Taking notice of Montana’s Flathead Valley

In 2000, Golf Digest added Montana’s Flathead Valley to its list of the nation’s “50 Greatest Golf Destinations.” In 2003, GolfWorld magazine did the same.

And since then, the region has only enhanced its image as one of the most scenic, affordable and accessible golf meccas in the country.

With eight championship courses located within a 45-minute drive of each other, and a seemingly endless array of lodging possibilities and other outdoor activities available, the Flathead Valley continues to build on its considerable reputation.

Following is a brief look at the eight diverse and challenging championship golf courses that make the Flathead Valley a dream destination for golfers of all levels. More information and reserved tee times can be obtained by calling 1-800-392-9795, or by visiting www.golfmontana.net on the internet.

Big Mountain Golf Club

3230 Highway 93 North

Kalispell, Mont. 59901

Phone: (800) 255-5641

Website: www.golfmt.com

Comments: Formerly known as Northern Pines Golf Club, this Andy North-designed gem plays to a par of 72 and stretches to just over 7,000 yards from the back tees and abuts the Stillwater River, which comes into play on a couple of holes. The course is visually unique in that many of its holes combine a Scottish links look within the more natural framework provided by the towering pine trees after which it was originally named. Landing areas off most tees are remarkably generous, but approach shots to the beautifully manicured bentgrass greens must be properly placed in order to score.

Buffalo Hill Golf Club

North Main Street

Kalispell, Mont. 59903

Phone: (888) 342-6319

Website: www.golfbuffalohill.com

Comments: A true shot-makers’ course, this 6,525-yard, par-72 layout plays over and around a promontory near the west entrance to Glacier National Park and is named after the hill, itself, on which buffalo once grazed. Most of the holes unwind through towering stands of mature trees, with many fairways tilted dramatically in accordance with the lay of the land and making level lies difficult to find. The greens are quick, and trying to figure out how a putt will be influenced by uneven surroundings can be a real test of one’s imagination.

Eagle Bend Golf Club

279 Eagle Bend Drive

Bigfork, Mont. 59911

Phone: (800) 255-5641

Website: www.golfmt.com

Comments: Long considered the premier course in the region, this 6,802-yard, par-72 layout sits on the northeast corner of Flathead Lake and offers some stunning views of both the lake and surrounding mountain ranges. Not particularly intimidating from the tee, the course puts an emphasis on the proper placement of drives in order to set up demanding approach shots to greens that can be lightning fast and difficult to hold. When they let the rough grow, look out!

Meadow Lake Golf Resort

490 St. Andrews Driver

Columbia Falls, Mont. 59912

Phone: (406) 892-2111

Comments: Spread across 330 acres of gently rolling and heavily wooded terrain, this testy 6,714-yard, par-72 layout boasts a true resort feel, complete with a small hotel, condominiums and town houses – none of which detract from the wonderful golf experience the course offers. Water comes into play on seven holes, and some of the mountain views are simply breathtaking. Accuracy off the tee is essential in trying to navigate the tight, tree-lined fairways that contribute to the intimacy of the course. The greens are relatively small, but perplexingly contoured, and demand a deft putting touch.

Mission Mountain Country Club

640 Stagecoach Trail

Ronan, Mont. 59864

Phone: (406) 676-4653

Comments: Located in the heart of scenic Mission Valley, this 6,479-yard, par-72 layout features wide, plush and inviting fairways, stunning views of the Mission Mountains from nearly every hole and some of the biggest bentgrass greens in the region. Many of the fairways are lined by mounds – some of which can provide errant drives with surprise bounces back to toward the short grass. The front nine unwinds across relatively flat ground, while the back features some interesting elevation changes. Because of the size of the greens, three-putts can become perplexingly routine. And the wind is often a major factor, especially on the less-protected front nine.

Polson Country Club

111 Bayview Drive

Polson, Mont. 59860

Phone: (406) 883-8230

Website: www.polsoncountryclub.com

Comments: This scenic 6,964-yard course plays to a par of 72 and is the only track in the Flathead Valley to offer fairways that run adjacent to the shores of Flathead Lake. The lake views are stunning – as are the vistas of the surrounding Mission and Swan mountain ranges, and the condition of the course is impeccable. The course was expanded to 27 holes in 1999 and the nine new holes were intertwined with the nine built in 1989, creating a feast for the senses and a grand test of golf.

Village Greens Golf Club

500 Palmer Driver

Kalispell, Mont. 59901

Phone: (406) 752-4666

Comments: The bentgrass greens and overall condition of this relatively short, 6,401-yard layout continues to draw rave reviews. Playing to a par of 70, Village Greens sprawls beautifully across what was once a dairy farm and, like most courses in the Flathead Valley, offers spectacular mountain views. What helps set it apart, visually, from other courses in the area are its massive and strategically placed white sand bunkers. The fairways remaining inviting targets off the tee, but once the small fir trees that dot the course mature, that could change dramatically.

Whitefish Lake Golf Club

Highway 93 North

Whitefish, Mont. 59937

Phone: (406) 862-4000

Website: www.golfwhitefish.com

Comments: Whitefish Lake Golf Club boasts Montana’s only 36-hole complex and remains a favorite stop among golf-minded tourists. The North Course, at 6,579 yards, is the longest of the two par-72 layouts, but only by a few yards. The biggest difference in the two tracks – both of which offer superbly conditioned bentgrass greens and well-positioned bunkers – is the terrain on which they were built. The tree-line and classically designed North Course is relatively flat and easy to walk, while the South unfolds in a more modern way over hillier terrain that brings water into play on several holes. Both courses are top-notch and worth the price of an extra night’s lodging for those wanted to sample all they have to offer.