The historic Homestead Resort in Midway is in the midst of a multi-million dollar revitalization and expansion project, set to meet standards to join Marriott's Autograph Collection.
At the center of that redo is the championship golf course, which will be known as The Golf Club at Homestead. It is a par-71, 6,900-yard layout under the architectural tutelage of former BYU All-American John Fought. He won the U.S. Amateur and was PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1979. The course will feature updated greens, bunkers, enhanced views for golfers and a combination of Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass on its fairways. It will include grass-faced bunkers and 007 creeping bentgrass on its greens. A double green will be shared by the 9th and 18th holes.
Wider fairways, greater visibility for golfers and unique hole designs will be the hallmark of the new course, along with a new clubhouse and many resort amenities. Photos by Tom Haraldsen
Fought took media members on a tour of the new layout in August, showing the intense work of crews getting the course cleared, sodded and prepared before the winter months arrive.
"We've left most of the trees but took out the junk," Fought said. "There was tremendous undergrowth around the fairways, and every hole is being rebuilt in some way."
The original Bruce Summerhays-designed course opened in 1990, and was named top golf course in Utah by Golf Pass in 2018. The new design will bring Snake Creek into play on 10 of its holes. Fought has contoured the greens and made the fairways wider, and a new irrigation system will improve water efficiency and playing conditions year-round.
New amenities will include a short game complex with bunkers, practice green and an area for pitching and chipping, eight pre-round warmup stations at a hitting bay, and an 8,000-square-foot practice putting green. A new member's clubhouse is also being built.
"My goal is to create a fun, playable golf course," Fought said. "We're keeping the routing, but all else is being redone. Golf is meant to be fun, not difficult, but it can be challenging at the same time. It takes in the natural beauty of this location and blends it with great golf course designs."
The Homestead is also building 68 condo units, seven single-family residential units, a new resort amenity building, indoor pickleball courts, a restaurant and a wedding barn. The 1886 Federal-style Virginia House has been restored as a centerpiece featuring a gift shop, sales gallery and community gathering spaces, with work continuing on the Main House and Simon's Tavern. Existing guest room renovations and a new pool complex are also part of the renovation, with most additions set to open in the spring of 2027.
Starting next summer, tee times will be issued only to members, member guests and resort guests. In keeping with the Marriott Autograph Collection model, the club will offer social memberships that include pools, fitness, resort amenities and preferred dining and spa pricing; full golf memberships that add priority tee times, simulators and ski transports to Deer Valley East Village; and Heritage memberships that offer full golf benefits with no monthly fee for 30 years, a private locker, reserved parking and one-time transfer rights.
It's all part of the Homestead Resort. Currently, the resort remains open for lodging as usual, including the famous crater used for snorkeling, diving, scuba certification, paddleboard yoga, swimming and soaking.