Question on Montana golf.

[R-Kid]

My wife and I would like to visit Montana this summer in mid to late June for 2 weeks  .  We are not sure what area to stay in relation to golf courses and pretty areas. Are the Big Fork, Whitefish and Kalispell areas the best to stay? We will rent a home off vrbo .    We would like a little nightlife and a town nearby .  What area or city would you suggest?   Besides golf we like to hike .  Thanks   Ron 

[Double K]

Whitefish is where you want to be. Golf is excellent, lots of hiking around and the nightlife is good if you don't mind a bunch of drunk Canadians. Do drive the 50 miles north to play Wilderness Club, it's fantastic. I'd also suggest playing Northern Pines towards Kalispell. The courses at Whitefish Lake are good albeit slightly overpriced. Food at the course is very very good and they have a pretty lively 19th hole with live music at times. 

[Petethreeput]

For golf only, the above recommendation is 100% correct. WF has the best public course offerings in my estimation. WF has its own 36 hole facility which is well maintained and fun. Wilderness in Eureka is, IMO, the best public in MT. Eagle Bend in Big Fork. Northern Pines is good. Polson is fun too.  CFalls has a funky course (I can’t remember the name of it). Pretty close to GNP for off days.

 

[MTgolfer]

I like the above recommendations. I live in Bozeman, which is a great place to visit, but the public golf around here is not nearly as good as whitefish.

[Manbearpig13]

Would definitely recommend the Whitefish/Kalispell area. I was up there last year about the same time (mid-June) with my dad for a few days. Tons of outdoor stuff being right by Glacier National Park & Flathead Lake.

 

We played Northern Pines, Buffalo Hill, and 2 rounds at the Wilderness Club. I've heard the 36 hole facility at Whitefish Lake is good, didn't have time to play it. Wilderness Club is awesome - most definitely worth the hour+ drive to get up there. Plus they have great accommodations, so you could always stay a few nights up there for a nice change of pace.

[R-Kid]

Thank you for the replies. We rented a house in Whitefish for 2 weeks in June . Looking forward to Montana ! 

[CDM]

110% spot on. WF is the area to be for what your looking for.  Glacier Park, Flathead Lake, 4-5 great courses to play, great food and nightlife during weekends.  

 

Edit: Wilderness Club is a must play as everyone notes.  Since you will be there for a few weeks you must play Wilderness Club and do it on a Monday or Tuesday.  I played 36 on Monday as they had a replay rate last year, killer deal.

Edited February 3, 2021 by CDM

[benkodi]

This advice is really solid.

 

I’ve been to WF a number of times and last year had a group of 24 for 5 nights at The Wilderness Club.  The golf course is excellent.  An decent option would be 2 nights at TWC and 2 nights in downtown WF.  A pretty good mix of chill, small town life and a laid back resort.   The marina at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is a great spot to hang or stay.  

[Double K]

On 2/4/2021 at 2:42 PM, benkodi said:

This advice is really solid.

 

  The marina at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is a great spot to hang or stay.  

This is the most solid advice in the thread. Do treat yourselves to dinner at the Lodge, I’ve run out of superlatives for how good the food is. 
 

The Firebrand Hotel has a pretty decent happy hour/menu as well. 

[PNB_Golf]

Definitely make the trip up to Wilderness Club in Eureka. You won't be disappointed. 

[MTgolfer]

Boy I have heard nothing but good things about the wilderness club. I would love to go play that course and stay there, but even though I live in Montana it’s still about an 8 Hour drive. That thing is in the middle of nowhere!

[CDM]

On 2/19/2021 at 10:20 AM, MTgolfer said:

Boy I have heard nothing but good things about the wilderness club. I would love to go play that course and stay there, but even though I live in Montana it’s still about an 8 Hour drive. That thing is in the middle of nowhere!

 

LOL Everything is 8 hours from something in MT.  *For sure 4 hours..!   

[Petethreeput]

By MT standards I am a local, so as you get closer to this trip, here is a little more.

1.  Going to the Sun road now requires a ticket, so GNP is going to sell them in advance on line, you will want to get one of those.

I tend to go with foodies.  I am not a foodie, so give me a burger and I am on my way, but...

1. The Boathouse as mentioned, is a good restaurant and should be visited.

2. The restaurant at the public course is not golf food for dinner.  It is leased to a private restaurant and is really quite good.

