Welcome to our review of Eagle Bend Golf Club in Bigfork! 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.
Eagle Bend Golf Club Review Index
- Golf Course Stats
- Green Fees
- Driving Range and Practice Facilities
- Eagle Bend Championship Course Hole by Hole
- Osprey 9 Hole by Hole
- Eagle Bend Conditions and Review
- Pro Shop
- Food & Beverage
- Real Estate at Eagle Bend
Eagle Bend Golf Club Stats
Eagle Bend Golf Club: Built 1988, 1995, Designers: William Hull, Jack Nicklaus, Jr.
Course Length: Championship 18, 6711 From Back Tees, Osprey 9: 3425 From Back Tees
Phone Number: 406-837-7310 Email: mikew@golfmt.com
Eagle Bend Green Fees 2020
Green Fees Include Use of the Driving Range
March 27-April 23: 18 Holes $50, 9 Holes $30
April 24-May 14: 18 Holes $70, 9 Holes $40
May 15-June 18: 18 Holes $90, 9 Holes $50
June 19-September 7: 18 Holes $115, 9 Holes $60
September 8-October 4: 18 Holes $90, 9 Holes $50
October 5-November 1: 18 Holes $50, 9 Holes $30
Cart Rental per person: 18 Holes $22, 9 Holes $12
Club Rental: 18 Holes $70, 9 Holes $35
Eagle Bend Golf Club Driving Range & Practice Facilities
The driving range and practice areas at Eagle Bend were updated in the late 90’s. The range is now located on the site of what were the first and last holes of the Lake 9 or now the Osprey 9. The large range tee sits where the tees for #1 used to be. There are also target greens to shoot for on the range. The old #1 green at the other end of the range, is now a chipping green with bunkers.
The old #9 green has been expanded into a large putting green. The original putting green is still located behind the pro shop, next to the #1 tee on the Championship 18.
Eagle Bend Golf Club Hole by Hole
In this section, I will describe each hole at Eagle Bend 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 Eagle Bend is a dogleg right, Par 4. If you can’t play a fade around the corner, beware that a driver may be too much club. It is not hard to hit it through the fairway and into trouble beyond. If you can land your drive at the corner, you will have a straight approach into the green. This green is protected by a bunker on the front left.
#2 Par 5
One of the new Nicklaus holes, number 2 is a fairly straight Par 5 that requires a carry over wetlands off of the tee. If you can keep your drive down the left side of the fairway, you will be set up perfectly for the 2nd shot. There is trouble all the way down the right side of this hole.
You want to keep your 2nd shot down the left side as well to avoid the bunker complex on the right front of the green. There is 1 bunker on the left side of the green.
#3 Par 4
Another Nicklaus hole, this is a straightaway Par 4 with a pond and bunkers along the right side. A drive down the left side will leave you with the best angle into this green that is protected on the left side by bunkers.
#4 Par 3
The Par 3, 4th hole returns to the original design. This downhill shot is through a narrow chute of trees to a large green with no bunkers around it. The hole opens up around the green and a miss here isn’t a disaster.
#5 Par 4
No need for a driver on this tee shot. This narrow hole bends slightly to the left. A tee shot hit down the right side about 210 yards will put you in a perfect position for your approach. There is a rock cliff and trees all the way down the left side of this hole. A large bunker sits on the front right of this green.
#6 Par 3
The signature hole at Eagle Bend is this Par 3. The tee boxes are surrounded by flower beds and the downhill tee shot is framed by the mountains in the distance. This large green is surrounded by bunkers and club selection will be key on this hole.
#7 Par 4
This hole is a straightaway Par 4. There are a couple of fairway bunkers on the left side to avoid off of the tee. A drive down the right side will leave you with a good angle into this green which has a bunker on the left side.
#8 Par 5
A good drive on this hole will land just to the left of the 2 fairway bunkers on the right side. There is OB down the right side, and there is no more trouble until you reach the green. There are bunkers on both sides of this green.
There is no more trouble until you reach the green, where you will find bunkers on both sides of this green.
#9 Par 4
This straight away Par 4 drops off down to the green leaving you with a blind tee shot. Aim for the opening between the trees and your ball will roll downhill towards the green. This green has bunkers on 3 sides.
#10 Par 5
The back nine on the Championship 18 starts out with this dogleg left Par 5. This is the first of 7 consecutive Nicklaus designed holes. There are a couple of fairway bunkers on the left corner of the dogleg.
A drive down the left-center of the fairway will give you the best angle into this green that is protected by a bunker complex on the front right.
#11 Par 4
This short Par 4 will tempt the big hitters. The fairway is split by bunkers in the middle that will catch many drives. The best drive will be over the bunkers on the left side. The green is protected by bunkers on 3 sides so an approach from the left side will give you the best angle of attack.
#12 Par 3
Beware of going over the green on this Par 3. There is a large bunker behind the green that is not visible from the tee. Choose the right club and don’t go long!
#13 Par 4
The drive from this elevated tee should be hit down the left side. All of the trouble on this hole is on the right. An approach from the left side of the fairway will take the greenside bunker on the right out of play.
#14 Par 4
As opposed to the 13th hole, #14 has all of the trouble on the left side. There is OB far-right but that should not come into play for most golfers. A drive down the right side will set you up for the best angle into this green with water and sand on the left side. Anything down the left will leave you with a difficult approach into this green.
