Ivins, Utah (June 2, 2025) – Black Desert Resort’s Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith-designed golf course has been named to Golf Digest’s newly posted “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” ranking and to Golfweek’s just released “Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” ranking. Black Desert is number 35 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and number 34 on Golfweek’s prestigious “Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” ranking. Golfweek raters also ranked Black Desert the number one golf course in Utah in their “Best Courses You Can Play,” state-by-state rankings, while placing Black Desert number 96 on the publication’s “Top 200 Modern Courses” list. An image of Black Desert’s beautiful first hole graces the cover of Golfweek’s Best 2025 issue.
"From the beginning, our vision was to build a course that could stand alongside the best in the world—not just in design, but in experience,” said Patrick Manning, Managing Partner of Black Desert Resort. “To be named among the top public courses by both Golf Digest and Golfweek just two years after opening is a testament to the incredible team behind Black Desert. This recognition reflects not just the course, but the culture we’re building here in Southern Utah."
Home of the PGA TOUR’s Black Desert Championship (Oct 23-26) and the LPGA Tour’s Black Desert Championship (May 1-4), Black Desert Resort golf course opened for play on May 27, 2023, and soon after was recognized as one of the Best New Courses of 2023 by Golf Digest. Black Desert debuted at No. 22 on Golfweek’s 2023 ranking of the Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S., and at No. 26 on Golfweek’s 2023 ranking of the Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. With fairways and greens chiseled out of ancient black lava fields, set against a breathtaking red rock mountain backdrop, Black Desert is the final golf course designed by the legendary Tom Weiskopf before his passing in August 2022. The course features ancient basalt rock formations artfully integrated into the landscape, creating a striking contrast with the lush green fairways.
Golf Digest’s rankings are based on tens of thousands of evaluations submitted by their traveling course-ranking panelists and are a reflection of the architectural merits of each course. Meanwhile, Golfweek’s team of course 800 raters surveys more than 3,600 courses – grading each nominated course on the basis of Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation. Collectively, these knowledgeable raters have turned in more than 75,000 votes to compile Golfweek’s Best Courses lists. Ballots submitted by Golfweek raters during their visits over the prior year compiled the current rankings of the ‘Best Courses You Can Play’ in each state
The daily fee golf experience and service at Black Desert is five star, with 12-minute tee time intervals, food and beverage included with green fees, as well as high-tech carts with GPS and well-stocked coolers. CADDIEMASTER forecaddies are also included with every group, taking service levels to the next level, matched only by the property’s awe-inspiring natural surroundings and incredible Weiskopf design.
About Black Desert Resort
Set amidst the vermillion sandstone cliffs and striking black lava beds of Greater Zion, Black Desert Resort is poised to become a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and Southern Utah adventure. Black Desert Resort is anchored by a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, which will host annual events on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. The initial phase of the Resort Center is set to be complete this September, including nearly 800 rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, beach oasis, and 45,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space. Future phases will include a water park, more rooms and suites, and many more dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Spanning over 600 acres of scenic landscape, Black Desert Resort offers easy access to 200+ acres of preserved land and six miles of hiking trails. To learn more, visit www.blackdesertresort.com.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 940-plus locations in 45-plus states and 40-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com