3. Kanduhar is up on the mountain.  Personally I would go to the bar just up the road Hell Roaring (I think) which sits on the mountain.  But Kanduhar is one of those places everyone says you have to go to.  If I am going to drive up that god forsaken road to eat, I am going to the bar.  The food isn't bad and I think the view is just as good if not better.

4. There are a number of breweries and there is also a great breakfast place right in Whitefish.  The Buffalo Cafe, which is pretty darned good and is that old timey place to eat with prices that say "welcome" to the tourists, but not as badly as one would expect.

Hope you have fun.

[R-Kid]

Thank you for the great information!  I’ve booked 2 rounds at the Wilderness club and 2 rounds at Northern Pines. I can’t book Whitefish CC until 2 days out.  I need a couple other courses.

Village green?  Polson  bay? Buffalo hill? Eagle bend?  
Let me know your opinions. Thanks again.  Ron 

[Petethreeput]

Never played Village Greens.

Played Buffalo Hills once about 15 years ago, I think that says something. Don’t know if Jon is still the super but he would get the greens super fast. To me it was just quirky and uninspired.

Polson is a nice course. Not overly difficult, but a fun course. You will also drive the west side of the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Lots of tourists on 93, they sort of make the locals cranky as they rubberneck, but it is a beautiful drive. Their pro is very good to the Junior golf program, so I always play there if I am around there.

Eagle Bend is on the other side of Flathead. Of the 4, it would be my favorite for interesting courses. I know the clubhouse burned down last year so I am sure they can use the greens fees. We will most always play there as well. 1 is deceptively hard, and #4 is straight funky. It’s an evil funky too. Look into the mirror and then fire away.

Have a great time, enjoy MT and let us know what you think after you have played them.

[R-Kid]

Thanks Pete 

[InvalidConflict]

On 2/1/2021 at 3:47 PM, R-Kid said:

Thank you for the replies. We rented a house in Whitefish for 2 weeks in June . Looking forward to Montana ! 

 

Doesn't look like the border will be open anytime soon either, so not many Canadians will be down that way. Shouldn't be as crowded as it normally is.

 

I second Eagle Bend. Quirky little place that has some really beautiful holes. 4 is the devil. 

[jkody]

On 6/1/2021 at 11:04 PM, InvalidConflict said:

 

Doesn't look like the border will be open anytime soon either, so not many Canadians will be down that way. Shouldn't be as crowded as it normally is.

 

 

I think this summer will be the most crowded summer MT has ever had, even without Canadians. 

[Petethreeput]

Here is an FYI for your hiking in Glacier.

Sorry if the verbiage is offensive.

[commoditybroker]

Played Rock Creek Cattle Company yesterday. Absolutely amazing experience and the staff was so friendly and welcoming. If you can get on, I cannot recommend it enough! 

[CDM]

Looks amazing. Playing it in Auguat, really looking forward to it 

[Petethreeput]

10 hours ago, CDM said:

Looks amazing. Playing it in Auguat, really looking forward to it 

It is a really fun course and I can confirm the folks are very nice and accommodating even to people like me.  I am not 100% convinced it is the best in the state, but that's just one person's opinion, though it is certainly top 3-5 of those I have played multiple times.

 

The jerky is legendary at the comfort hut, I think it is after 8, but I am not sure, so definitely give that a go.  It is surprisingly wide open yet tight at the same time, I know that won't make any sense, but you will stand on the tee box thinking about how much room is there, until you miss it, and then you wonder how in the heck did I miss that?  It might make more sense after you play it.  Let us know what you think in relation to other MT courses.

[MTgolfer]

Rock Creek is on my to do list. Not easy to get on there though! Have fun. 

[Petethreeput]

On 2/1/2021 at 3:47 PM, R-Kid said:

Thank you for the replies. We rented a house in Whitefish for 2 weeks in June . Looking forward to Montana ! 

Well, June is over. How was it? Did you buy a house on the lake already?

[R-Kid]

Montana was everything we thought it would be. What a beautiful area.   Glacier NP was gorgeous!  We golfed Wilderness club 3 times and Northern Pines 3 times.  Very friendly people.   Whitefish is a cool town with some great restaurants.  Thanks for everyone’s thoughts.