Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Black Desert in Utah set to open Tom Weiskopf’s final design

Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, will open a new golf course on 27 May. The layout is a design by Phil Smith and the late Tom Weiskopf.

The eighteen-hole course has been built among black lava fields below Southern Utah’s red rock mountains.

Playability was one priority for the designers, with most of Black Desert’s fairways being 70 to 100 yards wide. The course also features two driveable par fours – the fifth and fourteenth holes.

Watch: A hole-by-hole flyover tour of the course, narrated by Tom Weiskopf.

The resort opened nine holes for preview play in November, as the remaining nine grew in. An 85-yard par-three nineteenth hole, set beside a lake, will open later this year.

Heritage Links was responsible for construction and installed an AquaFuse by CMF Global irrigation system, designed by GPS Golf As-Built Design.

Black Desert Resort has been developed by Reef Capital Partners and the project includes a 150-room hotel, walking trails, a wellness spa, retail and restaurant areas, 32 estate lots, and shops.

“Black Desert Resort is located at the convergence of three unique landscapes – jet-black lava beds, towering red rock cliffs of Zion National Park, and Utah’s beautiful Mohave Desert,” said Jared Lucero, CEO of Reef Capital. “The emerald fairways and greens laced among the lava fields are set against the red rock backdrop, making for an awe-inspiring golf setting.”

Troon will manage golf operations and agronomy at Black Desert. The resort will also be the home for the Dixie State University golf teams.

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Slideshow HTML
  • Black Desert
    Brian Oar

    An eighteen-hole golf course designed by the late Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith will open for play on 27 May at Black Desert Resort in Utah

  • Black Desert
    Brian Oar

    The layout has been built near the site’s ancient black lava fields

  • Black Desert
    Brian Oar

    Most of Black Desert’s fairways are 70 to 100 yards wide

  • Black Desert
    Brian Oar

    The course sits below the Southern Utah’s red rock mountains

  • Black Desert
    Brian Oar

    Several holes feature expansive bunkering

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Brian Oar
Richard Humphreys

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