Trail Creek at Trail Creek Golf Course at Sun Valley Resort

Trail Creek Golf Course sits at the base of Bald Mountain in the Sun Valley Resort, one of America's pioneering mountain resort destinations established in the 1930s. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed the course in the mid-1970s, bringing his characteristic strategic design philosophy to the high-altitude setting of central Idaho's Wood River Valley. The layout occupies relatively flat terrain along Trail Creek, with the dramatic peaks of the Sawtooth and Boulder mountain ranges providing the backdrop.

The course measures over 6,500 yards from the back tees and plays at approximately 6,000 feet elevation, where the thin air affects both distance and ball flight. Jones incorporated the natural creek and wetland areas into several holes, requiring carries over water and strategic positioning to avoid hazards. The design emphasizes placement over pure length, with generous fairways that reward thoughtful course management but feature well-positioned bunkers and water hazards that penalize wayward shots.

Trail Creek serves as the resort's primary golf amenity and reflects Sun Valley's broader identity as a year-round mountain destination. The course operates during the summer and early fall months when weather permits, offering a mountain golf experience that contrasts with the resort's better-known winter skiing operations. The routing takes advantage of the valley floor setting while maintaining views of the surrounding high country throughout the round.