#15 Par 4
This straight away Par 4 has a couple of fairway bunkers on the right side in the landing area. You want to keep your drive down the right side to set up your approach into this green. There is a bunker complex on the front left of this green and a small bunker on the back right that is not visible from the landing area.
#16 Par 3
This Par 3 is all carry over wetlands to the green. There is room to the left if you want to bail out. The green is long from left to right so a back right placement is the most difficult on this hole.
#17 Par 4
The final 2 holes are part of the original design. This Par 4 has water in front of the green that is reachable from the tee. A 220-yard drive down the middle will set you up for an approach over water. There is a bunker on the back side of this green.
#18 Par 5
The finishing hole on the Championship 18 is a straightaway Par 5. There is OB and fairway bunkers in the landing area on the right side. The green has bunkers on the front left and behind.
Osprey Course
#1 Par 4
The first hole on the Osprey Course gives you a taste of what to expect on almost every hole on this course. There is water on 8 of the 9 holes. The tee shot here requires a carry over a pond that runs down the right side of this hole. A drive down the left-center of this fairway sets up the best approach into this green. There is a large bunker that protects the right side of this green.
#2 Par 3
This Par 3 has water on the left and a bunker on the front left of the green. There is also a bunker on the back right so choose your club carefully for this tee shot.
#3 Par 5
The first Par 5 on the Osprey Course moves slightly right off of the tee. There are fairway bunkers on the right side in the landing area. Take advantage of the only hole with no water on this course!
A drive down the left side will set up your 2nd shot that should be hit back down the right side. There is a bunker on the front left of this green and another in the back right.
#4 Par 4
This shorter Par 4 requires a drive over a pond in front of the tee. Once over the pond, there is a lot of room. The only trouble on this hole is the bunker that is located on the backside of the green.
#5 Par 4
With Flathead Lake behind the tee, this straightaway Par 4 also has water down the left side. A good drive is down the right side of the fairway which will take the bunker on the right side of the green out of play. There is also a bunker behind this green.
#6 Par 3
I feel that #6 is probably the best hole of any at Eagle Bend. This great Par 3 has water in front of the tee and continuing down the left side. There is a large bunker on the front left and back right of this green. This hole isn’t very long, but you will need a precise tee shot here.
#7 Par 4
This dogleg left Par 4 is another great hole. The Eagle Bend Marina sits to the left and there is water down the entire left side of this hole. If you try to bail out to the right off of the tee, there are 2 fairway bunkers waiting. How much of the pond you try to carry will determine the length of your approach. There are bunkers on 3 sides of this green.
#8 Par 5
Another hole with water down the left side, the best drive on this Par is down the left-center of the fairway. The hole doglegs to the left around the pond.
If you can reach the corner on your 2nd shot, you will have a straight shot into this green that is protected on both sides by bunkers. If you don’t make the corner, you will have a carry over water to the green.
#9 Par 4
The finishing hole on the Osprey Course changes it up and has water all the way down the right side. A good drive will be down the right-center of the fairway. You will have to carry your approach over a little water, but it takes the large bunker on the front left out of play.
Eagle Bend Conditions and Review
For full disclosure, I was once the Golf Course Superintendent at Eagle Bend. I have always liked this course and I still would rank it as one of the best in Montana.
When I played the course at the end of July, it was in great condition and the greens were rolling fast, just over 11 on the Stimpmeter. As great as the first 18 holes are, it has always been a mystery why the Osprey 9 gets so little play. I think the Osprey is the best 9 holes at Eagle Bend. The good news is that it is usually easy to get out on that 9. Eagle Bend is not only scenic, but it is player-friendly. Golfers of all levels will enjoy playing here.
Eagle Bend Pro Shop
The Pro Shop at Eagle Bend Golf Club is located in the back of the clubhouse overlooking the first tee of the Championship Course. They have men’s and women’s golf attire, golf clubs, and golf accessories for sale. Lessons are available from a PGA Teaching Professional.
Eagle Bend Food & Beverage
There are 2 different places to get food at Eagle Bend. A snack shack is located between the 9th and 10th holes on the Championship Course and there is a restaurant inside the clubhouse.
There is an area for outdoor dining at the snack shack and at the clubhouse. The menu in the clubhouse restaurant is different from the snack shack menu. If you would like to see the clubhouse menu, click here.
Eagle Bend Real Estate
There is a wide variety of real estate available at Eagle Bend. The course is surrounded by many different neighborhoods, with some gated communities.
There are homes and condos available on the golf course, and some homes available with Flathead River frontage. Currently, there are 19 properties for sale around Eagle Bend. They range in price from $195,000 for a 1 bedroom, 2 bath, 909 sq.ft. condo up to $1,298,000 for a 4 bedroom/5 bathroom, 4022 sq.ft. custom home that overlooks the golf course and Flathead Lake.
Over the past year, there have been 28 sales around Eagle Bend. The sales ranged in price from $250,000 for a 3 bedroom/3 bathroom, 2399 sq.ft. townhouse, up to $995,000 for a 3 bedroom/ 2.5 bathroom, 4430 sq.ft. home that sits on the Flathead River. If you would like more information on buying a home at Eagle Bend Golf Club or in the Bigfork area, please visit Montanaliferealty.com or email montanaliferealty@gmail.com.
