Getting To Know: Elkhorn Golf Club By Brian Weis

Getting To Know: Elkhorn Golf Club

An Insightful Interview With Tyler Jones, Director of Golf Operations

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Tyler Jones who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Originally opened in 1974, Elkhorn Golf Club was created in the last collaboration between the famous design team of father and son Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior. After an extensive renovation in 2004, the club reopened in 2005 and was acquired by the Sun Valley Company in July of 2011. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the front nine, which is quite hilly, while Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the back nine which follows a creek and has a water hazard on every hole but one.

Although Elkhorn Golf Club has memberships, Sun Valley's Resort Guests have access to one of the best challenges of golf that the state of Idaho has to offer. With large undulated greens, 7,214 yards long from the tips, and boasting over 100 sand traps and bunkers, Elkhorn will prove to be a test of your golfing abilities. Your concentration on the game of golf will also be challenged, as the vistas ranging from the Elkhorn hillsides to Sun Valley's White Clouds golf course fight for your attention.

Elkhorn Golf Club also offers guests a 16,000 square foot clubhouse that includes a restaurant and bar. Dine in and watch your favorite games on one of two 60" flat screen televisions, or enjoy a more quaint setting on the large patio that sits in the shade most of the day.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Elkhorn Golf Club offers an exciting variety of golf holes with spectacular views of the Sun Valley Resort and surrounding Mountains. The golf course is always in excellent condition, with smooth greens and generous fairways to hit off the tee.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
With large undulating greens, it is important to know what quadrant the hole is in when hitting approach shots.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Elkhorn is a semi-private facility offering a private club feel for the members in a resort atmosphere.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #5. It is a 650 yard downhill par 5 that overlooks the white clouds golf course at Sun Valley and the Boulder Mountains.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Hole #10 is a fun golf hole. The creek runs next to the right side of the tee box, crosses over to the left in front of the teeing area, parallels the left side of the fairway and crosses again in front of the green. It's only 392 yards, but requires accuracy off the tee and a fun approach shot to a large green with multiple hole locations to choose from.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Elkhorn Grille French Dip on a fressh ciabatta roll, made with Prime Rib is a must have!

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Former Sun Valley Director of Golf, Doyle Corbett holds the course record with a -11 score of 61

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7214
Slope: 136
Rating: 73.4

More Information
Elkhorn Golf Club
100 Badeyana Drive
Sun Valley, Idaho, 83353
208-622-2271
www.sunvalley.com

Revised: 09/10/2014 - Article Viewed 31,824 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.