Welcome to our review of Buffalo Hill Golf Club in Kalispell! In this article, we will break down the golf course hole by hole, practice facility, pro shop, food and beverage, and real estate around the course.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club Review Table of Contents
- Golf Course Stats
- Green Fees
- Driving Range and Practice Facilities
- Buffalo Hill Championship Course Hole by Hole
- Cameron 9 Hole by Hole
- Buffalo Hill Golf Course Conditions and Review
- Pro Shop
- Food & Beverage
- Real Estate at Buffalo Hill
Buffalo Hill Golf Course Stats
Cameron 9: Built 1918, Designer: WPA Project
Championship Course: Built 1964, 1974, Designer: Robert Muir Graves
Course Length: Championship 18, 6605 Yards From Back Tees, Cameron 9, 2236 Yards
Buffalo Hill Golf Club Green Fees 2020
Rates vary depending on the time of year and course conditions
Championship 18: $45-$70
Championship 18 Twilight Rate: $39-$59
Cameron 9: $18-$27
Cart Rental (per seat): 18 Holes $20, 9 Holes $10
Driving Range and Practice Facilities
The driving range at Buffalo Hill Golf Club is located next to the first tee on the Cameron Course. The range has a large tee and target greens to shoot for. You can get range balls in the small building next to the tee. The range ball dispenser accepts credit cards. A small bucket (35 balls) is $4. A medium bucket (70 balls) is $6. A large bucket (105 balls) is $8.
There are 2 practice chipping greens with bunkers. One is located near the driving range tee and the other is behind the parking lot next to #18 on the Championship Course. There are 2 large putting greens, one next to the clubhouse and the other is next to the first tee on the Championship Course.
Buffalo Hill Championship Golf Course Hole by Hole
In this section, I will describe each hole at the Buffalo Hill Golf Club. I will give you my opinion on how you should play the hole and my thoughts on each hole. Remember, these are only my opinions based upon my background and experience in the golf world. Feel free to comment below with your own opinions! If you would like to know more about my background, read this.
#1 Par 4
The opening hole at Buffalo Hill is a dogleg left Par 4. A blind tee shot, aim for the large Poplar tree over the hill. The approach will be downhill to a green that is protected by bunkers on both sides.
#2 Par 5
Another blind tee shot here on this long Par 5. Aim for the right side of the fairway on your drive to set up the second shot.
Take a look at the green from the landing area since you will be hitting a blind uphill approach shot. There is a large bunker to the right of this green.
#3 Par 4
This Par 4 requires an accurate drive down the right side of the fairway to a blind landing area. The approach will be uphill to a narrow green protected by a bunker on the right side.
#4 Par 4
This hole requires one of the most precise drives on the course. A dogleg left, you will only need about 200 yards off of the tee through a very narrow chute of trees. The approach shot also requires accuracy to avoid the trees surrounding the green.
#5 Par 3
The first Par 3 at Buffalo Hill crosses the Stillwater River off of the tee. At almost 200 yards, the green is protected by bunkers on the left and behind. The river runs in front of the tee and down the left side of the hole.
#6 Par 4
If you have never played Buffalo Hill before, you may want to walk or drive up this fairway before you tee off. From the tee, it looks like you are hitting into the woods with nowhere to go. There is a small opening between the cart path and the large tree on the right. This is a sharp dogleg left with the river along the left side. If you can find the fairway off of the tee, you will be left with a narrow approach into a green heavily protected by trees and bunkers. Similar to hole #4, pinpoint accuracy is needed here.
#7 Par 5
Another narrow driving hole, this Par 5 is a dogleg left. It is only about 210 yards to the corner.
Once you make it to the corner, the hole opens up a bit for the approach. The river runs down the left side and there are 2 bunkers on the right of the green.
#8 Par 4
As you climb out of the river bottom, the 8th hole is a dogleg right Par 4. The best drive is just over the corner of the pond on the right. There is OB far left and wetlands down the side of the fairway. This green is protected by a bunker on the back right.
#9 Par 3
Club selection will be the key to this Par 3. This green is protected by bunkers on both sides and tall grass behind the green. The green slopes from back to front.
#10 Par 4
This dogleg left Par 4 will tempt the big hitters to carry the bunkers on the left. It will require a carry of about 230 yards to clear the bunkers. The safe play is to the right of the bunkers. The green is protected by a bunker front left and behind.
#11 Par 5
This Par 5 will require 2 good shots to set up the approach. There is water almost all the way down the right side so a good drive is down the left side of this fairway.
The 2nd shot should be played down the right side in order to avoid the pond that protects the left front of this green. There are bunkers that protect the left and rear of this green.
#12 Par 3
This very short, downhill Par 3 has a large green protected by bunkers on all sides.
