Remarkable Hole 6 (credit Brian Orr)

Coral Canyon Golf Course:

A Tough Test Amid the Beauty of Southern Utah.

Posted by: Rick Parnham

The City of Washington, Utah, is home to one of the more challenging layouts found along the Red Rock Golf Trail. Coral Canyon is located at the I-15 exit for State Road 9 leading to the interior of the state where Zion and Utah's other world famous National Parks are found. Situated in a valley north of the city and  surrounded by the peaks of Pine Valley to the north and the red rock formations east and south,  the wind-swept setting is filled with desert scrub and vast grassy waste areas.

This Keith Foster design measures a lengthy 7200 yards from the tips, providing a stern test of any player's ability, regardless of which tees are selected. The elevation changes of the property are well incorporated in the routing, creating a nice flow consisting of flat holes with island fairways amid the grasses and desert washes  and holes traversing the hillsides presenting terrific views of the course and surrounding landscapes.

Location: Washington, Utah

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: Coral Canyon

Feature Holes Descriptions:

The most notable hole on the routing is quite likely the par 3 sixth. An exacting test playing uphill and across a steep ravine, the off-road golf cart experience of finding the back tees is almost worth the green fee itself. Playing 225 yards from the tips, the green sits behind a deep rock-filled canyon fronted by red boulders. The miss is long so take an extra club as anything hit short will bounce off the rocks as if you're playing pinball. Hole 8 is a short par 4 with plenty of risk / reward options. Slightly over 300 yards long from the tips, the fairway meanders around a hillside to a green split by a ridge, creating two distinct tiers.

Vast Desert Landscape

The finishing stretch of holes creates a couple chances for birdies should you still have your game in fine form after the lengthy carries and tough greens. Number 16 is a gentle uphill par 5 that plays back toward the white mountains in the distance. A framing bunker on the right is your target.  A red rock outcropping pushes the fairway right to left. The green is protected by one green side bunker on the right and another on the left that is 30 yards short and which will swallow anything tugged a little short. The front of the green has a hog's back rise that funnels everything down to the green with the putting service canting right to left. With very little room to miss long, the approach is an exacting shot regardless of the pin placement. The 17th is another lengthy par 3 with the back tees cut on the side of a desert ridge. The downhill tee-shot plays into a green with a raised tongue ridge in the middle requiring close attention to which side of the ridge the pin is located. Unless you hit it tight, a tough putt awaits.

Course Stats:

Coral Canyon is unique on the Red Rock Trail.  Situated in a valley with very little development adjacent to the fairways, the course gives a pure golf feel without the backyards and driveways in sight.  Lengthy and challenging, playing forward here is a wise option for players of all abilities.  Perfectly situated for travelers on their way to Zion or north to Salt Lake, Coral Canyon is a perfect locale to be tested on a St. George visit.

Drive Times: St. George Airport 20 mins, Las Vegas 2 hrs, Salt Lake City 4 hrs 15 mins.

Contact:

Coral Canyon

1925 N. Canyon Greens Dr.,

Washington, UT

84780

(435) 688-1700

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