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Show 5 Thursday June 7, 2007 ACTIVITIES www.dailyutahchronicle.com ^ ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Call 801-581-8516, or visit www.utah.edu/campusrec for more information. Wednesdays Kayak Roll Practice June 9 to June 14 Desolation Canyon Raft Trip June 18 Weber River Run June 23 to June 28 ML Shasta Climb (California) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. U Natatorium., $4.50 Pre-trip meeting June 7 S175 Sign up In advance $15 $50 -=~-afeatfi P R O M THF. S P O R T S tudents at the U have an interesting world at their fingertips. If one were sitting in the Union, within 20 minutes that person could be at the center of a bustling city or entering the Rocky Mountains. U students might not have the Las Vegas strip or Hollywood Boulevard at their fingertips, but they do have a plethora of ways to enjoy the outdoors at their disposal. Some people come to school at the U solely for that reason. While there is no way to determine who really has the "best snow on earth," most S PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LENNIE MAHLER/fl*telly UtehChte-vik Go take a hike: the "Living Room" Jessica Dunn ACTIVITIES WRITER A typical living room usually consists of a few couches, a television and maybe a coffee table. However, the "Living Room" above the U campus is a little different. The couches are made of flat, smooth, orange-yellow rock and you probably won't find a remote hiding in their cushions. There isn't a television, either. Instead, you get a panoramic high-definition view of the Salt Lake Valley that rivals Discovery Channel-quality. The "Living Room" is a manmadd arrangement of rocks that was created to look like chairs and couches. It is a well-known hike in the foothills behind the U. The trail cuts off the Bonneville Shoreline TYail and up George's Hollow directly behind Research Park. The hike only takes about 40 minutes and the final destination is worth an even longer stay. You'll want time to take in the view, rest, relax and watch the sunset. The "Living Room" trail is unmarked but well worn, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Start at the Bonneville Shoreline Trail entrance south of Tabby Lane on Huntsman Way (in Research Park, south of the Residence Halls). There is a sign on the east side of the road. Follow the trail through the trees, across a small stream and up to the main shoreline trail. You'll know you're there when the trail opens up and gets wider. Cross the wide trail and head east up a small gravel-covered trail. It will lead you to the main path, which is surrounded by oak scrub and other small trees and bushes. The remainder of the trail is pretty easy to follow—just don't veer off onto any smaller side trails or the mountain lions and wandering U professors might protest. After you come to your first view of Salt Lake City, continue following the trail along the ridge until it comes to a "Y." Go left. After crossing the remnants of a rockslide and passing walls of smooth, orange rock, you will arrive at the community "Living Room." Pick a seat and enjoy the view. You can see the entire U campus and everything from the Great Salt Lake to the point of the mountain. Campus Recreation is offering a fitness class for the summer called "Take a Hike." The class will explore the hills behind the U and will hike the "Living Room," the "U," the "Tanks" and the "Pipeline," to name a few. The class will be held on Fridays from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., June 8 to July 27. The cost is $25. For more information or to register, go to the Field House or www.utah.edu/ campusrec and click on fitness program. j.dunn@ chronicle.utah.edu STAFF colleges around the country will be dedicated to anything would be hard pressed to have recreational, including receven one worltf-class ski resort reation sports leagues at the within a two-hour drive. U stu- U. This section is meant for dents have five world-class ski U students and if you want to resorts they can get to in less see something covered in the time than it takes to order a section, contacting us is easier pizza—and that's just the tip of than losing a shoe in the front row of a rock concert. the iceberg. If you'd like to be the one Utah offers a Vast buffet—a smorgasbord, if you will—of writing about a favorite Jeep outdoor things to do, such as trail at Moab or traversing hiking, fishing, boating, rock Mount Timpanogos, let us climbing, biking, hunting, know. We'd also like to hear camping, water skiing and golf- ideas on improving the section as a whole. ing, just to name a few. The purpose of the Activi- • Contact us by calling 801ties Section will be to shed 581-8783, or send an e-mail to more light on these things. It tpizza@chronicle.utah.edu. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LENNIE MAHIZR/IhtOs>>fLtteha>r<vktt Getting better with age The Chronicle reviews of one of Salt Lake City's oldest golf courses Tony Pizza SPORTS EDITOR JESSICA DUNN/Tht Daily Utah (hrenitfr The top of the "Living Room" trail behind the U campus overlooks breathtaking views of the valley. Utah may not be home to Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Pinehurst No. 2 or Bethpage Black, but it still has reason to be proud of its vast and beautiful public golf courses. Bonneville golf course is one that has helped hold up that reputation for the Beehive State. The course was designed by William Bell and opened for business in 1929. One of Salt Lake City's oldest golf courses has been deceiving local hacks ever since. Bonneville is just beyond a John Daly tee shot from the U campus and is situated on Salt Lake City's east bench, which is an important fact to keep in mind for all 18 holes. Bonneville has some of the most beautiful greens in northern Utah, but that doesn't help golfers read them any better. If a putting surface were put in a vacuum on Bonneville and then suspended 20 feet off the ground, every putt would still break to the valley. It's as constant as the tide and that fact has helped pad the wallets of many of the local golfers that have the upper hand against the frequently perplexed Bonneville rookies. Bonneville is very skimpy in the form of water and other hazard variations, but in no way does that make the course easier. Centuryold saplings line nearly every hole, which puts a premium on driving and hitting shots in the fairway. The strong suit of the U's closest 18-hole golf course is the simplicity in its variety. The par 5s are all of challenging length, including the lead-off hole, which plays almost entirely uphill. There is variety in length to the par 4s, with No. 14 being the only one that is exceptionally challenging to reach in two. Last year Bonneville changed its course layout back to how golfers in the 1930s would have expected it by completely changing the front and back nines, with the exception of the No. 1 and No. 10 holes. Now, instead of finishing the front nine with a picturesque par 4 that is dissected by Emigration Creek, the round finishes off with the difficult par four that offers a great view of downtown Salt Lake City. Golfers can also expect Bonneville to be in near-perfect condition from early spring until winter. But be aware of sunrise tee-times, as that is the harshest time to play one of Utah's best public offerings when the wind kicks up and blows out of Emigration Canyon. Bonneville is also one of the Bonneville Golf Course > 954 Connor Street Salt Lake City, UT > Call80l-583-9513fortee times. > Par 72 (men) 74 (women) > Course Record: 60 Mack Christensen > Yardage: 6,824 (blue tees) 5,861 (red tees) > Single person Green Fees: $27 for 18 holes $13 for cart rare courses that has an accessible snack shack throughout the round. Golfers finishing holes No. 1, No. 3, No. 10 and No. 17 can get anything from chips and a hot dog to a bagel from the strategically placed shack located in the heart of the course. The course also offers two putting greens, a driving range that does not permit the use of woods and a plethora of luxury homes bordering the course for college students to gawk at and dream of affording years down the road. A full 18-hole round regularly plays in four hours throughout the day, and the best way to create birdie chances is to take care of business on the manageable par 5s. And don't underestimate the valley—there's a golf-ball magnet down there somewhere. t.pizza@ chronicle.utah.edu Do you love the great outdoors? Do you want to write about them? Contact Tony at The Dally Utah Chronicle. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICE OUHWth*Dai!/UtchChrenkle t.pijcxa@chr0nicle.utah.edu J |