You’ve seen the photos. Neon green fairways practically glowing against a backdrop of jagged, obsidian-black rock. It looks like someone dropped a country club onto the surface of Mars, or maybe a high-end level of a video game. But if you’re trying to find the black desert championship location on a map, things get a little weird.
Actually, it’s not just a location. It’s a massive geological statement.
Honestly, most people assume "Black Desert" is just a fancy marketing name. It isn't. The tournament is held at the Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah. If you haven't heard of Ivins, don't feel bad. It’s a small, quiet town tucked into the southwestern corner of the state, right next to the more famous St. George and about 90 minutes north of the Las Vegas neon.
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The site is literally carved out of ancient lava fields. We’re talking 1,000-year-old basalt that hasn't been softened by time. When the PGA Tour returned to Utah in 2024 for the first time in over 60 years, they didn't just pick a golf course. They picked a fight with a volcano.
Where Exactly Is the Black Desert Championship Location?
Geography matters here. The course sits at the intersection of three major ecosystems: the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. This isn't the flat, sandy desert of Scottsdale. It’s a vertical world of vermilion sandstone cliffs and black volcanic rock.
The specific address is 1500 E Black Desert Dr, Ivins, UT 84738.
If you’re driving in, you’re basically looking for the "Greater Zion" area. It’s about 20 miles from the St. George Regional Airport (SGU), which is the easiest way to get there if you aren't road-tripping from Vegas. The resort itself spans over 600 acres, but the golf course—the Tom Weiskopf masterpiece—is the undisputed heart of the property.
The Tom Weiskopf Legacy
This place is significant for a heavy reason. It was the final design of the legendary Tom Weiskopf before he passed away in 2022. He never saw the finished product, but his partner Phil Smith made sure every "Weiskopf-ism" was included.
That means you get the classic "drivable par 4" on holes 5 and 14.
It also means the fairways are massive.
Why? Because if you miss the grass, your ball is hitting a lava rock and either disappearing forever or ricocheting into orbit.
Why This Spot Is Different From Every Other Tour Stop
Usually, Tour stops are in lush, manicured suburbs. This is different. The black desert championship location is one of only two courses in the entire United States built into a lava field. The others? All in Hawaii.
During the 2024 inaugural event, the PGA Tour saw over 200 penalties because of that rock. It’s brutal. It’s beautiful. It’s basically a nature preserve with flagsticks.
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In 2025, the tournament scene here expanded. The Bank of Utah took over as the title sponsor for the PGA event (the Bank of Utah Championship), while the LPGA held its own Black Desert Championship in May. This makes Black Desert one of the very few venues to host both the men’s and women’s tours in the same year.
What to Expect When You Visit
If you’re planning to attend or play, keep a few things in mind:
- The Heat is Real: It’s often hotter here than in Las Vegas.
- The Views: You’ve got the snow-capped Pine Valley Mountains to the north and the red rocks of Snow Canyon State Park right next door.
- The Turf: They use specialized "cultivars" of grass that are drought-tolerant, so the course stays vibrant green without draining the local desert water supply.
Basically, the "location" is a massive 19-hole playground (yes, there is a 19th betting hole) that feels like a resort but plays like a championship gauntlet.
A Fast History of Pro Golf in Ivins
For decades, Utah was a ghost town for the PGA Tour. The last time the big names rolled through was the 1963 Utah Open. Bringing the black desert championship location online wasn't just about building a resort; it was about proving that Southern Utah could handle the logistical nightmare of a world-class sporting event.
The 2024 winner, Matt McCarty, set the bar high with a 23-under par finish. But don't let the low scores fool you. The pros were playing a "tournament-tweaked" layout that stretched over 7,400 yards. For the rest of us? The fairways are 100 yards wide in some spots. It’s designed to be fun for the high-handicapper but terrifying for the pro who starts spraying their driver.
How to Get There and Where to Stay
Flying into St. George (SGU) is the pro move. Delta flies in from Salt Lake, American comes from Phoenix and Dallas, and United handles Denver and LA.
If you want the scenic route, fly into Harry Reid International in Vegas and drive the 90 minutes up I-15. You’ll pass through the Virgin River Gorge, which is worth the price of the rental car alone.
Once you arrive at the black desert championship location, you aren't just limited to golf. The resort has 800 rooms, a massive spa, and miles of hiking trails that wind through the lava. You can literally walk off the 18th green and be on a trail into the volcanic wilderness in five minutes.
Essential Travel Tips for the Tournament
- Book Early: Ivins is small. Hotels in St. George fill up months before the October PGA or May LPGA dates.
- Hydrate: You are at 3,000 feet of elevation in a desert.
- Check the Schedule: Remember, the PGA event was rebranded to the Bank of Utah Championship starting in 2025, but everyone locally still calls it "the Black Desert tournament."
- Explore Snow Canyon: It’s literally right there. If you don't hike it, you're missing half the reason the location is so famous.
This isn't just another stop on the FedEx Cup Fall series. It’s a location that has redefined what "desert golf" looks like. It’s jagged, it’s vibrant, and it’s arguably the most photogenic spot in the sport right now.
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To make the most of your trip, check the official PGA Tour or LPGA schedules for the exact "open to public" days, as practice rounds are often closed. If you're looking to play the course yourself, it is open to public resort play outside of tournament weeks—just make sure you bring an extra sleeve of balls for the lava.