Opened in 1958 Rose Park Golf Course is an 18 hole municipal course operated by the City of Salt Lake. Divided by the Jordan river, this parkland style course offers a mixture of straight away and subtle dogleg holes which play into slightly elevated greens. The majority of the course offers golfers subtle challenges balanced with enticing risk/reward holes. While not the most interesting of Salt Lake City’s course, Rose Park offers a relaxing low-keyed environment for golfers of all levels with minimal danger from hazard areas.
1386 N. Redwood Rd.
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (Google Maps)
Phone: 801.596.5030
Rose Park Website
Men’s Tees 72 (rating/slope)
- Black 6834 yards (71.3/117)
- Blue 6514 yards (70.4/114)
- White 5980 yards (67.2/107)
Women’s Tees Par 74 (rating/slope)
- White 5980 yards (72.1/116)
- Yellow 5554 yards (69.5/116)
Junior/Novice Tees 4831 yards
Course Designer: Mick Riley
Course Record: 61
Rose Park's putting green and clubhouse
Playing Season
Rose Park is open year around, as long as the course is free of snow.
Green Fees (9/18 holes)
- Regular- $13/26
- Senior- $11/22
- Junior- $7/14
Seasonal Pass Information: click here
Rental Fees (9/18 holes)
- Cart (no GPS)- $6.5/13
- Low End Rental Clubs- $7/14
- High End Rental Clubs- $15/30
- Pull cart- $2/4
Range Fees
- Small bucket- $4
- Large bucket- $7
Driving Range
Practice Area
Facing a southwesterly direction Rose Park’s driving range has the feeling of hitting into an odd shaped farm field, with a back fence line that is uncomfortably close at times (the range varies from around 200 to 315 yards in length). The all grass hitting surface’s condition varies between average and good, while the lack of accurate yardage markers makes the range less than ideal for practicing. Wind direction is typically a headwind or blowing from the right side.
A large putting green situated between the clubhouse and the first tee box can accommodate multiple golfers and is representational of conditions found on the course. Overall, a good surface for extended practice sessions.
The Course
Divided by the Jordan river, Rose Park is a parkland style course with a mixture of straight away and subtle dogleg holes which play into slightly elevated greens typically protected by a front bunker. Pine and willow trees sporadically line the fairways and pose the only real danger for a golfer’s errant shots. One third of Rose Park’s holes are so simplistically designed that they should be automatic pars for most golfers. However, the majority of the course offers golfers subtle challenges balanced with enticing risk/reward holes. Not uncommon for courses of this age and style, the greens generally lack complexity and all slope back towards the fairway or tee box is one capacity or another.
Looking back from the 18th green
The course conditions at Rose Park are generally average to above average as compared to most municipal courses. The tee boxes are level and along with the fairways are kept in good condition. Unfortunately, during the wetter and spring months certain areas of the course can become water logged affecting fairway and rough playing conditions. Bunkers are typically in fair condition and green conditions can at times be slightly slow and bumpy, but are generally in fair to good shape.
Rose Park is a flat and very walkable course, with no significant walks between greens and the next tee box.
Patrons of Rose Park tend to be low to high handicappers and a blend between younger and older golfers. Playing times are typically in the 4 hour range for 18 holes, but can slightly decrease or increase depending on the amount of traffic on the course.
Staff, Amenities, etc.
The staff at Rose Park is largely professional and friendly. The Pro Shop is stocked to handle any last minute golfing accessory and equipment needs.
The clubhouse has a grill with indoor/outdoor seating. The food menu is typical of any golf course (average quality food) and there is a decent selection of beer and non-alcoholic beverages as well (hard liquor is not available).
There is no beverage cart service at Rose Park, but there are water fountains located on the front and back nines of the course.
Course Tips
Hole #1- Rose Park leads off uncommonly with a Par 3. A straight forward hole that is only complicated by the wind and determining the accurate distance. Best to miss short of the green.
Hole #2- Wide open hole for long hitters, while shorter hitters might have to contend with the hazard on the left. Ideal approach shot is from the center/left hand side of the fairway to a green that is over 37 yards deep.
