U.S.G.A. rates new course at Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley Resort in Idaho – home to the award-winning Trail Creek Golf Course – has announced course and slope ratings for the soon-to-open White Clouds Golf Course have been determined. The first nine holes of the Donald Knott-designed White Clouds are scheduled to open later this summer.

The United States Golf Association determines the slope rating as a measurement of the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers relative to the course rating, which tells scratch golfers how difficult the course will be. Slope does not relate specifically to strokes played at a course, while rating does. The minimum slope is 55 and the maximum is 155. The slope rating for a course of average difficulty is 113.

Like course rating, slope rating is done for each set of tees on a course, and a course may have a separate slope rating for certain tees for women. The course ratings and slope for the first nine holes of the White Clouds Course are:

Men
Rating – Slope

68.4 – 128 (for 18 holes, divide by half for 9 holes)
70.0 – 132
74.4 – 138
76.6 – 143

Women
Rating – Slope

71.0 – 121 (for 18 holes, divide by half for 9 holes)
73.4 – 131
77.6 – 140
80.6 – 146

Early returns on the White Clouds Course show that it will be a stern test of golf, but the 360-degree views of the Wood River Valley may prove to be just as formidable as the design – temporarily taking the challenge of the course off of golfers’ minds.

“The White Clouds Course offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valley below, and all the golf any player could ask for,” says General Manager Wallace Huffman. “We’re extremely excited about this addition to Sun Valley Resort, as well as all the other amenities we’ll be unveiling.”

In addition to the White Clouds Course – referred to as an “Alpine links” design by Knott, Sun Valley also is introducing a state-of-the-art clubhouse, which doubles as a Nordic center in the winter, expanded practice facility, 18-hole putting course called Sawtooths and the Sun Valley Music Pavilion that will cater to the area’s thriving arts scene.

The existing Trail Creek Course – named after the creek that traverses the course seven times – is a parkland-style design with narrow fairways bordered by beautiful Cottonwood trees. Originally opened in 1937, the course was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Knott, his lead architect, in 1978-79.

For more information about Sun Valley Resort, log on to Sunvalley.com.