July/August 2004

Flathead Valley in the Big Sky Country

Montana: The Last Best Place to Golf, RV

By Rick Stedman

Montana's Flathead Lake area, in the western half of the state, is truly one of God's great creations. The major attraction is obviously Glacier National Park, where scenic beauty is everywhere. That's why golf scores seem to be higher in this part of the country; it's difficult keeping your eye on the ball with jagged mountain peaks and a variety of wildlife competing for your attention. Beautiful country aside, golf options are plentiful, thanks to the Flathead Valley Golf Association. According to FVGA Marketing Director Lisa Jones, nine area golf courses have banded together under the FVGA umbrella to offer a wealth of challenging golf. "The beauty of this teaming effort is that all of the member courses are within 45-minutes of each other," says Jones. The diversity of play includes rivers, lakes, hills, trees, trees and more trees. Glacier National Park also serves as a backdrop for one of the courses: Glacier View Golf Club in West Glacier.

Not only is Glacier View Golf Club an incredibly beautiful and challenging course, it also offers a small but comfortable RV park. "We have nine spaces that offer water and electrical hookups and a central dump station," explains Tambrely Kelley of Glacier View. And given the surrounding beauty that's free of charge, the $15 per night fee is quite reasonable.

A Bit of History
Several of the courses within the Flathead Valley came into existence back in the 1930s, thanks in part to President Roosevelt's Works Project Administration or WPA projects. This federal program put Depression-era loggers to work building, among other things, golf courses, complete with impressive log cabin clubhouses.

A great example of this Depression-era craftsmanship can be witnessed at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. The original log clubhouse was renovated and restored in 1999 to retain as much as possible the unique historical qualities of the building. By the way, Whitefish Lake Golf Club is Montana's only 36-hole golf complex. It is located adjacent to Whitefish Lake and offers fabulous mountain views.

When you've finished golfing for the day, a great side activity is a summertime visit to nearby Big Mountain Ski Resort. Take the scenic Glacier Chaser chairlift/gondola to the Summit House where at 7,000 feet, it'll feel like you're overlooking the world below. The breathtaking view of the town of Whitefish and Whitefish Lake can be appreciated from the Summit House pub where you can sip a Missoula-made Moose Drool ale, complements of Big Sky Brewing Co. The $10 fee is well worth the 13-minute gondola ride to the top.

Spectacular Scenery
In addition to the nine Flathead Valley Golf Association courses, northwest Montana has five additional golf courses and three par-three courses.

Not to be missed is the Glacier Park Lodge Golf Course in East Glacier. Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927, Glacier Park Lodge Golf Course is the oldest grass greens golf course in Montana. With the golf course boundary inside the Blackfoot Indian Reservation, each hole is named after former Blackfoot chiefs. The course winds through aspens and features unbelievable views of Glacier Park to the west and the open grassland of the prairie to the east.

After a round of golf, take a few minutes to meander through Glacier Park Lodge, which is nestled at the foot of Dancing Lady Mountain. Commonly called "The Big Tree Hotel," Glacier Park Lodge offers a sight to behold: enormous Douglas fir timber surrounding its majestic lobby.
To combine great golf with great RVing, try visiting the southern tip of Flathead Lake where you'll find Polson Country Club and Eagle Nest RV Resort. Also built during the mid-1930s, Polson Country Club, which offers 27 holes of golf, is open to the public and is truly one of the best courses combining challenging golf and photographic surroundings. Though some of the local golfers begged for negative editorial coverage, the fact remains that this is a stunning setting for a golf outing. Sorry guys!

Nestled along Polson's 18th fairway is Eagle Nest RV Resort. The Mission Mountains overlook all 54 sights. Amenities include 50-amp service, pull-throughs, telephones, spacious and grassy sites, showers, gift store, cable TV, spa, swimming pool, rec room, restrooms and laundry facilities. Located a quarter mile from a public beach area, Eagle Nest RV Resort is also a short walk from the clubhouse, restaurants, a bank, Safeway and Wal-Mart.

For more information on the Flathead Valley area of Montana, please contact the Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-543-3105; e-mail: fcvb@fcvb.org; online: www.montanasflatheadvalley.com.

© 2004 by Columbia Publishing