View from the tee box on the 4th hole
Hole #3- The slightly skewed right tee box makes this straight away Par 4 an hole ideal for a cut shot. A fairway bunker will catch tee shots that leak to the right, but since there is no real danger on this hole most golfers should walk away with an easy par.
Hole #4- With no wind or a favorable wind, longer hitters should have no problem reaching the green on this dogleg left. All others should play for an approach shot of around 100 yards to insure they don’t hit their tee shots through the fairway.
Hole #5- No matter what the wind direction is this hole typically plays longer than it seems. Narrow at the front, the green widens in the back half. Par is a good score here.
6th green
Hole #6- The shortest Par 4 on at Rose Park can sometimes be a difficult hole to determine how to play. Longer hitters can reach the green off the tee, but must ensure that they miss right of the green to avoid the trees left. Safest play is to leave a 75-100 approach shot off the tee.
Hole #7- Formerly the longest Par 4 on the course, the 7th has been converted to a manageable Par 5. The extension of the hole brings the fairway bunkers into play, but the hole is so open that anything less than a par here is a disappointment. Golfers would do well to leave their approach shots short rather than long, as the ball tends to care on this hole.
Hole #8- Slightly veering to the right, the 8th hole is nearly reachable for longer hitters when playing downwind. Ideal approach shot is from the right hand side of the fairway. With almost no punishment on this hole for missing right, there is really no excuse hitting into the hazard along the left hand side. Green slopes back towards the front right.
9th green
Hole #9- A visually demanding tee shot with trees guarding both sides of this dogleg right. However, the hole opens up in the landing area beyond the trees on the right, making the 3rd handicapped hole much easier than it seems. Approach shots should be short or to the middle of a green which slopes back towards the fairway.
Hole #10- Arguably the best risk reward hole on the course, the Par 5 10th hole is a 45 degree dogleg left over and around the Jordan River. Although difficult to manage, aggressive longer hitters need to take their tee shots over the left hand side of the trees on the left side of the river (only a 290 carry from back tees). All others should play safely off the tee to the middle of the visible fairway. Approach shot is into a slightly elevated green.
The approach on the Par 5 10th hole
Hole #11- With a bunker in the front of the green, it’s easy to take too much club into the shortest Par 3 on the course. However, hitting your tee shot long will leave a tricky pitch shot back into the elevated green. Par is actually a solid score on the easiest hole on the course.
Hole #12- The longest Par 4 at Rose Park (389-470 yards), is a straight away hole with the only danger being a golfer’s inability to hit their tee shot within 70 yard wide landing area. Again, better to be short on your approach than long to a green which slopes back towards the fairway.
Hole #13- Easily the most demanding hole on the course, the 13th is a long Par 3 with Rose Park’s second smallest green that also happens to be elevated and exposed. Par is an excellent score here.
Hole #14- The 14th hole’s fairway splits two concrete rubbish piles and is nearly a 60 degree dogleg right. A golfer’s tee shot determines everything about this hole, as OB awaits anyone hitting through the dogleg. Longer hitters can cut the leg by hitting their tee shots along the right side of the fairway bunkers, while all others should lay back off the tee to avoid the OB and hitting into the narrow part of the fairway (15 yards). A golfer’s second and/or approach shot is into a large green which slopes from back right to front left.
Kessler's Peak provides the backdrop for the 15th hole
Hole #15- The fairway narrows to around 13 yards in the landing area and there is a bunker on the right side to collect slightly errand shots. The 15th is best played by leaving a 125 yard+ approach shot to an expansive green.
Hole #16- Hazards border both sides, but pose little danger except for the most errant of shots on this Par 4. Approach shot is to the smallest green on the course making par a respectable score here.
The newly converted Par 3 17th
Hole #17- Formerly a short Par 4, the new 17th is the longest Par 3 on the course. Bunkers guard the front of the green and a small hidden bunker will collect errant shots to the middle right of the green. Take enough club to reach the middle of the green and be happy with a par here.
Hole #18- The longest Par 5 at Rose Park is still easily reachable in two for longer hitters. Approach shot demands accuracy as five trees and a slightly elevated green can complicate a golfers chances at birdie or par. Again it’s often best to be short rather than long, right, or left of the green.
Salt Lake City’s promotional video for Rose Park Golf Course:
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