The majestic panoramic views from the fifth hole of the highly anticipated Marcella Club golf course in Deer Valley are both the work of the powers above and Tiger Woods. The tee will be perfectly perched on a ridge. Directly ahead to the north are dramatic sights of snow-capped Bald Mountain with the Jordanelle Reservoir deep on the horizon. A turn to the left exposes unique vantage points of the Heber Valley and Mount Timpanogos. When you take out your driver, make sure to hit it straight.
“It’s a slight downhill shot, but it feels like you’re hitting off into the abyss,” says Ryan Kartchner, managing director of golf development at Reef Capital Partners. “It’s pretty spectacular.”

Creating an awe-inspiring, aesthetically original golf experience is the concept behind Marcella Club, which is set to open in 2025. The PGA-level, 18-hole course was designed by golf icon Woods and his TGR Design firm. Fourteen of the holes boast 360-degree elevated mountain views perched 7,000 feet above sea level. There are over 8,000 yards of playing field, including an ultra-rare 700-yard par 5 (10th hole). 

“I am thrilled about the location of this property,” Woods said in a statement. “The canvas for my course is one of the most dramatic I’ve ever seen. It has ridgelines with some of the most stunning views in the world, valleys with amazing contours and topography, and groves of trees that allow me to use creativity to bring to life a golf experience that’s something special.”
Convincing one of the world’s most recognizable athletes to co-sign on the vision was not as difficult as one might think. Woods has long had a connection to the area, stemming from his friendship with fellow PGA pro Mark O’Meara, who maintains a home in Park City and designed the local Tuhaye Golf Club. For decades, he has visited Utah to ski, fish, hike, and yes, golf. “Utah is an incredible place,” Woods says.

The opportunity to expand his growing portfolio of personalized golf courses was also a major selling point for Woods. Marcella Club will be TGR’s fourth full 18-hole original design and first mountain course.

“I am fortunate with many design opportunities, but I’m extremely selective in which projects I take on,” Woods added. “Two key factors for me are being able to work with great partners on great properties.”

In addition to TGR, Marcella Club is a collaboration between Reef Capital Partners, Raintree Investment Corporation, and Cross Lake Partners. The course is part of the massive Mayflower Mountain Resort development, which will include a 6,000-acre world-class ski resort with a premium hotel and a plethora of upscale shopping, fitness, and fine-dining options attached to it. There will also be a new community of luxury homes and a separate 18-hole golf course that will be added in 2027. 

Kartchner, one of the original stakeholders on the project, has been planning Marcella Club since 2009. While seeing new renderings of the resort and working closely with golf royalty like Woods is still surreal to him, he gets most excited visualizing Utah locals, golf tourists, and PGA pros experiencing golf from an atypical vantage point.

“Most people haven’t really played a lot of golf at this elevation with these kinds of views,” he says. “We’re really hoping to show that stuff off when it finally opens.”