When the heat of Texas is upon you, escaping to the high-altitude cool is more than just wise, it’s life-enhancing. There’s no shortage of Rocky and Sierra and Wasatch Mountain resort towns to call home for a summer month or two, but what might make more sense – providing all the advantages of living in one of these resort areas but without the headaches and potentially saving you money – is to live nearby instead.
Red Ledges is a luxury four-season community that is close enough to Park City, Utah, to enjoy all it has to offer but far enough away (30 minutes) to promise escape from the hustle-bustle along with its own small-town atmosphere, easier living, and more bang for the real-estate buck.
“We’re close to, but not hip-deep in, Park City, which gives you the freedom to do your own thing,” explains Bill Houghton, Red Ledges’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The same is true of many communities that are close to great resort areas without being in their vortex. It’s a twist on the old real estate adage ‘location, location, location’; in this case, not being in what might be considered the prime location actually is the advantage.
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“For example, we’re not as built up as Park City, so we have more natural scenery right out your door. Everything isn’t already established, so you can find your own way, choose your own amusements, have more flexibility. The value proposition is different because you’re not paying prime prices just to say your ‘in’ Park City.”
Furthermore, Red Ledges boasts a full menu of its own year-round amenities, including a members-only relationship with two private, ski in/ski out clubs at the Deer Valley Ski Area. And when the snow is gone, residents and members enjoy a world-class Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center, Jim McLean Golf Academy and even more golf!
Yes, golf is at the heart of this celebrated mountainside community, which is built around a spectacular 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and the first 12-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Park. The dramatic, natural land formations surrounding the Heber Valley along the Wasatch Mountains give each routing a unique character and add to the exhilaration and beauty of every round.
Opened in 2009, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Red Ledges has raised the bar on mountain golf. Nicklaus' classic risk-reward style of design challenges golfers of every level, providing a truly world-class experience. The 7,569-yard routing engages extraordinary red rock cliffs and elevated ridges that reveal stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains.
Designed to incorporate and accentuate the existing landscape, the course is routed through three distinct settings –over wide, rolling meadows; dropping into Red Rock cliff bands; and climbing rugged mountains. And with no two holes alike and more than 700 feet of elevation, golfers will need their full set of clubs to handle the wide variety of shots.
“The course we designed at Red Ledges is among the finest in the West,” Nicklaus said. “The changes in elevation not only show off the natural beauty of the golf course, it helps maintain the level of adventure and excitement throughout the round.”
The ledges that give the course its name come into view on the par-4 eighth hole, which is framed by a natural sequence of red rock outcroppings. Routed tightly between hillsides, the curving fairway gradually climbs all the way to the green, which is secluded by the stunning background.
Each hole at Red Ledges has four basic sets of tees, with alternate tee boxes allowing great flexibility in course setup. Yardages were carefully planned to accommodate all ages and abilities.
Red Ledges – which was a milestone 200th course by Nicklaus Design to open in the United States – has captured the attention of the golf media. Immediately rated the Best New Private Course in America by Golf Magazine when it opened, Red Ledges has continued to garner awards.
The Jack Nicklaus Signature 12-Hole Golf Park provides a uniquely enjoyable experience for golfers big and small, novice to expert. Comprised of par 3s from 60 to 180 yards depending on the tees chosen, the Golf Park is equal parts “golf,” “park,” and “fun.”
With a design that encourages bounces toward the hole and makes it hard to lose a golf ball, the Golf Park is set up for stress-free outings that don’t take a lot of time. Golf Boards add an element of sporting adventure, while the layout offers plenty of room for soccer, Frisbee, and dog-walking in the off hours, much the way the famed Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, hosts all manner of recreation on golf-free Sundays.
“We wanted to remove the stuffiness of traditional golf and make the game more approachable and family-friendly,” said Red Ledges COO Mitchel Burns. “We believe this course will open up the game to more players, whether they are beginners, families, groups, or scratch players getting in a fast round after work.”
This summer, a new pool and amenities center will be opening at Red Ledges. Let the fun begin anew.