#13 Par 4
Another narrow driving hole, a good drive will be down the left side of the fairway. Anything right will make for a very difficult approach to this green that has a grove of trees protecting the right side. There is also a bunker protecting the right side of this green. Playing over 400 yards, this is a very difficult Par 4.
#14 Par 4
This slight dogleg left is all about the placement of your drive. There is water on the left and on the right, through the fairway. In order to avoid trouble, the drive shouldn’t be more than 220 yards. There are no bunkers around this green, but tree trouble long.
#15 Par 5
This short, straightaway Par 5 should be played down the right side on your first 2 shots in order to set up the approach.
The left side of the green is protected by a grove of trees. There are bunkers protecting 3 sides of this green.
#16 Par 3
This short Par 3 requires a carry over the Stillwater River to a green that is protected on the right side by a large bunker.
#17 Par 4
This hole has to rank as one of the worst holes in Montana. A dogleg left, the fairway slopes sharply from right to left. All drives will kick down to the left, leaving you with a difficult lie for the 2nd shot. To top it off, it will be a blind approach to the green.
There is OB along the entire left side. The green is protected by 2 bunkers on the back right. A Par on this hole is a great score.
#18 Par 4
The finishing hole at Buffalo Hills is a short, downhill Par 4. A drive down the right side will set up the best approach into this green. A drive down the left side will bring trees into play on the approach. The green is protected by 2 bunkers on the front left and back right. There is also long grass over this green.
Cameron Course
#1 Par 3
The first hole on the Cameron 9 hole course is a short Par 3. Bunkers protect both sides of this green.
#2 Par 4
Hole 2 is a drivable Par 4. The green is located over the small rise and it is protected by bunkers on the back right and left. The houses along the right side of this hole are OB.
#3 Par 3
This downhill Par 3 slopes from right to left. There is a bunker on the left front and the green falls off sharply on the back left.
#4 Par 4
The 4th hole is another driveable Par 4. The green sits behind a narrow opening between to large Pine trees. Two bunkers sit on both sides of the fairway at the opening. A layup drive is the best play here.
#5 Par 4
This dogleg left is a Par 4 for men and Par 5 for women. The best drive is to the corner, about 215 yards from the tee.
From the corner, you will have approximately 190 yards to the green. This is the most difficult approach shot on the course. Trees line the right side all the way to the green, and the green falls off sharply on the left.
#6 Par 4
Another driveable Par 4, the 6th hole opens up to a wide landing area. The green is protected by bunkers on both sides.
#7 Par 3
This short, downhill Par 3 is protected by bunkers on both sides. The green has 2 tiers. There is OB along the right side of this hole.
#8 Par 5
This straight away Par 5 climbs uphill after the drive. There is more room on the left off of the tee.
If you are going for the green in 2, there is a bunker on the left front that is not visible from the landing area. This is another 2 tiered green, front, and back.
#9 Par 3
The finishing hole on the Cameron Course is a long, uphill Par 3. Bunkers protect both sides of the green. There is some mounding on the left edge of this green.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club Conditions and Review
I played Buffalo Hill late in the season and they were in the process of greens aerification on the Championship Course. The front nine was open but the back nine was closed on the day that I played. Aside from the greens, the course was in good condition on the day I played. The Championship Course can be very difficult for beginners or anyone who has never played the course before. There are some very narrow holes in the river bottom and some very hilly holes on the top with numerous blind shots.
If you have not played Buffalo Hill before, be ready for an interesting layout. It will be a big help to use a free golf app like Swing U to help find your way around this course. The Cameron Course was also in good shape and it is a fun little short course.
Pro Shop
The Pro Shop at Buffalo Hill Golf Club is located in the back of the clubhouse overlooking the patio and the driving range. They have men’s and women’s golf attire, golf clubs, and golf accessories for sale. Lessons are available from a PGA Teaching Professional.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club Food and Beverage
The restaurant at Buffalo Hill offers lunch and dinner. A large dining room and full bar are located in the clubhouse. There is also a large patio that looks over the first hole on the Cameron and the driving range. Below is the breakfast menu. Click here to view the lunch menu.
Buffalo Hill Golf Club Real Estate
A large portion of the Buffalo Hill Golf Club is located in the Stillwater River bottom and around Lawrence Park, therefore, there are very few homes or real estate on the course.
Currently, there are only 2 homes for sale at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. The homes range in price from $375,000 for a 3 bedroom/ 2 bath townhome up to $549,000 for a 4 bedroom/ 3 bathroom home located on the 2nd hole. Over the past year, there have been 5 homes that have sold at Buffalo Hill. They range in price from $284,900 for a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom townhouse up to $550,000 for a 5 bedroom/ 3 bathroom house located in the Riverview Greens Subdivision. If you would like more information on buying a home at Buffalo Hill or in the Kalispell area, please visit Montanaliferealty.com or email montanaliferealty@gmail.com.
