Drive Mountain Byways And Scenic Fairways

It's now mid-August and so the lazy, crazy days of summer are almost over. You can already feel change in the evening breeze. The heat of summer is abating... Just a couple more weeks and leaves will start changing colors in northern Utah Mountain areas.

My favorite part of the year occurs during the waning days of summer and the first weeks of fall. It's an agreeable season: days are warm but not hot and evenings are delightfully cool. It's a pleasure to be out-of-doors, watching as earth-elements take on a fullness of color and form.

Get out and enjoy! Drive Hwy 150 up into the Uinta Mountains, or drive the Alpine Loop around the backside of Mt Timpanogos. These are spectacular fall byways. Search the world over and you you'll never find a more pleasing display of light and color.

Hit the links and chase little white balls between sand and water. The golf courses in Heber Valley are amazingly beautiful during early fall. With Mt. Timpanogos to the west, the Uinta Mountains to the east and Deer Creek Reservoir on the southwest, views are gorgeous in every direction.

Heber offers five championship courses located just a few minutes from each other. All of it's courses are within an hours drive from Salt Lake International Airport.

The Heber courses are participating in the Golf Wasatch program, allowing them to guarantee premium tee times with reservations up to 60 days in advance. They make up Utah's only mountain golf destination offering an advanced reservation system. Some of the area's top lodging establishments are participating in the program and can be booked as a golf/lodging package.

After Labor Day, when footballs are flying and kids are in school, the crowds fade away from Utah's outdoor playgrounds. And that is another reason I really enjoy the fall season. Earth at its best, without the congestion and confusion of summer vacationers.

- Dave Webb

(Golf Wasatch provided the information below:)

Fall Colors Add to Scenic Mountain Golf Destination

Golf Wasatch, Utah's Premier Mountain Golf Destination,
Provides Picturesque Retreat during Fall Colors; Additional
Activities Include Blue Ribbon Fly-Fishing and more.

Before the snow falls on the Rocky Mountains of Utah, the leaves change colors to red and orange, providing a picturesque retreat to some of the best mountain golf located in Heber Valley, only 45 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport. Within the valley, five golf courses are nestled against the Wasatch Mountain Range offering guaranteed advance tee times to the destination golfer through a program called "Golf Wasatch."

Golf Wasatch features the following courses:

Wasatch Mountain State Park - The well-known Mountain and Lake Courses at Wasatch Mountain State Park are consistently ranked among the most popular and scenic in Utah. Nationally, Golf Digest rated the courses 4.5 out of 5 stars in their "Best Places to Play" review.

Soldier Hollow Golf Course - As the only golf course built on an Olympic venue, Soldier Hollow has become an award-winning championship 36-hole golf experience. In 2005, The Gold Course was ranked in the top 10 in Golf Digest's "Best New Courses."

Homestead Resort Golf Course - The Homestead Resort Golf Course is one of four courses ranked in Utah by Zagat and ESPN as a top course to golf in America.

Booking a "Stay & Play" package has never been easier with Golf Wasatch. By calling 1-888-WASATCH, lodging and up to 60-day advanced tee times can be booked with one call. Course features, lodging packages, special events and more are all listed online at www.golfwasatch.com.

Golf is not the only outdoor activity to enjoy during fall colors. The Heber Valley is home to Blue Ribbon fly-fishing along the Provo River and unparalleled lake fishing with Strawberry, Deer Creek, Jordanelle, Currant Creek and Mill Hollow Reservoirs. In addition, other opportunities to experience fall colors in the mountains include scenic and entertainment rides on the Heber Valley Historic Railroad and hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, ATVs and horseback riding.

Fall brings out the best colors to truly experience European Charm and Western Adventure in the beautiful Heber Valley. For additional information about lodging, dining, outfitters and activities in the Heber Valley, visit www.gohebervalley.com.

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