Saturday, April 21, 2012

Sun Valley Resort to Open Nine Holes on Trail Creek Golf Course This Weekend


(SUN VALLEY, ID) - Sun Valley Resort plans to open the front nine holes of its Trail Creek golf course, weather permitting, April 21.

Trail Creek’s back nine holes and sister course White Clouds’ nine holes will open soon thereafter.  Elkhorn Golf Club, Sun Valley’s newly-acquired 18-hole course, is scheduled to open in early or mid-May.

The driving ranges and practice facilities at the courses opened this past weekend for the entire golf season.  Hours of operation from April 14 to April 21 are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mild weather this spring season allowed for one of the earliest openings in recent memory.

“We’re thrilled Mother Nature is affording golfers a head start to the golf season,” says Rick Hickman, Director of Golf Operations at Sun Valley.  “The courses’ conditions are pristine and golfers’ adrenalines are high as they shoot for their personal best scores.”

Part of the excitement is that of the iconic Sun Valley Resort grew to 45 holes last summer with the acquisition of Elkhorn that is within walking distance of Trail Creek and White Clouds.

This spring, traveling golfers in record numbers are booking Sun Valley’s unlimited golf package.  It includes sun-up to sun-down rounds on all three courses, preferred tee times, free play on the resort’s renowned 18-hole Sawtooth Putting Course, complimentary transfers to and from the courses and nightly accommodations.

Other golf packages start at $119, including lodging.  Season golf passes are available as are privileges for meetings and convention groups.

Sun Valley courses are lauded as “must plays” on Conde Nast Traveler’s esteemed “Top Golf Resorts” list with exceedingly high ratings from magazine readers for course design, speed of play, accommodations, service, food and dining, and other facilities.

About Sun Valley Golf Courses

* Trail Creek is one of Golf Digest’s “Top 75 Resort Courses” in North America.  Consistently delivering enjoyable and challenging rounds for golfers of all abilities, the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed traditional alpine layout features a full complement of stream carries and ominous bunkers well positioned to catch errant shots.  Crystal blue skies and majestic views of the surrounding mountains throughout the 18-hole, 6,968-yard, par-72 course also keep golfers returning.

* White Clouds opened in 2008 to rave reviews.  In contrast to Trail Creek, the nine-hole, 3,605-yard, par-36 course of alpine-links style tests golfers’ mettles with sand trap shots, side-hill lies, risk-reward decision-making and blind shots – not to mention the 637-yard, par-5 No. 5 hole.  Adding to the drama, White Clouds is perched at 6,000 feet for stunning, 360-degree views of Pioneer, Boulder and Smokey mountains.  Ernest Hemingway’s house can be seen along golfers’ journeys.

The course also overlooks the 58,000-square-foot Sun Valley Club that is open to the public with a restaurant, bar, wrap-around terraces, pro shop, locker rooms, club storage, club rental and indoor golf simulators.  A new 25-acre, state-of-the-art practice facility, the wildly popular 18-hole Sawtooth Putting Course and PGA instruction augment golfers’ memorable experiences.

* Elkhorn was created in 1974 by the famous father-son design team of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Robert Trent Jones, Jr.  After an extensive renovation in 2004, the club re-opened as private.  Upon Sun Valley’s acquisition last July, members as well as resort and select other guests enjoy the large, undulating greens, a front nine renowned for its hills and a back nine for water hazards on eight holes.  Despite its 7,214 yards from the championship tees and more than 100 sand traps and bunkers, the par 72 Elkhorn provides the perfect blend of bark and benevolence for experienced and novice golfers, respectively.  An upscale, 16,000-square-foot clubhouse boasts a restaurant and bar with patio seating and large TVs for game-day cheer as well as relaxation.

For more information about Sun Valley Resort: www.sunvalley.com, 800.786.8259.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

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