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Incredible Golf Trip Destinations: Idaho's Sun Valley Resort

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

The White Clouds Course at Sun Valley Resort.(Steve Dondero)

To many, Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, is more known as a fantastic ski resort, but make no mistake, when the slopes are green and the weather is warm, this resort transforms into one of the best golf resorts in the country!
In talking with PGA of America Golf Professional Tyler Jones, Sun Valley Resort's Director of Golf Operations, earlier this year, he shared with me all that his property has to offer a family looking for the perfect getaway.
Sun Valley is truly a unique outdoor recreational destination. Beyond being rated as the No. 1 Ski Resort by Ski Magazine for the past several years, it offers a plethora of activities including world class golf. To get a feel for all that a family could do at Sun Valley, Tyler ran down the list for me.
“On the golf side, the property boasts 45 holes of golf, " says Jones. "Our two 18-hole courses include Trail Creek, a public resort layout, and Elkhorn, which is our semi-private 18-hole course. Additionally, we have our White Clouds 9-hole course, a 50,000-square-foot 18-hole putting course called Sawtooth, and a 25-acre practice facility.
"The golf course and clubhouse are used in Nordic operation during the winter, too, which falls under the golf department. We have 45 kilometers of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing."
Sun Valley Resort. (Hayden Gilmour)
Sun Valley Resort. (Hayden Gilmour)
The resort also offers numerous lodging options, including:
• Sun Valley Lodge
• Sun Valley Inn
• Cottage options
• Condo and Townhouse options
Sun Valley offers countless dining options, a spa, fitness options, tennis, pickleball, shopping, a gun club, horseback riding, bowling, bike rentals, a summer concert series, fly-fishing, endless terrain for hiking and biking, and much, much more.
The Trail Creek Course.
The Trail Creek Course.
Back to the golf, the signature course at Sun Valley is Trail Creek, which was designed by the Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1980. RTJ Jr. had a fantastic backdrop to use in creating this gem. He used the land as he found it to create a breathtaking experience. One great example of Jones’s incorporation of the nature that already existed on the property was his use of the natural water features. Play crosses the beautiful Trail Creek seven times . . . and that is on the front nine alone!
Elkhorn, Sun Valley’s semi-private 18-hole course, as well as the White Clouds 9-hole course, both complement Trail Creek fantastically. And the Sawtooth putting course is without a doubt the perfect activity for a golf-enthusiastic family.
A tee shot on the Elkhorn Course. (Ray Gadd)
A tee shot on the Elkhorn Course. (Ray Gadd)
Other great golf options at Sun Valley include top rated instruction, from one of a handful of their resident PGA Professionals including: Tate Mills, Baylor Comstock or Dominick Conti. Clinics and private instruction are available to resort guests and non-guests alike.
Additionally, at the Sun Valley Club in the club house, golfers can tee it up when there is snow on the slopes thanks to the addition of TruGolf Simulators on-site. Guests can tee it up on over 100 world-renowned courses like Kapalua and St. Andrews and instruction is also available indoors on these simulators.
If your family loves golf, and the great outdoors, Sun Valley Resort is well worth the trip!
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon

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