Southwest Montana Golf
Posted: 06/29/2009
The Club at Spanish Peaks, Big Sky, Montana
By: Scott Johnson
I would like to think that the length of our winters are exactly why I love golf so much in Southwest Montana. I read somewhere that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Well not being able to play for four months makes you long for your return to the course. My time off is full of new resolutions-my first hole-in-one, getting to a single digit handicap, and the big daddy, “no three putts” ring true each spring. Although these are usually tossed aside by June at the latest, I still look forward to the courses in our area all year long. Resolutions aside, we would not even have dreams if it weren’t for the fact that we have such great courses to return to each spring. Public or private, our local courses offer some fantastic challenges, affordability and scenery to take in while playing golf in our area.
First, courses in this area range from 4,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. That means ego building drives are possible. The key word here is “possible.” Accuracy is still a must, but there are holes at each of the courses in our area that lend themselves to “swing for the fence” drives that we should aspire to hit every time. Cottonwood near Four Corners, Bridger Creek and the Big Sky Meadow Course come to mind. Each of these tracks offer challenges, but the courses are generally free of many trees. That still doesn’t mean that the rough can’t be mean however!
Second, the weather in this area lends itself to great golf. Once the growing season begins in mid-April, long warm days ensure great course conditions throughout the year. The best early season golf courses are Three Forks and Cottonwood. Both open as weather permits usually in late March and early April. Golf in Big Sky begins in mid May on the Meadow Course, and June for The Club at Spanish Peaks, The Reserve and Yellowstone Club. Warm dry days with little to no humidity provide almost perfect golf conditions.
Third, the scenery and wildlife is majestic at many of the local courses, but the Big Sky courses,with the proximity to Yellowstone National Park provide the best chance to mix golf with great scenery and wildlife. Big Sky holes 1-4 and 17 & 18 often present a chance to view moose grazing along the creek and in the willow stands. At The Club at Spanish Peaks, this course is often frequented by elk, moose and the occasional bear. Although these animals are fun to see during a round of golf, they present a nightmare for all the local superintendents. Views of the local peaks are spectacular at all the courses in Big Sky. The Bozeman courses also offer fantastic views of the surrounding Bridger and Gallatin Ranges.
Finally-the prices for Southwest Montana Golf are very affordable. Green’s fees start aslow as $31/round and peak at $69/round. However, most of the local courses offer sunset or afternoon rates as well.
The Club at SpanishPeaks, Big Sky-A Weiskopf signature design that requires accuracy and some fairways actually double as ski runs in the winter. Ski-in/Golf-out so to speak. This mountain course is spread over 600 acres and offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. Weiskopf got first dibs on the terrain in this private community and the rest of the community was designed around the golf and ski runs. No two fairways are close to each other, and very few homesites are on the course. Forced carries from the tee boxes and to a few of the greens, ball control and slick greens make this a wonderful test in mountain golf. Only two years old, this course is fast tracked to bea must play in the west. Travel& Leisure Golf-#1 in the Rockies, #1 in Montana 2009 and Golf Digest #2 new private course 2009 and #1 in Montana May 09!
Yellowstone Club, Big Sky-A Weiskopf signature design offering grand views of Lone Peak and Pioneer Mountain. Lot’s of vertical on this course. Elevated tees on many of the holes create deceiving distances. Trust your caddie! Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine ranked Yellowstone Club one of the top 25 golf communities in the country.
The Reserve at Moonlight Basin, Big Sky-Nine holes completed as of this writing. A Nicklaus design that will test even the longest hitters at 7,700 yards. No report yet.
Valley View Country Club, Bozeman- I once heard this course referred to as a shot makers course and I could not agree more. A great loop with some hidden creeks along the perimeter of fairways that can sneak up on you. I have not played this course often, but what I remember are great risk reward par 5’s including #18. This club packs a lot of golf into a small area and it offers a great pro shop.
Riverside Country Club, Bozeman-This club has been completely redesigned since I played it many years ago. I enjoyed this course prior to the renovation and look forward to a return in the near future.
Public Course’s
Big Sky Meadow Course-An Arnold Palmer Design from the early 70’s. A fun track designed byArnold Palmer almost 40 years ago that appears mostly open, but has recently been adding some deep rough. On many of these open holes, this course has become a classic links style. The beginning four holes, and the final four holes are great and very easy on the eye. The middle part of this track offers plenty of opportunity to make up some strokes.
Cottonwood Hills, Bozeman-another fun meadow course that always seems to be in the best shape of any in the valley. Be sure to pay attention to yardage. This course can bedeceiving with the long range views of the area from many of the holes. Be sure to try the executive par 3course. It can be very humbling.
Bridger Creek Golf Course, Bozeman-A great track set at the foot of the Bridger Mountains. Keep your ball in the fairways here. It looks like there is a lot of room, but for some reason Ialways seem to have one or two devastating holes when I play here. I love the back nine. It provides some elevation gains and losses and just fits my eye better. Furthermore, I love courses that finish with par 5’s. Golf Digest ranks this a Top 10 course in Montana!