by Doug McAllister
When Thanksgiving Point Golf Course first hit the scene it immediately began the process of proclaiming that it was the premier golf course in Utah. Why? Because it was designed by Johnny Miller. Because it offered "resort golf at public prices." Because it was bound to be included as the venue in the near future for a PGA Tour event.
Because. Because. Because! So what's my take on the inimitable Thanksgiving Point? Overrated. Overrated. Overrated!
Let's look at the "becauses" one by one and consider whether each is fact or fiction.
1. BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED BY JOHNNY MILLER
Fiction!
Mind you. Thanksgiving Point was designed by Johnny Miller. The fiction I refer to here is that Thanksgiving Point should be considered as Utah's premier course on the basis of its designer. Thanksgiving Point used to go to ridiculous lengths to brand the course as a Miller course. The course's head pro was featured on TV commercials drooling and gushing about Miller designing the track with the Hall of Famer embarrassingly standing by.
The proof of the pudding is, indeed, in the tasting and, very likely, there are all sorts of golfers who relish rounds at Thanksgiving Point. I just don't happen to be one of them. Give me, rather, Tuhaye, the excellent Mark O'Meara course in Kamas or any of Gene Bates courses, especially Talon's Cove in Saratoga Springs. Any of these course is far superior to Thanksgiving Point.
2. BECAUSE IT OFFERS RESORT GOLF AT PUBLIC PRICES!
Fiction!
Thanksgiving Point is currently priced for 18 holes at $65 during the week (Monday thru Thursday) and $85 for weekend play (Friday thru Sunday). Interesting. Up Provo Canyon and a bit farther in Midway, Utah, is the Homestead Resort. The place boasts a fine 18-hole golf course. Given Thanksgiving Point's claim to offer "resort golf and public course prices," it should stand to reason that its fees, listed above, should be less than those of The Homestead Resort. Not quite. Currently golfers can play the 18 holes, including a cart, at the Homestead for $55 during the week (Monday thru Thursday) and for $60 during weekend play (Friday thru Sunday).
Not convinced. The Homestead not really a resort? Okay. Let's compare Thanksgiving Point to a real resort course that I was privileged to play last summer — Arnold Palmer's Teton Pines in Jackson Hole Wyoming. I'll even compare Teton Pines prices during its prime season schedule. From June 18 thru September 30, Teton Pines charges $160 for 18 holes of golf (before 2:00 p.m.) and all the range balls you care to hit! Sure, that's nearly double Thanksgiving Point's weekend rate. But look here: After 2:00 p.m. the rate falls to $120, or just $35 dollars more than you'd pay at "the Point." And is that added amount worth it? Is an Arnold Palmer designed course worth an additional $35? In my humble opinion it certainly is! And I suspect that most individuals who are familiar with Palmer courses versus Miller courses would heartily agree!
3. BECAUSE IT IS BOUND TO BE INCLUDED AS THE VENUE FOR A FUTURE PGA TOUR EVENT!
Fiction!
Thanksgiving Point opened for play in 1997. Since then, the closest the course has come to hosting a PGA Event has been Johnny Miller's Champions Challenge, an event that really boils down to an exhibition match between Miller and some of his buddies. And that's it! Does it look like the course will succeed in luring the PGA to send an event — even a Champions Tour event — its way? Not hardly! The course is now 14 years old and has lost that "New Course Smell!"
SIMPLY NOT UP TO SNUFF!
The real problem with Thanksgiving Point has always been ego. They've always worked overtime to position themselves as a course that's just too good to be true and, all too often, way too good for you!
I played the course today and was disappointed that things simply haven't changed. From its exorbitant pricing to snooty and condescending pro shop personnel. The place reeks of exclusivity and out-and-out silliness.
On one hole, for example, we were confronted by a snotty, pushy and unfriendly "Player Assistant." Was he really interested in "assisting" us? Not hardly! Rather, his whole goal was to push and enforce his supposed authority. Why? Because we committed the unpardonable sin of driving our cart on a fairway that was supposedly closed for carts! Did we disregard warning signs — that happened to be conspicuously staked on other fairways similarly closed — warning us not to take carts on the forbidden fairway? No! we were supposed to read the minds of groundskeepers who simply picketed off the fairway with temporary ropes! And never mind that there were so many cart tracks on the fairway in question BEFORE our venturing thereon that you could easily have dubbed the place "Indianapolis Speedway!" There he stood as we exited, like an elementary school principal who has just caught some truant third graders hiding in the lunch room! And he was actually shaking his head disapprovingly!
Enough said. By all means, play Thanksgiving Point if you have a free pass or if a friend offers to pick up your greens fees. Otherwise, steer clear of the place. After all, you'd be better served to choose Talon's Cove, Wingpointe, Old Mill or Hobble Creek — all of which feature resort golf experiences with actual public course pricing!
HELAS!
