Top public and private courses in Montana

Montana is known as Big Sky Country, and its top public-access course lives up to that billing. Designed as a collaboration by Nick Faldo, Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, the course at The Wilderness Club Montana features long views of rugged, mountainous landscapes. The layout ranks No. 1 in Montana on Golfweek’s Best list of public-access courses in each state.

Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with that of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for Montana’s private offerings is likewise included below.

MORE: Best Modern | Best Classic | Top 200 Resort|
Top 200 Residential | Top 100 Best You Can Play

(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960

Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses. 

* New to or returning to list

Old Works in Montana (Courtesy of Old Works Golf Club)

1. The Wilderness Club Montana
Eureka (m)

3. The Ranch Club
Missoula (m)

4. Canyon River
Missoula (m)

5. Whitefish Lake (South)
Whitefish (m)

Rock Creek Cattle Company (Courtesy of Rock Creek Cattle Company)

1. Rock Creek Cattle Company
Deer Lodge (T19m)

2. The Stock Farm
Hamilton (m)

3. The Reserve at Moonlight Basin
Big Sky (m)

4. Yellowstone Country Club*
Billings (m)

5. Iron Horse
Whitefish (m)