Summer is the time we head to cooler climates for golf. In the area just north of Whitefish to Ronan on the south, the Northwest Montana Golf Association features ten championship golf courses, all but two within a forty-five minute drive from Kalispell or Whitefish, Montana. With rolling hills, lots of trees, rivers to cross, great views of snowcapped mountains, good lodging and good food, this is a great destination to escape our summer heat.

A good home base for the courses in the Kalispell area is the Red Lion Inn Kalispell. This full-service hotel is decorated to echo the warmth and rugged ambiance of Montana. It’s within walking distance to a mall, theaters, art galleries, antique stores and downtown Kalispell. Visit www.redlion.com/our-hotels/montana/kalispell/ for more information.

Buffalo Hill Golf Club: Located in Kalispell at the site of an old buffalo ranch, rolling hills, river crossings, and scenic splendor make this the most popular golf course in the Flathead Valley. Stephen Dunfee, General Manager of Buffalo Hills and President of the Northwest Montana Golf Association, says, “Our courses (Championship 18 and Cameron 9) are different from your everyday resorts. With tree-lined fairways, rivers and brooks meandering throughout the courses, views of natural freshwater lakes, and views of the Rocky Mountains, it’s more like a peaceful, inspiring nature walk”. Visit www.golfbuffalohill.com for more information.

Northern Pines Golf Club: This EXQUISITE and challenging layout combines traditional Scottish links with natural towering pines winding along the Stillwater River. Rolling terrain, doglegs, and native prairie grass make this a scenic and fun golf course. This good walking layout offers wide fairways and very smooth greens that aren’t too fast. Visit www.northernpinesgolfclub.com for details.

Polson Bay Golf Club: Both the 18-hole and 9-hole layouts are wall-to-wall grass with some elevated tees and just enough trees to make you want to keep it in the fairway. Located on the south end of Flathead Lake, (the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and among the cleanest large lakes), is perfect for sailing, cruising, swimming, and fishing. Visit www.polsonbaygolf.com for details.

Mission Mountain Golf Club: South of Flathead Lake, offers fantastic views of the Mission Mountains on this course. It’s a friendly course, priced right, very fair and forgiving, and the greens are smooth without many undulations. Visit www.golfmissionmountain.com for more information.

Village Greens Golf Club: Spectacular fairway mounding, crystal clear lakes and beautiful white sand complement the Valley’s fastest growing course. Take a moment to visualize how a 10,000 foot glacier pushed ice, rocks and sediment out of its way to make this deep valley surrounded by mountains. For more information, visit www.montanagolf.com.

While in Kalispell, try dining at ScottiBelli’s Ristorante Italiano. Delicious Italian food made from homemade recipes. Their motto is: “We strive to fill the bellies of all who walk through the door”, and believe me…they do. Visit www.scottibellis.com.

Cabinet View Country Club: The trademark of this course is variety. You have to select the correct club off the tee as some holes require solid shot-making. Situated on a hill above Libby, the course offers beautiful views of the Cabinet Mountains. Wildlife is frequently seen on and near the golf course, including deer, moose and wild turkeys. Visit www.golflibby.com.

When you head north to the Whitefish courses, consider lodging at Mountain Harbor. It is a picture-perfect residential and resort community set on seventeen acres of manicured grounds on the shores of Whitefish Lake, at the base of Big Mountain. Relax and enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of your condo, but still be close to town. Visit www.lakeshorerentals.us for details.

Whitefish Lake Golf Club: This is the only 36-hole golf complex in Montana, offering a North and South course. Located adjacent to Whitefish Lake, mountain views, pine and birch-lined fairways and rolling terrain define this course. The doglegs, uphill and downhill, plus trees and lakes force you to concentrate on every shot. Eat a snack or full dinner in the restaurant; it’s a local favorite. For details, visit www.golfwhitefish.com.

Meadow Lake Golf Resort: This beautiful 18-hole tract is located in Columbia Falls, with spectacular views of Glacier National Park. Elevated tees and greens, lakes and streams to negotiate, very narrow fairways and lots of specific shot-making are required up until Hole 6 where it finally widens, albeit with lots of doglegs. Visit www.meadowlake.com.

Glacier View Golf Club: Located near the entrance to Glacier National Park, this course has always been known as friendly, relaxing, and family-oriented. The layout is very compact, and therefore easy to walk. Visit www.glacierviewgolf.com.

Indian Springs Ranch Golf Course: Set at the foot of the western edge of the Rockies in Eureka, this links-style public course offers a challenge for all golfers. The course winds through prairie grass on the flats, into the rolling hills and bench lands, across the creek, and down to the southern flats. Visit www.indianspringsmontana.com.

Northwest Montana’s golf season runs from mid-April through the end of October. The least crowded time is after Labor Day through the end of September. That is also when green fees and lodging costs are very reasonable, the summer weather is wonderful, and the changing tree (Aspen, Tamarack, Larch) colors are spectacular. For more information, visit www.golfnorthwestmontana.com.

Spectacularly scenic and serene golf is the name of the game in Northwest Montana!