ST. GEORGE — Former St. George City Manager Gary Esplin was recognized with an award last week from the Utah Golf Association for his 40 years of support and promotion of golf on the local level.
Esplin was presented with the Charles Nibley Excellence in Golf Promotion Award during a meeting of the St. George City Council Thursday by UGA Executive Director Easten Folster.
“Through 40 years of devoted service, Gary Esplin put St. George golf on the map,” Folster said.
During Esplin’s time as the city manager, the golf industry in Washington County grew from two golf courses to 12 golf courses, with Dixie Red Hills, St. George, Sunbrook and Southgate golf courses owned and operated by St. George City. Esplin retired in 2017.
The UGA credits Esplin with positioning St. George at the forefront of publicly-owned golf course management in Utah.
“Under his leadership, St. George City became known worldwide as one of the most popular golf destinations in the United States leading to national-best residential growth and economic expansion,” a UGA press release announcing Esplin’s recognition states. “As a major draw for global tourism, St. George City became recognized as the golfing Mecca of Utah during his tenure.”
While he was the one being honored, Esplin told the City Council the award belongs equally to everyone who supported him along the way. This included the various mayors and city councils he’s worked with, as well as city staff, golf pros and others who helped golf flourish in Southwest Utah.
“I was just in the right place as the right time,” he said, reiterating appreciation for previous mayors and City Councils for supporting his move for the city to take over the management of local golf courses in the past that may have floundered otherwise.
“The golf courses were going to go brown if we didn’t step up,” he said.
Esplin recounted how he worked part-time at the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course when he was younger and came to see what golf can mean for a community. For Esplin personally, he said the sport also became a way to unwind after long days dealing with city business.
In its press release, the UGA states Esplin, perhaps more than anyone else, played the most prominent role in St. George developing into a “nationally recognized year-round golf destination community and played a major consulting role in the area’s other courses, including the private country club and resort facilities in Washington County.”
“I’ve seen golf grow,” Esplin said. “I’ve seen what it means to the economic structure of St. George through sales tax and room tax, through the people visiting here.”
For Washington County, golf is the third largest economic driver behind Zion National Park and the Tuacahn Center for the Arts.
In September 2022, the UGA presented its inaugural “Excellence in Golf Promotion” honor posthumously to Charles Nibley. This honor was in recognition of Nibley’s property donation to Salt Lake City resulting in the creation of Utah’s first public golf course in 1922.
Nibley Park Golf Course paved the way for Utah to become a national leader in the availability of quality, affordable publicly owned golf courses.
It was announced that the special recognition honor’s official title for future honorees will be known as the “Charles Nibley Excellence in Golf Promotion.” Esplin is the second person to be recognized with this honor.
All Charles Nibley Excellence in Golf Promotion honorees are recognized on a permanent display in the Nibley Park Golf Course clubhouse.
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