Playing to an L-shaped green, the location of the hole will greatly determine your approach and strategy. The bail-out for all players is clearly to the left. From here, an up-and-down is not so difficult unless you find yourself amongst or behind the gnarly mounds. The most daunting feature of the Drop hole is the ‘garden of boulders’ that guards the right of the green and forms its L-shape. A cup location behind this natural area can be tempting, but is a real gamble. The better play to that back-right green area is to softly work a shot onto the green and allow the contours to spill the ball back and to the right.
When Forrest Richardson and design partner Jeff Danner laid out The Hills, this short hole got shifted and re-worked on several occasions. The reason? To better fit the natural terrain and, finally, to preserve the pleasant little ‘creek’ that meanders down from the hillside above. In its final form, Canyon plays anywhere from 70 to 130 yards and, depending on the tee, it will require a slightly uphill or level tee shot. Everything here rolls left. The two frontside bunkers intensify an uphill shot, so take that into account. One more bit of trivia — Canyon’s green is the smallest of all.
As the course turns back toward the clubhouse, the views become varied with backgrounds of the hills to the east and valleys to the west. Ski Slope is a delicate hole demanding a full carry to a green set into the natural hillside. The back slopes are meant to assist you, not only by stopping a ball, but also by allowing the ball to gently roll backward. The pocket of the green at front is four feet lower than the surrounding upper areas. The two bunkers at the left make hole locations anywhere near the left side a bit more thought-provoking. These are not bunkers to toy with — recovery is especially difficult.
Shortest hole — biggest green. New Moon is named for the unique feature of the green surface occurring about 30 yards past the front edge. This moon-shaped feature has been formed with stacked sod, commonly used on links courses to form ‘rivetted’ bunker walls, those near-vertical slopes that play havoc when a ball comes to rest anywhere near. The Half Moon feature is a hard-edge ‘step’ in the green that causes a ying-yang situation: Avoid it at all cost when the cup is located before the step … yet be sure to overcome it when the cup has been set past the step. If you do fall short when the cup is past the step, you may be putting over the Half Moon or to either side. The opposite situation — putting back up the hill from below the step — is hardly ideal. Best of luck. This short ‘wedge’ hole will require careful yardage calculation as the length can change by more than 80 yards depending on the tee used and where the hole has been set. Besides its namesake feature — the first-ever designed into a putting surface — Half Moon sports two deep bunkers. One stands sentry at the front of the deep green. The other waiting patiently at the back for that mis-judged shot that just keeps on rolling.
First things first. The green was designed around a natural rock outcropping at the front-left. This five-ton boulder was not about to be moved, nor did we ever want to. Today it defines the hole and sets in motion the strategy required to make par. Most all shots need to come in from the right of the boulder, for there are very small odds of defying gravity to get a ball to climb back up the slope that falls off the entire left side of the green. An approach right is able to use the hillside and slopes to work a ball back onto the green. There is, however, an exception. A small pop-out of native sagebrush waits patiently above the green to the right. Naturally, this is to be avoided. Top Shelf’s green has two levels. The upper occurring at the back-right requires careful club selection and, ideally, a left-to-right swing.
Webster defines ‘ha-ha’ as “A sunk fence, wall, or ditch, not visible till one is close upon it.” In essence, a ‘ha-ha’ wall is one set into the landscape to create two levels. On one side of the wall the ground is lower. On the upper side, the ground is flush with the top of the wall. Such is the case at No. 11 where a hand-built stone wall stretches the length of the hole. It begins just past the most forward tee, continues through the approach and then defines the right edge of the green. The green sits at the lower — left — side of the wall. The wall creates another unique feature at the Hills. Forrest Richardson first sketched the concept for Ha-ha a full year before construction began at The Hills. In anticipation of designing 18 all par-3 holes, his goal was to offer individual personalities for each hole — a goal that has eventually led to interesting tee shots where no two are exactly the same. To unlock Ha-ha’s combination you need to consider playing just right of the stone wall where the subtle slope above the wall will help guide a ball left and over the ha-ha. Should your tee shot come to rest on the upper level right of the green, a simple bump-and-run or putt is in order. Ha-ha’s green is pinched somewhat by the bunker at the front. Once you’ve played Ha-ha a few times you will have local knowledge — one of the greatest ‘member perks’ any golf course can provide.
