Golf Balls and Trout Flies

I take a "cast and curse" trip to Heber Valley at least once every summer, where I enjoy nirvana while casting to large brown trout on the fabled Provo River. After that I struggle to stay out of the netherworld as I hack my way around one of the nearby golf courses, letting fly a few choice words when I slice into the water or trees.

It's my buddy's fault. He has somehow found time to become proficient at both sports and he travels here specifically to enjoy them in Heber's pastoral setting. I tag along, since I'm his host and tour guide. I'm a pretty good fisherman but I've never been able to get that wretched hook out of my long drives.

Heber Valley is a great place for both sports. Large brown trout are caught regularly in the Provo, which is one of the best trout waters in America if you judge by the size and number of fish available per mile. The Provo is perhaps the best stream in the country located within an hour's drive of a major airport.

There are five top ranked golf courses in the surrounding foothills, located at the Homestead Resort, Wasatch Mountain State Park with its Lake and Mountain courses, and at Soldier Hollow with its new Gold and Silver courses.

The Heber area courses participate in a program called Golf Wasatch - they have created Utah's only mountain golf destination with an advance reservation system. The program offers guaranteed tee times when booked through participating area lodging establishments, which range from comfortable RV parks to romantic Bed & Breakfasts and traditional motel units to elaborate suites and fully-furnished condominiums.

Nearby Park City is more famous, and more crowded, and it also offers excellent mountain golf, but from there you've got to drive down to Heber to find the fly fishing. In fact, the Heber area is a great place to stay when you want to be close to the posh resort activities but away from the hustle and bustle.

There are also other great recreational opportunities in this area - hiking, biking, boating, ballooning, gliding, even scuba diving in the Homestead Resort's warm spring Crater. And there is excellent flatwater fishing at Strawberry Reservoir, just up the mountain, my favorite spot for big (24-inch) cutthroat trout. Nearby Deer Creek and Jordanelle reservoirs also fish well for trout and bass, and provide great settings for water sports.

Cool temperatures, unbelievable scenery, award-winning golf courses and big trout. That's the Heber area - a year-round playground.

Let us help you plan a trip to this area.

- Dave Webb

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