“THE PAZDUR EXPERIENCE”

Founded on the promise of a different kind of private club lifestyle, Promontory is built for families.

BY MARK PAZDUR, PUBLISHER

PARK CITY, UTAH: If you’re like most, the allure of new horizons and uncharted adventures keeps you constantly adding destinations to your bucket list. Wouldn’t it be great if one locale could combine the outdoor activities of beach, golf, skiing, and fishing?

Promontory, a private community covering a large swath of land (7,200 acres) with more than $400 million in member amenities, does just that.

While golf is its focal point with three courses (The Pete Dye Canyon Course, the Nicklaus Painted Valley Course, and The Hills Par-3 Course), it is far from a one-trick pony. Other assets include the Alpine Lodge at Deer Valley and the PC Lodge at Park City Mountain, the Beach Club (a rarity in the mountains at 7,000 feet in elevation), the Village Spa (offering a contemporary interpretation of age-old treatments), the Kids’ Club 4-12 (more than 5,000 square-feet and oodles of activities), the Equestrian Center (with heated stalls include washing and grooming areas), tennis and pickleball facilities (with a stadium court), and the Outfitters Cabin (with access and equipment to explore 40 miles of hiking, biking, fishing, and in the winter snowshoeing trails).

In 2012, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was approaching 13,000, my wife JoAnn and I and our four daughters had the good fortune to experience the full range of amenities at Promontory. With our kids (ages 8 to 14), pedestrian activities of fishing and horseback riding were big hits.

Fast forward to this summer with the DJIA breaching 40,000 and all of our daughters grown, we revisited Promontory.

Personalized Viewpoint

I was curious to see if Promontory has aged as well as its extensive wine list at Sage (a brand-new modern Italian restaurant on-property). The short answer is yes. Older amenities have been renovated and expanded, and hardly a year seems to go by without a big new feature becoming available for member use.

Our whirlwind two-day visit allowed us to experience most of what makes Promontory tick. One of my highlights included parring the 12th hole, a par-5, on the Nicklaus/Painted Valley Course. You might yawn and say big deal. But at 673 yards from the back tees, it now qualifies as the longest hole I’ve played—requiring a driver, three wood, and four iron to the green. It is safe to say that my 55-year-old body was a little sore after all the outdoor activities. In addition to playing both the Nicklaus Painted Valley and The Hills courses (The Dye Course was closed for maintenance), we spent time with Sean Smith, former Olympian and director of The Outfitters Cabin.

“During our long summer days, I chaperone members for fishing, boating, and mountain biking excursions,” said Smith. “When the snow starts to fly, it is all about skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Each season, we have multiple daily activities. No matter the sport, my advice is to know your area and ability level. When you feel tired, pack it up. Most injuries happen at the end of the day when you have muscle fatigue and are more easily distracted.”

Sean’s advice wasn’t foolproof. As he explained to my daughter, Taylor, how to properly cast a fly, she accidentally hooked his shoe on her first attempt. We all had a good laugh!

While the ladies visited the spa for a massage, the guys headed to The Beach Club. It’s easy to see why they recently expanded the facility. It almost has a Zen-like feel at 7,000 feet. I believe Promontory is able to boast they are the only club in America with a beach club in the mountains.

The trip concluded with dinner and entertainment at The Shed. It’s a family-friendly activity center that’s a great place to kick back over a burger and beer. Optional activities include “old-school” video games (think PAC-MAN and pinball machines), the Mercantile, movie theater, bowling lanes, a 500-seat outdoor amphitheater, and a spacious deck with views of Deer Valley and Park City ski runs. After dinner, we bowled (thankfully, I didn’t come in last) and finished the evening with a couple of dodgeball games at the indoor basketball court.

I felt privileged to be offered the opportunity to revisit Promontory. It reinforced in my daughters that with hard work comes dividends in life.

 For more information on lifestyle opportunities, please visit PromontoryClub.com.