Restoring a decade-old tradition, HF Sinclair will donate 12 trees to Lakeside Golf Course in West Bountiful, Utah.

“It’s just nice to work with somebody,” said public works director Steve Maughan. “If we can have somebody else helping bring that stuff into our city, you know, and take a little bit of burden off the taxpayer, we’re happy for that help, and I think it’s just a good way for Holly [Sinclair] to give back to the community.”

An initiative that Sinclair approached the city about, the company has donated trees to West Bountiful for several years – including at their city hall and baseball fields. That said, the golf course donation project was paused in 2020 due to concerns about water conservation during the pandemic. 

Sinclair not only plans to donate the trees, but have employees serve as volunteers to plant the contributions. According to Maughan, the city decides which areas trees will be planted in based on where they feel shade and protection from going out of bounds is needed, as well as where the level of enjoyment at the course can be amplified.

During a previous year, Maughan said the company helped West Bountiful place 30 pine trees across an edge of Lakeside to protect walkers on nearby trails from balls. 

“You can almost never have too many trees in a golf course,” said Maughan. “Now, Josh [Virostko] the superintendent [of the course] may argue with me because he’s got to take care of them, but I think they enhance the whole course. They just make it a better, funner, prettier course to play.”

Lakeside Golf Course is a staple in West Bountiful’s community. Established in 1966, the 71 par course is divided into sections by the roads 1100 West, McKean Lane and 1200 North. The course contains one of the area’s only restaurants – a grill and bistro at the clubhouse. HF Sinclair’s West Bountiful operation, a high-conversion refinery that has a crude oil capacity of 45,000 barrels per day, is 1.5 miles from Lakeside.

“Many of the people I work with, including me, we like to go do service,” said Richmond Thornley, an employee at HF Sinclair about the tree donation initiative. “To be able to do that, and have that supported at work is great.”

HF Sinclair and West Bountiful plan to continue the tree donation project and re-establish it as an annual event.