Golf course architect John Fought, an All-America player at Brigham Young University, is returning to Utah to design a state-of-the-art practice facility and renovate some of the existing holes at Alpine Country Club, a private course in the booming area of Highland, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.
The $6.8 million project, part of a three-phase, 10-year plan at the Club, is scheduled to begin in July 2025 and be completed in Fall 2027.
Surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains with towering views of the American Fork Canyon on each hole, Alpine CC is recognized as one of the top private courses in Utah. Managed by Troon Privé, the facility hosts many local and national events and qualifiers and is home to 390 members. The diverse membership includes several collegiate golfers and many talented junior players, several of whom annually qualify for the Drive, Chip and Putt national competition.
Fought returns to the golf-centric Club, where he redesigned holes 11, 12, and 13 in 2008 and rebuilt the bunkers in 2018. Construction on the new practice facility, which includes a driving range, will begin next year with the current one to be closed for 22 months. Other than nearly three months during the winter when the course is closed, the 18-hole championship layout will remain open to the membership during the renovation, according to Jake Ebner, Superintendent, who was the 2021 Utah Section PGA Superintendent of the Year.
The new practice facility will measure 68,000 square feet, a significant increase over the current 19,000 square feet. The new short gamearea will grow from 7 to 10.25 acres, and include five artificial, target greens on each side of the fairway to allow members to practice their distance control.
“I love Alpine Country Club and the work we’re doing here will be nothing short of dramatic,” Fought said. “When this project is completed, I’m confident the membership will be amazed by the improvements we’re making.”
To allow for the expansion of the practice facility, a handful of holes will be redesigned by Fought. Other aspects of the project include irrigation pond relining, landscaping, and a border fence.
“It’s great to have someone like John, a BYU graduate who understands the area, take on this project,” said Michael Bickett, who assumed the Club’s general manager duties in January. “He has already done work on the course here and he and Jake have a great rapport, which is very beneficial.”
Fought led the BYU Cougars to four Western Athletic Conference championships during his collegiate career. Fought is not only well known in Utah for his collegiate prowess but he also designed the Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort in Hurricane near St. George.
Art Courtesy of Fought Design