STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The only ones doing any golfing in the Wood River Valley so far this spring have been those lugging their clubs into the Sun Valley Club to take a whack at the virtual golf simulator.

But Sun Valley Resort employees have been blowing four feet of snow off the greens and this week’s big meltdown ensures that there will be golfing soon.

Sun Valley Resort is now selling seven 2023 season pass options for its award-winning golf facilities. Spring sale pricing is available through May 31 before prices increase June 1 for the remainder of the season.

The options include play on Sun valley’s signature course, Trail Creek, which was recently recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 75 resort courses in North America. The 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. spans 6,968 yards, offering golf for every level of player.

The White Clouds course offers 3,600 yards of play with 360-dgree views of Sun Valley, while the Elkhorn course boasts 7,214 yards of play with more than a hundred sand traps and bunkers.

The 2023 Passholder Options:

MEDALIST PASS

$4,500 if purchased through May 31; $4,900 afterwards

Sun Valley’s premier golf pass offering, the Medalist Pass, includes unrestricted play on the Trail Creek and White Clouds courses for the entire golf season, seasonal locker rental, club storage, individual daily range use, in-season use of the virtual golf simulator, and the ability to reserve tee times up to one week in advance throughout the entire golf season. Medalist pass holders receive two complimentary guest passes and unlimited junior guest access, ages 15 and under.

HONORS PASS

$3,300 purchased through May 31; $3,500 afterwards

The Honors Pass provides unrestricted play during the entire golf season on the Trail Creek and White Clouds courses. Honors pass holders receive unlimited junior guest access during the season.

WHITE HOT COMBO PASS

$2,200 purchased through May 31; $2,400 afterwards

White Hot Combo pass holders are entitled to unlimited play on the White Clouds course for the entire golf season and unrestricted play on the White Clouds and Trail Creek courses during the Value Season (opening day - June 23 and September 11 - closing day). White Hot Combo pass holders also receive unlimited junior guest access during the season.

WHITE CLOUDS PASS

$1,600 through May 31; $1,800 afterwards

Unlimited play during the 2022 season on the White Clouds course. White Clouds Pass also offers peak season green fees for the Trail Creek Course discounted to $125 per player.

YOUNG EXECUTIVE PASS

$2,000 through May 31; $2,200 afterwards

The Young Executive pass provides unlimited play for the entire golf season for golfers ages 29 and under on the Trail Creek and White Clouds courses. Play is restricted until after noon on the Trail Creek course unless accompanied by a Medalist or Honors pass holder. Play is unrestricted and unlimited on the White Clouds course for the duration of the season.

BLAINE COUNTY YOUTH PASS

$1,100 through May 31; $1,350 afterwards

The Blaine County Youth Pass is exclusively for high school students and graduating seniors residing in Blaine County and provides access to play after noon seven days a week on the Trail Creek and White Clouds courses. Must be a registered student during the 2022-2023 school year to be eligible and must be purchased through the golf shop.

TWILIGHT TRIPLE PLAY PASS

$525 plus tax--limited to the first 200 purchasers and only one pass per person

The Twilight Triple Play pass provides two rounds of 18-hole golf with a cart rental at the Trail Creek and Elkhorn courses after 2 p.m. and two rounds of 9-hole golf at the White Clouds course after 2 p.m. Passholder discounts include $85 twilight greens fees after all six rounds are used and a $50 nine-hole rate after 4 p.m. after all six rounds are used.

PASSHOLDER BENEFITS (exclusions apply)

● 15% discount on merchandise in the golf shop

● 25% discount on driving range access

● 10% discount when dining at the Clubhouse restaurant

● Peak season green fees for member partners will be discounted to $125 per player. Discounted peak season green fee rate of $90 at the Elkhorn Golf Club is also available and pass holders' playing partners are eligible for a discounted rate of $130 after 2:00 p.m.

● Season passes and associated benefits are non-transferable and may only be used by the registered pass holder.

The Sun Valley Club is open to the public and includes a restaurant, bar, wraparound terraces, a pro shop, locker rooms, club storage, and club rental. It overlooks a 25-acre practice facility and the 18-hole Sawtooth Putting Course. For more information, visit https://www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/golf/