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After 60 years, professional golf is returning to Utah.
The PGA Tour has decided to follow suit with the LPGA and add a stop in the Beehive State. In 2024, Utah's Black Desert Resort will join the ranks of storied PGA courses like Pebble Beach and Augusta National by hosting a FedEx Cup competition. The biggest names in golf will descend upon Ivins to compete at the brand-new resort set against a backdrop of Utah's famous red rock.
If you're not familiar with the golf world, this is a very big deal. Utah Governor Spencer Cox emphasized the importance at a press conference in St. George announcing this milestone.
"To get the best golfers in the world here, that's something we haven't been able to do. And now we're doing it," Cox told St. George News. "I mean, a year from now we're going to have the best golfers in the world right here in Utah. To have Black Desert be a special place that can host both [the PGA and LPGA] is something really special for southern Utah."
About the Black Desert Championship
Both the LPGA and PGA events will bear the same name: the Black Desert Championship. The date of the event is yet to be determined but it will be part of FedEx Cup Fall, meaning fans can expect the competition to debut sometime during autumn 2024.
PGA Tour President Tyler Dennis said, "In introducing the PGA Tour – and the LPGA the following year – to a new market, we look forward to collaborating with the Black Desert Resort team in their vision for professional golf in the Greater Zion community. Competitively, our members will enjoy the challenges and incredible views that define the Black Desert Golf Course."
It is the first time PGA Tour golf will be played in Utah since 1963, when the state hosted the Utah Open Invitational.
The 2024 Black Desert Championship will be televised on Golf Channel, Peacock and PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+. Worldwide exposure from the Black Desert Championships is expected to shine a light on southern Utah's fabulous golf scene and bring visitors and fans from all over the globe.
A stunning course in Southern Utah
Black Desert Resort stands alone in its unique aesthetic—lush emerald fairways surrounded by ancient black lava fields, all set against a stunning backdrop of Southern Utah red rock.
Famed golf course designer Tom Weiskopf created the par-72 course that prioritizes playability, featuring generously wide fairways ranging from 70 to 100 yards. Notably, Weiskopf's signature touch brings strategic elements and risk-reward choices into play with two drivable par 4s—the 5th and 14th holes.
Weiskopf passed away in 2022 after designing the course and will be posthumously inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2024.
The course is brand new, opening in May 2023. Black Desert Resort Golf Course is characterized by the presence of ancient basalt rock formations seamlessly integrated into the landscape, creating a visually stunning contrast against the lush fairways. Weiskopf's design captures the spirit of the surrounding natural wonders, offering a captivating golfing experience that goes beyond tradition.
A resort with more than just golf
Beyond the golf course, Black Desert Resort is envisioned as a comprehensive luxury resort destination. The first phase of Black Desert includes 150 hotel rooms, 1,050 residences, on-property trails for exploration and adventure, a wellness spa for relaxation, 15 restaurants, and 80,000 square feet of retail space for shopping and dining.
Once all phases of the resort are completed, it will be the largest resort in the state of Utah! This will bring millions of tourism dollars to the area, boosting Utah's economy.
Black Desert Resort Golf Course is a tribute to Tom Weiskopf's enduring legacy and exemplifies the resort's dedication in creating an awe-inspiring golfing experience in Southern Utah. For more information, visit blackdesertresort.com.
