Whitefish Lakes Golf Club & Iron Horse Golf Club
Whitefish Lake Golf Club - South Course
I recently traveled to Whitefish, MT to visit a part of the country I had not yet been to before. I went to visit a high school friend who played on the golf team with me back in Enterprise, AL, and to explore the rugged west. Kade splits time between MT and CA where he is a full time caddy at Iron Horse Golf Club in MT during the summer and fall, and The Quarry at La Quinta in CA during the winter and spring. Kade is a top notch player in his own right and has really excelled in his new role as a caddy where he can help guide locals and guests around the challenging courses.
While on the trip to Whitefish, MT I had the chance to play the South course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. WLGC is a 36 hole facility with a south and north course that is open during the summer months as a public course. This has to be one of the better deals out there for $50. Conditions that rival most private clubs, this local gem is one that I will remember for a long time. Equal parts challenge, risk reward, incredible views, and overall fun made for one heck of a day in Montana. I played this round with Kade and one of his caddy friends from Iron Horse. This crew knows the meaning of work hard - play hard. The hospitality was next level and they helped me fit right in to their crew. After the round, the outdoor bar at the clubhouse of Whitefish Lake Golf Club is set between the South and North Course with a deck set amongst tall pine trees. This was the perfect place to recount the afternoons round with some locally brewed Montana beer and a hearty portion of Bison meatloaf.
The next day of the trip was spent exploring Glacier National Park, which is detailed further in the Whitefish, MT writeup along with some of the other things to do and see in Whitefish besides golf. Overall this made for a breathtaking day from the views, the elevation gain during our hike, and the 53 degree water of the Hidden Lake which is a crystal clear alpine lake in Glacier.
Whitefish Lakes Golf Club - North Course & Iron Horse Golf Club
The next day of the trip was a 36 hole day where I had the opportunity to play the North Course at Whitefish Lakes Golf Club as well as Iron Horse Golf Club. Kade caddied in the morning so I went solo to the North Course where I was paired with tow Canadiens who spend the summer in Whitefish, down from northern Alberta. They both knew the course well so they enjoyed showing me around and sharing more about the area as well as more about Alberta. I also taught them a thing or two about the American South and of course shared about our brand and the Boykin Spaniel. Our group was the first tee time of the day so it was a really neat experience to watch as the sun rose over the mountains and the wildlife started about their natural routine as well. The North Course played firm by the time the dew burned off on the back nine, however I was able to take advantage of the softer greens in the morning and attacked the pins for a couple of early birdies. Again, the conditioning of WLGC’s courses were incredible, especially considering the very reasonable green fees. The course meandered through the tall lodgepole pine trees and rolled over the natural terrain in the valley next to Whitefish Lake. With the benefit of both the North and South Course over a storied history of public ownership, the Whitefish Lakes Golf Club is one that any resident of the area should continue to cherish and enjoy in the short summer months of Northwest Montana.
Later in the afternoon that same day, I had the chance to play a round at Iron Horse Golf Club where Kade works as a caddy. We teed off late in the afternoon with hours of daylight left given the length of days in Northern Montana. This only highlighted the natural topography of where the course was built as the setting sun cast long shadows on the various rock outcroppings and large trees that lined the fairways. Iron Horse Golf Club is a very exclusive private club so I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to experience it. Tom Fazio designed the course and did an excellent job providing a variety of shots, decision making and risk-reward opportunity. We (Kade, Jake, and I) were the only three golfers on the entire course when we teed off, giving us ample opportunity to hit multiple shots to test out different strategies. Jake is also a high school buddy who lived in MT / CA as well along with Kade and works at the golf clubs as well. The whole time on the course I saw more deer and other wildlife than people. Each hole is in its own corridor of trees which makes the course feel even more remote than you already are. Given the physical elevation of the course, as well as many of the tee boxes being elevated the course played a little shorter than written on the card. This did not diminish the challenge of the course at all. This just meant your shots had to be extra precise or your drive could be carried further off line into the native areas, of which we all became quite familiar with by the end of the round. The club is one where every detail is thought of and members do not go without. This is a top tier facility tucked away in the mountains of Montana.
One funny insider story that I learned from Kade was about the mailbox hidden in the woods on the left side of the 7th green. The 7th hole is a downhill par three with quite a bit of elevation drop. I noticed a mailbox off in the woods so Kade shared that that was Murray Craven’s alternative mailbox. I laughed and he explained that Murray hit his tee shot left of the green so often that he joked that he should just have his mail delivered there. The next round he played the club had place a mailbox with his last name on it. Murray is a Canadien hockey player who played 18 seasons in the NHL and is one of the members of Iron Horse.
I could not have asked for a better first time experience to Montana and I am eager to visit again someday. It was great to reconnect with friends from my earlier years on this trip. The locals were extremely hospitable and the vastness of Montana leaves one feeling appreciate for all our country has to offer.
