PARK CITY, Utah - iSportsWire -- Golf Course Architect Forrest Richardson has returned to Park City, Utah to fulfill his short course design for the acclaimed private community, Promontory Club, developed by Phoenix-based Pivotal Group and developer Francis Najafi. Originally conceived several years ago as part of Promontory's golf offerings, the new 18-hole, all par-3 course is planned to debut in Summer of 2023. It will take its place accompanying the Dye Canyon and Nicklaus Painted Valley Courses at the award-winning mile high community.

The new course, "The Hills at Promontory," is a modern concept aimed at offering club members and guests an alternative to the longer 18-hole layouts. "Our vision is one where each of the holes will all have their own character," says Richardson. "The common thread will be fun, beauty and lots of smiles."

Among the hole designs are a dramatic island green surrounded by native Utah wildflowers, and what Richardson describes as the "Ha-ha" hole—a green set alongside a low stone wall where players may need to use the ground-game to work shots short and then let the ball roll over the stone embankment to the green below. The course will also feature a one-of-a-kind green with a "revetted turf" feature in the shape of a crescent. That hole—named "New Moon"—is a first in golf design.

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Jeff Danner of Richardson | Danner worked through multiple routing options to achieve gradual elevation changes across the course. With several drop shots and varying territorial views, the course begins with a head-on view of iconic Bald Mountain, the highest point in the Park City-Deer Valley Ski Area. "We routed holes across a 300-acre hillside," says Danner. "Yet we have left plenty of natural open space around the layout so the player will feel 'away from it all' as they experience loops of 6, 9, 12, 15 or all 18-holes." The routing is particularly creative in the way it finishes—also with a view to Bald Mountain. This was achieved by winding the finishing holes up a canyon, culminating with a breathtaking 18th hole that cascades down the hillside and across a small mountain stream.

"Our goal was to create a course where everyone can score," says Neil Jones, Promontory's Director of Golf. "This is the course where we can have generations playing together, and where the fun will equal the challenge." Richardson | Danner worked closely with the Promontory team on creative options for the course, an 18-hole format but one with "short-cuts" where loops of holes can be enjoyed in less time. "It's 'The Old Course at St. Andrews' in terms of its path," comments Danner. "We take you out and then back again. But at several points on your way out, you have the option to return—it's several courses in one."

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As part of the new course, a 400-yard range, short game area and Golf Academy are being finishedt. According to Jones, "The Hills Course will become Promontory's 'go-to' golf training and practice facility. It's where we will spend time with our members on lessons and fine-tuning their game."

Anchoring the new course will be an 18,000 s.f. clubhouse designed by renowned architect Douglas Fredrikson. Complete with four indoor golf simulators, the clubhouse will sit above a 20,000 s.f. "Cascades" putting course that meanders down a natural valley. The putting course is part of an integrated outdoor experience that seamlessly joins outdoor dining with the golf amenities.

"Only so often do we get to bring dreams into reality," notes Richardson. "With the forward-thinking group at Promontory, the design team has been able to suggest new ideas for this one-of-a-kind site—the result will bring new energy to Promontory's already incredible options for golfers."

From an environmental perspective the project involves a total of just 30 acres of managed turf, and has been carefully engineered to be drought-tolerant with water saving measures in all areas of the design and infrastructure.