This weekend is the annual Jazz Festival at Deer Valley. (http://www.parkcityjazz.org/) The headline acts for this year’s festival are Blues Traveler, Big Bad Vodoo Daddy and the Rippingtons. This three day event runs Friday through Sunday at the amphitheatre in Deer Valley. Also performing at the festival will be the Park City High School Jazz Band. The Park City High School Jazz Band is quite well know and has won numerous awards throughout the state and the country. The outdoor amphitheatre in Deer Valley is a terrific venue for concerts, located at the base of the resort with excellent views of the local mountains. As you can see from the headline acts, the festival is not a pure jazz festival, but a combination of jazz and blues. If you are an aficionado of jazz or blues, this annual event should be on your calendar of must “to dos”.The various golf course communities around the Park City area continue to flourish. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to play at the Glenwild Golf Course, designed by Tom Fazio. The Glenwild course is an 18-hole championship course, set in a beautiful valley just to the north of Park City, with spectacular views of the Wasatch Range. The clubhouse at Glenwild is arguably the most beautiful of all the clubhouses around the area, with outdoor dining overlooking the golf course with views of all three Park City ski resorts. While Glenwild does offer a pool and tennis courts, the emphasis is certainly on the golf. Our Glenwild is a small community which is just about completely sold out, offering only re-sale lots and custom homes.
Last week I was at the Promontory Golf Course showing homes to a prospective buyer. Promontory has two golf courses, a Pete Dye Championship Course and the newly completed Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. I have not had the opportunity to play the Nicklaus Course yet, but word has it that is probably the best course in the state. Promontory differs from Glenwild in that, while golf is certainly the major attraction, it is not their only focus. Promontory has a wonderful spa/clubhouse with an indoor/outdoor pool adjoining a Children’s Center and a Members Clubhouse. Promontory also features an equestrian center, tennis courts and many miles of hiking/biking trails. Come winter the center court of the tennis facility converts to an ice skating rink and the hiking/biking trails convert to cross country ski trails. Promontory has made a conscious effort to offer recreational activities for the entire family. Promontory expects to start its third course this next summer which will be an Executive Course.
Tuhaye, one of the newest courses in town, features a Mark O’Meara Signature Course and is situated just to the east of Park City. Along with the golf pro shop, Tuhaye has completed it spa and fitness center with an outdoor pool and poolside café. This past Sunday I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon at the Tuhaye pool overlooking the golf course with views up to Deer Valley. We decided that the views from the Tuhaye pool are the best of the three resort spas. Next in works for Tuhaye will be the Members Clubhouse and a 9-hole Executive Course. Tuhaye also has plans for an 18-hole Fazio Championship Course.
Just under way in the neighboring town of Heber is a new golf course community called Red Ledges. Red Ledges is also featuring a Nicklaus Signature Course and offers incredible views of Mt. Timpanogos. The course is well under way and at least 9 holes should be open by next summer. Currently Red Ledges is selling home sites and will soon be offering patio homes for sale as well.
As with many ski resort towns, Park City is going through a change from strictly a ski town to a Four-Seasons Resort and Golf Mecca. If you are a golf enthusiast, high altitude golf is extremely enjoyable as the thinner air allows us to feel like John Daly. The local courses should be open well into October so make plans to come out and visit us and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.
