2025 Business of the Year

Birch Creek Golf Course

Birch Creek Golf Course in Smithfield, Utah, began as a 9 hole golf course, Summit Park Golf Course, in 1963. Current holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10 are part of the original 9 hole golf course. The City of Smithfield purchased the 9 hole golf course in 1976 and acquired the land that holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 11-18 currently sit on. Construction began in 1977 and was completed in 1979. When the City of Smithfield acquired Summit Park Golf Course, the City changed the name to Smithfield Municipal Golf Course. In the spring of 1979, Smithfield Municipal Golf Course became an 18 hole golf facility. In the spring of 1984, the name was changed to Birch Creek Golf Course.

The golf course covers roughly 124 acres and its full time staff consists of Eric Kleven - PGA Professional, Zach Smyer - Golf Course Superintendent, Dustin Luthi - Golf Course Mechanic and 24 seasonal staff members. Birch Creek has the largest Men’s Association Tournament League in the State of Utah and offers a Ladies Association as well as a Couples League. On average, over 55,000 rounds of golf are played annually.

Eric Kleven, PGA Golf Professional, was introduced to the Smithfield Chamber by his mom, Sandy Turner, who was a founder of the Smithfield Chamber along with Preston Watts and Lee Cantwell. He first introduced the idea of a Smithfield Chamber Golf Tournament with President Rigo Chapparro in 2011. In 2012, the first Smithfield Chamber Golf Tournament was held to benefit Sunrise and Summit Elementary Schools. The Tri School Golf Tournament is now affiliated with Health Days and benefits Birch Creek, Summit and Sunrise Elementary Schools and has raised over $150,000 to benefit the elementary schools in Smithfield, as well as supporting scholarship funding for high school seniors.

Eric Kleven served as the President of the Smithfield Chamber for three years and has been a stalwart supporter of Chamber events. Birch Creek Golf Course is honored to be the recipient of Business of the Year for 2025.