There is a new course in Hotsprings, MT located about 85 miles NW of Missoula off of Hwy 200. It's only 9 holes for now and has homemade baskets, but it's pretty sweet!!! It is layed out on private land on what was the makings of a 9 hole ball golf course about 15 years ago. The BG course was never finished and when the owner of the property found out about DG, he thought it would be a good fit.
It is links style golf in that the holes are long with very few trees but do have irrigated and mowed fairways with sage brush rough which is similar to the X and lots of rolling hills for flavor. It plays pretty tough, probably a par around 31~32 for 9 holes with 3 par 4's, 3 par 3.5's, and 3 par 3's that are not gimmes at all.
The course is on the same property as Camas Hotsprings which is a semi developed hotsprings right on the edge of the town of Hotsprings and has beautiful views of the Mission Mtns. There are 2 large cement pools, cabins available for rent with private hotspring pools in them, 110 hook-ups for your campers, and a primitive camping area, too.
In addition to all of that, the property is 80 acres of which only about 30 are used. I think if we can show the owner it would be worthwhile, he would expand the course to 18 and possibly even 27/36 eventually.
Look for an event there sometime early next spring; maybe late Feb or early March and also possibly next fall, too. Just think how good it could be to be soaking in a hotspring during lunchbreak of a tourney!
For now, this is a free course, but it will eventually be a pay to play course and it's $5 for the soak.
I'll be heading up there again in a few weeks and will post something to try to get a few carloads to make the trip. It's only about 85 miles NW of Missoula and makes a good Sunday drive.
I love well groomed courses. This could be the sign of a great opportunity.
I'm really excited about the possibilities for this place!! Can't wait to get some other people up to check it out. Thinking maybe next Sunday, Dec 13, would be a good day for a road trip up there. I'll talk to the landowner and post more info soon.
I finally got to play this course today. Was really surprised at how long it was. I really liked holes 4-6 and didn't get to play the final few holes because I wanted to go soak. I also had my father-in-law and 2.5 year old son in my flight so things weren't exactly flowing. Anyway I really liked what I saw. The baskets need a lot of work but I salute the effort put forth so far. Below is part of the nice view from the course.
Nice, very nice.