Welcome to our review of Polson Bay Golf Course in Polson! 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.
Polson Bay Golf Course Review Index
- Golf Course Stats
- Green Fees
- Driving Range and Practice Facilities
- Polson Bay Championship Course Hole by Hole
- Olde Course Hole by Hole
- Polson Bay Golf Course Conditions and Review
- Pro Shop
- Food & Beverage
- Real Estate at Polson Bay
- FAQ
Polson Bay Golf Course Stats
Olde Course: Built 1936, Designer: WPA Project
Championship Course: Built 1989, 1999, Designers: Frank Hummel, John Steidel
Course Length: Championship 18, 7008 Yards from Back Tees, Olde Course: 3209 from Back Tees
Phone Number: 406-883-8230 Email: rwallace@pga.com
Polson Bay Golf Course Green Fees 2020
Opening Day- May 23: 18 Holes $39, 9 Holes $24
May 24-Sept. 30 Monday-Thursday: 18 Holes $49, 9 Holes $29
May 24-Sept. 30 Weekends & Holidays: 18 Holes $54, 9 Holes $29
October 1-Closing: 18 Holes $39, 9 Holes $24
Twilight (includes cart and drink coupon) Peak Season: 18 Holes $49
Twilight (includes cart and drink coupon) Off-Season: 18 Holes $39
Cart Rental: 18 Holes $34, 9 Holes $22
Club Rental: 18 Holes $25, 9 Holes $15
Polson Bay Golf Course Driving Range & Practice Facilities
The driving range at Polson Bay Golf Course is located next to the first tee on the Championship Course. The range has a large tee and target flags to shoot for. You can get range balls in the small building behind the tee. The range ball dispenser accepts credit cards. A small bucket (24 balls) is $3. A medium bucket (60 balls) is $6. A large bucket (96 balls) is $9.
There are 2 chipping-putting greens. One is located right behind the clubhouse and the other is located behind the driving range tee.
Polson Bay Golf Course Hole By Hole
In this section, I will describe each hole at the Polson Bay Golf Course. 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 Polson Bay is a dogleg left Par 4. Play your tee shot just to the right of the fairway bunker at the corner. Unless you can hit a big draw, you will only need about 220 yards to the perfect spot at the corner. From the corner, you will be left with a slightly uphill shot to the green that is protected on the front right by a bunker
#2 Par 4
Hole #2 is a fairly straight Par 4. The green has a pond to the right and behind. A good drive will be down the right side to give you the best approach angle between the pond and the bunker to the left.
#3 Par 5
Hole 3 is a long, straightaway Par 5. There is OB on the left and you will need to carry a pond on your drive.
Playing down the right side of the fairway will set you up for the best approach into this green. There is a large bunker on the left side of this green.
#4 Par 3
The first Par 3 at Polson Bay is downhill over water. A good looking hole that is protected by the pond in front and bunkers on the back left and right. There is room to bail out on the left.
#5 Par 4
Number 5 is a scenic Par 4 towards Flathead Lake. Keep your drive down the middle and you will get extra distance as the fairway drops down towards the lake. The hardest part of this approach is focusing on your shot, not the view! This green is protected by bunkers on both sides.
#6 Par 5
The sixth hole is a dogleg left that wraps around the low area of Flathead Lake. A good drive will be down the right side so you have a view of the green on your second shot.
Continue down the right side on your second shot, the left side slopes into the wetlands. This green is protected by a large bunker on the left side.
#7 Par 4
All of the trouble on this Par 4 is along the right side, with numerous fairway bunkers and trees. Play your tee shot down the left and you will be left with the best approach into this green. There is a large bunker on the right side of the green.
#8 Par 4
Another straightaway Par 4 with trouble on the right. There are trees and OB to the right of this hole. A drive down the left side will give you the best angle to avoid the bunker on the left front of this green.
#9 Par 3
The front nine ends with a Par 3. This is a large green that is protected by a bunker on the right front.
#10 Par 4
The back nine starts out with a slight dogleg left off of the tee. There is a pond in front and on the right side of this green. A tee shot down the left side of the fairway will give you the best angle to avoid the pond on your approach. There are no bunkers around this green.
#11 Par 4
This straight away Par 4 has trees and OB down the left side. A good drive is down the right middle of this fairway. There are three bunkers on the right front of this elevated green.
#12 Par 4
This uphill Par4 has a large landing area. The fairway slopes from right to left in the landing area so play your drive down the right side of the fairway. There is a large bunker on the left front of this green.
#13 Par 3
This Par 3 is slightly uphill from the tee. The large green is protected by bunkers on the front left and back right.
#14 Par 5
This straight away Par 5 requires an accurate drive to avoid the trees and OB on the left and the tall grass and bunkers on the right. The best drive will be down the right edge of the fairway.
From the right side, you want to play your 2nd shot down the left middle to avoid the pond that is on the right and the fairway bunker on the left. There is a bunker on the front right of this green.
