Things to Do in South Jordan Heights

At 24 miles long and 13 miles wide, Utah Lake is as vast as it is beautiful, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has explored more of it than Chad Chorniak. As a yacht captain and experienced scuba diver, Captain Chad takes passengers out on his 27-foot Catalina yacht to experience the scenic lake on the water, and also helps aspiring scuba divers plunge below the water’s surface into a new hobby of underwater exploration. Though he’s known for seeking out and investigating Utah’s best diving spots, he always conducts his Discover Scuba lessons in an indoor pool. This gives students an added level of comfort as they learn to breathe properly through the scuba apparatus and grow webbing between their toes.

Arabian horses are known for the strong bonds they form with their caretakers. Lashay Arabians’ owner, Lisa Park, can attest to that fact. Throughout her 22 years of horse training and riding, she always has cared for loving arabian steeds, and her stables house a number of arabian and arabian-mixed mounts. Flower, Lisa's 24-year-old mare, has been with her since before she began her career leading lessons of riding and jumping, and to this day still takes kids for trots around the farm while neighing about her favorite episode of Cheers.

Along with fellow trainer Leslee Pugh, Lisa leads lessons for students of all ages and skill levels that teach the art of horsemanship, from recreational riding to national-level showing to jumping and dressage. The team also assists riders in need by coaching them during events, transporting horses to and from locations, and leasing horses to those who want to ride more but are not ready to buy their own mount.

Zach Emig and David Cooper have fished for more than 20 years, oftentimes 200 times a year and all over the country. They draw upon knowledge accumulated during these endeavors while presiding over equipment and guests at Simply Fishing. When they founded the business, Zach and David also realized that they didn’t just want to furnish anglers with rods, custom flies tied by a resident fly winder, and signed headshots of Poseidon to lure in local marine life; they wanted to share their acute knowledge of local fishing hot spots. Thus, they lead half- and full-day excursions on six lakes and rivers, including Provo River. They are excited to teach their techniques and “committed to helping you not have to lie” about catching 300-pound catfish made of diamonds.

Fishwest Fly Shop prepares shoppers for successful fly-fishing forays with its impressive selection of equipment and accessories. Rods, reels, and lines by brands such as Cortland and Hardy line the shelves, along with a vast collection of colorful flies for enticing even the pickiest fish. Wading gear, outerwear, and eyewear protect anglers from the ravages of nature, and fly boxes and gear bags keep all equipment neatly partitioned. The shop also offers weekly classes in fly-casting techniques, allowing students to hone skills without the threat of popping the neighbor's homemade blimp with an errant hook.

On Friday the 13th of July, Go Tri sponsors its annual series of nighttime races with routes wending paths between local landmarks such as the Eagle Mountain City Center, Nolan Park, and the scenic Ranches neighborhood. Donning glow-in-the-dark outfits to increase visibility, without carrying a night light on a transatlantic extension cord, runners can dart through the half marathon, adopt a casual pace during the 5K, or go stride-in-little-stride with youngsters during a short fun run that ends at Nolan Park’s splash pad. At the finish line of each race, participants can cool down and refuel on complimentary snacks, while prizes honor the fastest and most festively dressed runners.

The 18-hole course at TalonsCove Golf Club hugs the northwest rim of Utah Lake, leading golfers on a shamrock-shaded jaunt backdropped by the craggy skyline formed by the Timpanogos Mountain. Architect Gene Bates designed the course in a links-style format, the ancient design scheme that features numerous deep bunkers, frustratingly high rough, and few trees bent on blocking flight paths and asking for group pictures right before an important shot.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Total length of 7,096 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72.5 from the back tees
• Course slope of 127 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard