The five best golf courses near Salt Lake City are Thanksgiving Point Golf Club, Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Bonneville Golf Course, Mountain Dell Golf Course, and Eaglewood Golf Course — all public-access with no membership required, and green fees ranging from $50 to $125+.
Read on for a full breakdown of what makes each course worth your time, what you'll pay, and which one fits your game.
Thanksgiving Point Golf Club — Lehi
About 30 minutes south of downtown Salt Lake City in Lehi, Thanksgiving Point is the most decorated public course in the state.
Johnny Miller designed it in 1997 across more than 200 acres of mountain-desert terrain, routing the Jordan River through the property and packing in over 100 bunkers, significant elevation changes, and heavily contoured greens.
At 7,714 yards with a slope of 140 from the tips, it's one of the longest courses in Utah — and one of the toughest, with Golf Digest rating it at 77.6/145 from the back.
The signature hole is the 250-yard par-3 17th, played to a peninsula green on a 180-degree bend of the Jordan River. The closing stretch from 15 to 18 is widely considered one of the best finishing sequences in the state, and the course also features a 678-yard par 5 and a 495-yard par 4.
Ratings and recognition:
- Utah's #1 public course — Golf Digest
- Top 10 new courses in the U.S. upon opening — Golf Digest
- Host of the Korn Ferry Tour's Utah Championship and a Champions Challenge featuring Jack Nicklaus, John Daly, and Gary Player
Green fees run $79–$100 on most days, climbing past $125 at peak summer weekends thanks to dynamic pricing.
Multiple tee options make it playable for all skill levels, though it's best suited to intermediate and advanced golfers. Book through thanksgivingpointgolfclub.com or call (801) 768-7401.
Soldier Hollow Golf Course — Midway
About 40 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City in the Heber Valley, Soldier Hollow sits within Wasatch Mountain State Park at roughly 5,600–6,000 feet.
Gene Bates designed the 36-hole complex on the same ground that hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics cross-country skiing and biathlon events — and the terrain shows.
Opened in 2004, it's a Utah State Parks facility, which means well-maintained conditions at rates that undercut most comparable mountain courses.
The two courses play quite differently:
- Gold Course — 7,719 yards, par 72, slope 141. Dramatic elevation changes on nearly every hole, fast greens, and a layout that demands shot-shaping. Best for intermediate to advanced players. Hosted the U.S. Amateur Public Links twice, including 2012.
- Silver Course — ~7,355 yards, par 72, with wider fairways, a more open parkland feel, and sweeping Mount Timpanogos views. Manageable for all skill levels.
Golf Digest has recognized the Gold as “Best in State” and ranked it 14th in Utah for 2025/26. GolfWeek lists it among the top 50 best public-access courses in the country.
Non-resident green fees are $90 for 18 holes with cart included — strong value given the quality and setting. Utah residents pay less, and twilight rates are available. Book through the official Utah State Parks site at stateparks.utah.gov — avoid soldierhollowgolf.com, which currently appears compromised.
Bonneville Golf Course — Salt Lake City
Bonneville opened on May 24, 1929, making it one of Salt Lake City's oldest courses. The original layout came from William Henry Tucker, with the second nine later redesigned by William Bell — and the result is a 6,872-yard, par-72 parkland course that plays harder than its slope of 125 suggests. It sits in the foothills near the University of Utah at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, just 5 to 10 minutes from downtown.
The terrain is hilly, with mature trees, several holes crossing a deep ravine, and fast bent-grass greens that are the course's biggest challenge.
The 470-yard par-4 9th is the signature hole, and the 18th is widely regarded as one of the best finishing holes in the state. Walking is strenuous at altitude, so a cart is worth the extra $20 per rider.
At $50 for 18 holes, it's hard to argue with the value. Bonneville is a regular qualifying site for the Utah State Amateur and consistently rated the best municipal course in the city. Book at slc-golf.com/bonneville or call (801) 583-9513.
Mountain Dell Golf Course — Parleys Canyon
Fifteen minutes east of Salt Lake City off I-80, Mountain Dell is a 36-hole municipal facility sitting at around 6,000 feet in Parleys Canyon — making it one of the cooler summer escapes in the area.
The two courses share the same $50/18-hole municipal pricing as Bonneville but offer a very different experience from each other.
- Canyon Course (1962) — 6,787 yards, par 72. The tighter, hillier of the two, climbing nearly 400 feet through the canyon. It's the more demanding layout and the better test for stronger players.
- Lake Course (1991) — Routes around Mountain Dell reservoir with dramatic carries over ravines and water. Bent-grass greens, slope of 133, and arguably the more scenic of the two.
What sets Mountain Dell apart from most municipal courses is the setting. Moose, deer, elk, and eagles are regular sights on the course, and late September through October brings peak fall foliage that makes it one of the most visually striking rounds you can play near the city.
With 4.5 stars across over 1,091 reviews, it's consistently one of the most popular public courses in Salt Lake City. Book at slc-golf.com/mountaindell or call (801) 582-3812.
Eaglewood Golf Course — North Salt Lake
Just 10 to 15 minutes north of downtown, Eaglewood is the highest-rated course on this list — 4.7 stars across nearly 1,900 reviews — and at $42 to $56 for 18 holes, it's also the best value for the experience you get.
Keith Foster designed it in 1994 on the Wasatch foothills, and the Great Salt Lake views from the mountainside layout are genuinely hard to beat.
At 6,772 yards with a par of 71 and slope of 123, the numbers look approachable — but narrow, tree-lined fairways and fast, often double-tiered greens keep things honest.
Accuracy matters more than distance here. Moose, deer, and bald eagles make regular appearances, adding to what most players describe as a country-club feel at a public-course price.
The standout hole is the par-3 8th, nicknamed “Hangtime” — an elevated tee shot to a downhill green nearly surrounded by water. It's the kind of hole you'll remember long after the round.
A few extras worth knowing: the Trackman outdoor driving range stays lit until 10 PM through October, and the facility includes indoor simulators if the weather turns. Book at eaglewoodgolf.com or call (801) 299-0088.
How to Pick the Right Course (And Book It Smart)
If you're trying to match a course to your priorities, here's a straightforward breakdown:
- Best championship experience: Thanksgiving Point for the Johnny Miller design and collection of par 3s, or Soldier Hollow Gold for Olympic-legacy mountain golf with cart included.
- Best value close to downtown: Bonneville or Mountain Dell — both $50 for 18 holes, both within 15 minutes of the city.
- Best scenery on a budget: Eaglewood at $42–$56, with the highest guest ratings of the five.
On the booking side, a few things worth keeping in mind. Weekend tee times at Soldier Hollow and Thanksgiving Point fill up fast in summer — book as early as the window allows. If your priority is price, Monday through Thursday and twilight slots offer the best rates across all five courses.
Two things most golfers overlook: greens aeration and altitude. Avoid booking in the weeks right after a course aerates — the greens will be noticeably slower and punchier than normal.
And at 4,200 to 6,000 feet, the ball flies meaningfully farther than at sea level, so plan to club down at least one, sometimes two clubs depending on the shot.
Conclusion
Whether you're after a championship test at Thanksgiving Point or Soldier Hollow, classic municipal golf at Bonneville or Mountain Dell, or scenic value at Eaglewood, all five courses are open to the public with no membership needed.
Peak season fills up fast, so the sooner you book, the better your options.