#15 Par 4
This fairly short Par 4 has 2 fairway bunkers on the left side in the landing area. Keep your drive just to the right of them to set up your approach. There are 2 more bunkers on the left side of this green and 1 on the right front.
#16 Par 4
This dogleg right Par 4 will require about a 220 yard shot to get to the corner. This will leave you with an easy approach into a green that has no sand around it.
#17 Par 3
The final Par 3 at Polson Bay is the 17th hole. This is all about club selection. It is a large green with a bunker on the left side.
#18 Par 5
The finishing hole is a Par 5 that moves to the left off of the tee. Keep your drive down the left side of the fairway and you will shorten this hole.
Continue down the left side on your 2nd shot to set up the approach. The green is protected by a large bunker on the right side.
Olde Course Hole by Hole
The Olde course was built for the city of Polson in 1936 as a WPA project. It is a fun course to play and you can definitely see the history of golf course design on some of the greens. There are some huge undulations that were normal before technology increased green speeds.
#1 Par 5
The opening hole on the Olde Course is a straight away Par 5. This hole requires an accurate drive between the trees.
The hole opens up a little for your 2nd shot. Play down the left side to take the greenside bunker out of play. There is OB down the left.
#2 Par 3
This downhill Par 3 has a great Flathead Lake backdrop. Choose the right club and avoid the bunker on the left side of the green.
#3 Par 4
The 3rd hole on the Olde Course is a driveable Par 4. There is OB down the right side. A good drive will be down the left side in order to take the front right greenside bunker out of play. There is another bunker away from the green on the left.
#4 Par 4
A short dogleg right, the best drive here will be about 185 yards, just to the right of the large pine tree. There is a pond and wetlands all the way down the right side. The approach will be over the pond with a hillside behind the green, choose your club wisely.
#5 Par 4
This Par 4 moves to the left off of the tee. The fairway falls off on the left side to OB across the road. Keep your drive down the right side to avoid trouble. The approach will be uphill to a green that falls off on the left side.
#6 Par 5
The 6th hole is the number 1 handicap on the Olde Course. A Par 5 that moves right off of the tee. Keep your drive down the left side to set up the second shot.
This fairway slopes hard from left to right as you approach the green. A 2nd shot down the middle will roll down into a level spot for your approach into the green. The green is at the top of the hill with no bunkers around it.
#7 Par 4
Back down the hill, this Par 4 moves to the left off of the tee. Play your tee shot down the right side to set up the approach. There are no bunkers around this green but it drops off behind.
#8 Par 4
Aim straight down the middle on this uphill Par 4. The green will be above you on the approach so walk up and take a look at where to aim. There are no bunkers around this green but the green has different tiers.
#9 Par 3
The final hole on the Olde Course is an uphill Par 3. An accurate drive is required to get through the narrow chute of trees and avoiding the front left bunker. This is another 2 tiered green.
Polson Bay Golf Course Conditions and Review
Polson Bay Golf Course was in good condition on the day I played. There had been a lot of rain the week prior so the crew was busy catching up with the mowing. Due to the wet conditions, there were a lot of clippings on the tees as you can see in the photos.
Overall, the course was in good condition and the greens on the Championship Course were rolling 10.3 on the Stimpmeter. As I discussed in the description of the Olde Course, the greens on that side need to be much slower due to the design. I thought both courses were challenging and enjoyable to play. The only downside on the day I played was the lack of a ranger to keep play moving. There were groups of 5 slowing play when I made it to the back nine.
Pro Shop
The Pro Shop at Polson Bay Golf Course is located on the right side of the clubhouse. They have men’s and women’s golf attire, golf clubs, and golf accessories for sale. Lessons are available from PGA Teaching Professionals.
Polson Bay Food & Beverage
Polson Bay Golf Course is home to Bunkers Grill located inside the clubhouse. Beer and wine is available, and there is seating inside or outside on the deck. The deck overlooks the clubhouse putting green and the 18th green across the road.
Polson Bay Real Estate
There is a wide variety of real estate available at Polson Bay Golf Course. The course is surrounded by a large subdivision called Mission Bay Golf Community. There are single-family homes and townhomes available on the golf course. Currently, there are 11 properties for sale around Polson Bay Golf Course. They range in price from $325,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1707 sq.ft. home up to $2,500,000 for a 6 bedroom/6 bathroom, 6346 sq.ft. custom home that has a pool and overlooks Flathead Lake.
Over the past year, there have been 17 sales around Polson Bay Golf Course. The sales ranged in price from $215,000 for a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom, 2336 sq.ft. house, up to $532,500 for a 3 bedroom/ 3 bathroom, 4520 sq.ft. home. If you would like more information on buying a home at Polson Bay Golf Course or in the Polson area, please visit Montanaliferealty.com or email montanaliferealty@gmail.com.
Polson Bay Golf Course FAQ
There 27 holes. An 18 hole championship course and the 9 hole Olde Course.
The fees vary depending on the time of year. The rate for 18 holes during peak season is $54. Check the article for other rates.
Yes, there is a driving range and practice areas at the course. Check the article for range ball fees.
