Iconic Resort Unveils Eye-Catching Logos, Keeping in Step with Glorious Tradition while Ushering in a New Era at the ?American Original?
(SUN VALLEY, Idaho) – Close to Sun Valley Resort, the Sawtooth Mountains rise thousands of feet above the headwaters of theSalmon River, like saws set on edge. Just to the east of the Sawtooths above wrinkled, wooded foothills the White Cloud Mountains soar in summits which seem covered in vanilla ice cream.
These majestic peaks and their beauty are the inspiration for and namesakes of the new courses at Sun Valley Golf Resort, which will debut this summer.
The new, championship 9-hole layout – designed by Donald Knott of Knott, Brooks, Linn Golf Course Design Group of California – is named White Clouds Course and complements the original, highly regarded 18-hole course which sits amid towering Cottonwoods in the valley below. Likewise, the new, 18-hole putting course is named the Sawtooths because its layout and mounding resemble the adjacent Sawtooths mountain range.
The original 18-hole course at Sun Valley, which was redesigned by Knott in 1978-79 while with Robert Trent Jones Jr., has been renamed the Trail Creek Course. Trail Creek traverses the course seven times and along with narrow fairways bordered by beautifulCottonwood trees and out of bounds, are the primary, and formidable, defenses of the course.
The new course names at Sun Valley pay homage to the breathtaking mountains which have silently and elegantly stood sentinel over the area for time immemorial.
"White Clouds is the perfect name for our new 9-hole course because it sits high above the valley with 360 degree panoramic views – one feels among the clouds on it and can literally be so on occasion," says Sun Valley Resort General Manager Wallace Huffman. "Sun Valley Resort Owner Earl Holding has always prioritized keeping Sun Valley pristine and not overdeveloped. Hence, he could have used this premium, elevated acreage with incredible views to build real estate, which would have been snapped up immediately. Instead, he wanted the course to be here and his vision was impeccable – the vistas, the seamless flow of the course and the hiking trails on the surrounding ridges have conserved the beauty and utility of the area for our guests and generations to come."
Similarly, the new, 18-hole putting course draws its inspiration from the area’s unspoiled natural beauty and surrounding peaks. Additional inspiration for its name was derived by an experience General Manager Huffman had while at Scotland’s St. Andrews, golf’s hallowed birthplace. The 18-hole putting course there is named the Himalayas, also because of the mounding and design which resembles the namesake. And like at St. Andrews, the new Sun Valley putting course is for everyone – from accomplished golfer to beginner, individual to families.
"People who don’t play golf and shouldn’t play our championship courses can participate in the golf experience via the Sawtooths Putting Course," says GM Huffman. "Simultaneously, accomplished players will find the challenge to be top-notch as this is a true course and not simply several holes cut into a relatively flat, constricted putting green. I can see people enjoying cocktails and a round of putting before dinner on the Sawtooths."
The putting course is located by the new golf clubhouse which is currently being constructed and part of the expansive, new 25-acre practice facility which is also scheduled to debut this summer.
Also under construction and set to unveil later this year at Sun Valley is the Symphony Pavilion, which, like the outdoor ice rink, offers spectacular entertainment under the summer stars. Whereas the ice rink is home to legendary outdoor, summer ice shows that feature Olympic medalists and greats such as Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, Sasha Cohen and the Canadian team of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, the Symphony Pavilion shows are performed by top symphony orchestra members from around the country who come to Sun Valley for the season.
Back to the golf, the White Clouds Course rises up more than 350 vertical feet from the first tee to its highest point and ultimately affords 360-degree views. While other courses in the world have such panoramic views from on high, course architect Knott says he’s never seen any as unspoiled or "less impacted" by man-made objects like power lines, development, etc. This is high praise indeed considering Knott, who was the longtime chief architect in the Trent Jones Jr. firm, has designed a multitude of courses around the world.
Trail Creek Course and White Clouds Course couldn’t be more different and therefore more complementary for avid golfers who covet diversity and high quality. Whereas Trail Creek Course sits amid tall trees and tight, enclosed fairways and offers small greens via traditional or "parkland" style routing, White Clouds Course offers long-range sight lines, elevation changes, forced carries and large greens – an Alpine Links design, as Knott refers to it.
In conjunction with naming the resort’s championship layouts, Sun Valley has introduced a pair of eye-catching logos, each of which captures the essence of the resort with the iconic Sun Valley sun, while incorporating the inaugural seasons – 1937 and 2008.
An example of what awaits golfers at White Clouds Course is hole No. 5, which could also be called "685 yards of distant golf future." One of the longest par 5s in Idaho – and North America for that matter – from the back tees golfer can see the green over native desert sage though pine trees and sitting well down in a little bowl-like area. Then they must conjure a strategy which will take them safely to their destination while negotiating a serpentine-shaped path which wends its way home amid all sorts of peril.
White Clouds Course is full of dramatic views on every hole – no more so than standing on the eighth tee – a par 4 which measures an intimidating 520 yards from the back tee. The distance is made manageable by the added 7 percent carry provided by the elevation, plus an awe-inspiring 160-foot drop from tee to fairway below – creating an illusion of a golf ball being suspended in time.
The resort expects to break ground on another nine holes to complete White Clouds Course in the near future – bringing the total number of holes at Sun Valley Golf Resort to 36.
For more information about Sun Valley Golf Resort, please call 800-894-9941 or visit www.sunvalley.com.
About Sun Valley Resort
There can only be one original ski resort and since 1936 Sun Valley has held that distinction. Born out of a desire to bring the mystique of the European ski resorts to America, Sun Valley quickly became a phenomenon without peer on this continent or any other. America’s first destination resort, where the world’s first chairlift was engineered, Sun Valley was built to enchant the nobility and celebrity of the day. Today the patina of old world charm blends beautifully with everything modern, easily accessible with non-stop daily air service.
Long known for the world-class skiing on Bald Mountain’s 9,150-foot summit and the beginner-friendly Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley was originated in 1936 by Union Pacific Railroad. In addition to skiing and golf, Sun Valley is flush with activities including ice skating, horseback riding, hiking/biking, tennis, target shooting at the Gun Club, spa, summer outdoor symphony series, and many others.
It is located in the Northern Rockies region of south central Idaho and is open year-round with four distinctly beautiful seasons. There are more outdoor recreations here than any other destination resort in the U.S. Sun Valley Resort is privately owned by the R. Earl Holding family, owners of Sinclair Oil Corporation. Sister properties include Snowbasin Ski Resort, Grand America Hotel, Little America Hotel and Towers, all SLC, UT., Westgate Hotel, San Diego, CA, Little America Flagstaff, AZ, Little America, WY, and Little America, Cheyenne,WY.
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, Buffalo Communications, 703.891.3320,
dshepherd@buffalocommunications.com
Rob Thomas, Buffalo Communications, 330-696-1476,
rthomas@buffalocommunications.com