Pete and Alice Dye’s famous Island Green at the TPC of Sawgrass wasn’t the first, but it remains today as one of the most memorable par-3 holes in all of golf. Alice Dye was the inspiration who cleverly sized the seemingly tiny green in a large lagoon. That ratio — small green in a big ‘sea’ — creates the drama and terror. At our Island we replaced water with native Utah wildflowers. Dye’s traditional wooden timber edges are appropriately native field stone collected from The Hills’ site. This short shot requires careful yardage calculation. The pot bunker at the left, if encountered, can actually be a godsend compared to the peril below. Played as a penalty area, the wildflower grounds surrounding the Island mean you’ll be re-teeing your ball or taking relief per USGA or local rules. A short but fun hole with amazing views.
A sunken green, no bunkers and a ‘mystery view’ that hides the green’s surface. At this fun hole nearly every shot will be kicked toward the center. That does not necessarily equate to ‘easy,’ but it certainly increases the chances of good luck. Punchbowl is not only mysterious, but offers hide-and-seek excitement where the occasional hole-in-one will only be witnessed by the native jackrabbit or perhaps a low-flying Clark’s Nutcracker, one of the birds that frequent The Hills.
One of the first observations at Plateau is that there is no backstop to the green. Rather, the mostly flat green sits prominently above the hillside wedged between a mound and bunker to the left, and the natural slope to the right. The green spills out to the front and also at the back. Besides that, this straight-forward (looking) hole is there for the taking. A natural sage pop-out sits above the green, so take this into account. Play here is best from the right because everything flows left. Your line from the tee will depend if you plan on landing on the green, or are counting on a running shot along the ground.
Rather long and slightly uphill. No. 15 begins our ‘Upper Canyon’ holes. These final four rise up above the clubhouse and then dramatically cascade down to a stellar finish. Named for the gaping bunker that crosses in front of the green from the left to about midway. Just right of the bunker is a natural area of sage and boulders. This area is to be avoided at all cost — even if you can find your ball, it may be unplayable. Designed as a possible ‘lay-up’ hole, No. 15 can be attacked by simply taking the hazards out of play and hitting well short to the generous approach fairway. From here a simple lob or pitch can get close to the hole and — viola! — you’re a few steps away from a par. There are two ways to run a shot up to the green: First is a super-accurate shot between the Lion’s Mouth bunker and the natural sage and rock area; the second is a carefully crafted shot to the right of the sage, and one with a curve to the left. Longer hitters can fly the trouble to reach the green. The green site at No. 15 involved very little shaping work, one of the benefits of laying out a course by walking the site over and over … and over. The result is a natural setting against the hillside and natural sage.
Named for the famous 5th hole at Lahinch, Ireland, this par-3 can play as long as 225-yards when a the hole location is set way at the back. This is our longest green (nearly 200-feet from tip to top), beginning at the left and wrapping right to an upper tier that is completely hidden among dunes-like mounds. The hallmark of the original ‘Dell’ in Ireland is a mostly concealed green set among 30 foot high dunes. The Promontory version is an elongated design that allows a multitude of yardages and different strategies. When the cup is front, your play is mostly straightforward. Aim, hit and putt. With a midway location, the entrance is not so obvious. Your route to the hole is dependent on how you play — right-to-left, or left-to-right. Take note of the ‘bowl’ created by the mounds. Your tee shot must fall within these mounds or your ball will careen off to nowhere. Bogey or more. Farther back than midway is where the fun begins. It is here in this fully hidden portion of the banana-shaped green that the hole location will begin to test the very best of players. Not only is the flagstick mostly blind from the tee, but the rise of the green will require faith upon execution. Hit away — but do so with faith. All-in-all, the Dell is a fascinating hole that can be played in many different ways. And, on any given day, it may pose an entirely different challenge.
A mere short iron, but alas golf is not ever such a simple endeavor. At No. 17 you’ll discover three greenside bunkers and a green with multiple levels and pockets. It is essential that you know exactly which level the flagstick has been set — and what exact yardage is required for that shot. Do not miss left as this is an awful spot. Try your best to avoid the bunkers as none are easy recoveries. Playing this hole is a matter of steady nerves. Take aim, and then take comfort in reaching the correct level you’ve set out to reach. Restraint is a virtue. When the hole has been set at the far edges, avoid the temptation to try for glory. Instead, aim for the center of the green.
You began aiming at Bald Mountain, and here we go again. The natural flow of holes at The Hills allows yet one more vista to the south — and a drop-shot hit to a wild green. Set just across a natural canyon, the No. 18 green is a wide expanse of undulations, sand and boulders. The stream — Rill — and waterfalls that front the green culminate with intensity into deep pools that swirl with long forgotten golf balls hit short or offline. These watery graves are no place for tee shots, so why not just play safe, take an extra club and aim slightly left? That way you’ll end up safe, have two honest putts at par — and you’ll head to the clubhouse with a smile.
