A Special Blend of Lava Makes This Utah Golf Resort Stand Alone

A closer look at basaltic lava, which blankets the Utah golf resort that recently hosted a PGA Tour stop.

Dan Evans | 5 Hours Ago

Black Desert Resort recently hosted the PGA Tour's Black Desert Championship. / Christian Petersen/Getty Images

A construction crew had to detonate the earth to build this golf course.

That’s a little dramatic, but it's sort of the truth.

It's Black Desert Golf Resort in Utah, situated in a hardened basaltic lava field that dates back millions of years.

Wait, what's basaltic lava?

To put it simply, not all lava is the same.

You see, this is Andesitic Lava. And even though that particular brand makes up only about 10% of all lava, in the lava community this is considered the “famous” lava. It's the stuff we see erupting from the big volcanos like Mount Vesuvius.

Basaltic Lava, like we see at Black Desert Golf Resort, makes up about 90% of the lava on earth. It’s the slow, flowing, oozing lava. Not very glamorous. Until this golf course.

The late legendary course designer Tom Weiskopf looked at this nearly unusable terrain and made something so magnificent, the PGA Tour recently played there, making its first stop in Utah in 61 years. In case you forgot, Matt McCarty won it.

Sand bunkers in the middle of the greens, Lava rock in the middle fairways. And if you miss the fairway, well good luck. This course really is one of a kind. Check out my video above for more.

Published 5 Hours Ago|Modified 10:59 AM EST

DAN EVANS

Dan Evans, a powerhouse golf content creator on Instagram and TikTok, boasts a rich and diverse background that fuels his current success. Known for his inspiring weight loss journey on The Biggest Loser, successful career as a top ten recording artist, national spokesperson and event host for the Biggest Loser RunWalk 5k and half marathon race series, and his love for cooking, which led him to earn a culinary degree and create and host his own cooking show, Dan has rapidly emerged as a beloved figure in the golf community. Harnessing his diverse background and experiences, he has channeled his passion for golf into compelling content that reaches millions. With over 100 million views, his unique and engaging personality, coupled with his exceptional storytelling style, resonates with golf fans worldwide. As Dan continues to captivate and connect with a growing audience on a weekly basis, he solidifies his place as an influential figure within the golf community and beyond, proving that his love for the sport knows no bounds.