Best Public Golf Courses in Salt Lake City - GRIPIT Guide

By GRIPIT Golf Society  |  Local Golf  |  8 min read  |  Keywords: best public golf courses Salt Lake City, muni golf SLC, Salt Lake City golf guide, public golf Utah

Salt Lake City doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a golf destination. Dramatic mountain backdrops, more than 200 days of sunshine a year, and a collection of public courses that punch well above their weight. Whether you’re a local looking for your next regular track or a visitor with a free afternoon, SLC’s public golf scene has something for every level and every budget.

At GRIPIT Golf Society — born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley — we’ve played them all. Here’s our honest, no-nonsense guide to the best public courses in the city.

1. Bonneville Golf Course — East Bench

Bonneville is the crown jewel of SLC’s municipal golf system and home to the annual Salt Lake City Open. Perched on the east bench of the valley with stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains, it plays longer and trickier than the card suggests. Tree-lined fairways, sloped greens, and a layout that rewards smart course management over raw power.

•  Par: 72

•  Yardage: 6,813 from the tips

•  Best for: Competitive players, serious muni golfers

•  GRIPIT Take: This is where you find out if your game is as good as you think it is. Spoiler: it’s not. But you’ll come back.

2. Forest Dale Golf Course — Sugarhouse

The oldest golf course in Utah and one of the most beloved. Forest Dale is a shorter, tighter track that rewards precision over distance. Mature trees create a canopy feel that makes you forget you’re in the middle of the city. Perfect for a quick round after work or a relaxed weekend nine.

•  Par: 36 (9 holes)

•  Yardage: 2,958

•  Best for: Quick rounds, beginners, golfers who like a wooded layout

•  GRIPIT Take: Don’t be fooled by the yardage. Forest Dale will humble you if you’re not paying attention.

3. Mountain Dell Golf Course — Parley’s Canyon

Twenty minutes from downtown and worth every minute of the drive. Mountain Dell offers two 18-hole courses carved through a stunning canyon setting — the Lake Course and the Canyon Course. Dramatic elevation changes, mountain views, and conditions that hold up well through the season make this one of the most scenic public rounds in the state.

•  Par: 71 (Lake) / 72 (Canyon)

•  Best for: Golfers who want a mountain experience without leaving the valley

•  GRIPIT Take: Book the Canyon Course for your first visit. Save the Lake Course for when you want to feel even more challenged.

4. Wingpointe Golf Course — Near the Airport

Links-style golf in the desert. Wingpointe is wide open, wind-exposed, and plays differently every single day depending on what’s blowing in off the Great Salt Lake. Underrated by locals, loved by golfers who appreciate a course that demands creativity and shot-shaping.

•  Par: 72

•  Yardage: 7,103 from the tips

•  Best for: Long hitters, wind game practitioners, golfers who want to feel like they’re in Scotland without the flight

•  GRIPIT Take: Check the wind forecast before you book. You’ve been warned.

5. Jordan River Golf Course — South Salt Lake

The most accessible and beginner-friendly course on this list. Jordan River is a solid 9-hole track that doesn’t intimidate and doesn’t break the bank. Great for introducing someone to the game, a quick after-work nine, or a casual round when you don’t want to think too hard.

•  Par: 36 (9 holes)

•  Best for: Beginners, casual golfers, budget-conscious rounds

•  GRIPIT Take: Perfect entry point into SLC public golf. Nobody’s judging your swing here.

The GRIPIT Verdict

Salt Lake City’s public golf scene is genuinely underrated on a national level. You’ve got mountain golf, canyon golf, links golf, and classic parkland golf all within 30 minutes of downtown — most of it at muni prices that would make a golfer in any major coastal city weep with envy.

At GRIPIT Golf Society, this is our backyard. We’re proud of it. And we think it’s time the rest of the golf world paid attention.

GRIPIT Golf Society — Born in Salt Lake City. Built for Every Golfer. Shop local at GRIPIT.Golf