News

Time Flies! Sunbrook No Longer a Teenager

My how time flies! Sunbrook Golf Course is no longer a teenager.

When it was born 20 years ago (1990) it  became the crown jewel of what was then a fast  growing stable of courses owned by St. George City  and earned national recognition in the golf magazines  of the day.

It is a beautifully designed 18-hole golf course by well-known architect Ted Robinson. Those nines have been named Woodbridge and The Pointe.

In 1995 another nine was added with John Harbottle as the architect and it became known as the Lava Rock nine.  The three separate nines each have distinctive features for which they received their names.

The Woodbridge name is derived from the wood bridge on the par four fifth hole. It is a demanding hole with the river on the left influencing your drive, and a creek between you and the hole on the second shot. The preceding hole is the island green par three. Woodbridge is the longest of the three nines by about 100 yards.

The Pointe is named after its short par four fifth hole where the green sits out on the point of a ledge. The green is driveable, but high risk, and has a safety valve layup shot as a wise alternative. The Pointe has several other marvelous holes and is the best of the nines.

The Black Rock nine is named after its four difficult holes surrounded by unforgiving Black Lava Rock. This is a narrow demanding nine holes of golf. Hit it straight. The elevation of the course is 2500 feet, give or take a few hundred feet during play.

As with most courses in Utah a high percentage of golfers rent carts. For the few walkers all three nines at Sunbrook are walkable. The second hole on both The Pointe and the third hole at Woodbridge are uphill par fives, and are a bit of a tug. The distance between greens and tees are also reasonable for walking throughout the course.

The club house is very functional with a well-stocked pro shop, a comfortable eating place, and well located cart storage that is very accessible to the cart staging area.

The practice areas are close to the clubhouse and starting tees. The driving range has some limits and is mat only during the winter months. The putting green is very good. There is also a practice area for bunker shots and chipping.

There are two distinct pricing seasons. Prime time is during the winter months when many Utah golfers head south for the winter either full time, or for short weekend trips. It has also become a destination golf location for golfers from throughout the nation.

During the winter months, October through May, the rates are $65 and includes cart.  During the summer months, June through September, the rates are $40 including carts.

In its 24 years Sunbrook has known only one head pro. Reed McArthur, who was recently named Professional of the Year by the Utah PGA, has been the head pro from the beginning. His 24 years puts him near the top in longevity of original head pros at new golf courses.

McArthur also serves as the head golf coach at Dixie College and has had remarkable success in just three short years in that position. The team won the Western Washington Invitational. And reached NCAA Western Regionals last year. The assistant professionals are Eron Demind and Tyler Dalton.

The superintendent is Jerome Jones, and he has been at the course for about nine years. His two assistants are Ken Steed and Joe Manumaleuna.

The non-pro staffers in the pro shop are Mitch McArthur, and food services is managed by Susie McArthur.  Volunteers are Ken Markowski, Jess Barnes, Terry Larsen, Mike Carey, Jerry Cain, Stan Dunbar, and Brian Heuer.

Men’s Club president is Duane Beck and the Women’s Club president is Alice Fijimura.

Reigning club champions are Pat Mooney and Sandy Gallaher.

Sunbrook has been the sole sight of the UGA Two Man Championship, which is coming up again this weekend, and has often hosted the UGA Winterchamps. It also hosts the Sunbrook Amateur, Sunbrook Best Ball Scramble in October, and a three-man Scramble in December. It has also hosted the annual Dixie Celebrity Classic on numerous occasions.

The course is open to group outings.

The ratings and slopes for the three nines are: The Pointe

Black- 36.2, 136

Gold- 35.4, 129

Silver- 34.4, 126

Bronze- 35.1, 120

Woodbridge

Black- 36.9, 130

Gold- 36.0, 129

Silver- 35.1, 124

Bronze- 35.1, 127

Black Rock

Black- 36.0, 133

Gold- 34.8, 131

Silver- 34.2, 122

Bronze- 34.3, 116

The combination ratings are as follows: The Pointe-Woodbridge

Black- 73.1, 133

Gold- 71.4, 129

Silver- 69.7, 125

Bronze- 70.2, 124

The Pointe-Black Rock

Black- 72.2, 135

Gold- 70.1, 131

Silver- 68.7, 123

Bronze- 69.3, 118

Black Rock-Woodbridge

Black- 72.9, 132

Gold- 70.9, 130

Silver- 69.3, 123

Bronze- 69.4, 121 <br>