Welcome to our review of Whitefish Lake Golf Club! In this article we will break down the courses hole by hole, practice facility, pro shop, food and beverage, and real estate around the course. Looking for a great gift idea? Click Here
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Review Index
- Golf Course Stats
- Green Fees
- Practice Facilities
- Whitefish Lake Golf Club Hole by Hole
- Whitefish Lake North Course
- Whitefish Lake South Course
- Whitefish Lake Golf Club Conditions and Review
- Pro Shop
- Whitefish Lake Golf Club History
- Food & Beverage
- Whitefish Lake Golf Club Real Estate
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Stats
North Course: Built in 1935, Updated in 1983. 6898 Yards from back tees.
South Course: Built in 1994. Designer John Steidel. 6575 Yards from back tees.
Phone Number: Tee times 406-862-4000 Pro Shop 406-862-5960
Whitefish Lake Green Fees 2019
18 Holes Off Season: $49
18 Holes Peak Season: $63
9 Holes North Course Off Season: $26
9 Holes North Course Peak Season: $33
Twilight Rate South Course after 2:00PM: $40
18 Hole Cart Rental: $40
9 Hole Cart Rental: $28
Club Rentals: $30
Whitefish Lake Driving Range and Practice Facilities
The driving range at Whitefish Lake Golf Club is located along the first hole of the South Course. You can purchase tokens for the range ball dispenser at the pro shop. The 2019 prices are as follows: Small Bucket $4.00, Medium Bucket $8.00, and a large bucket $12. There are also 2 large putting greens, one located in front of the clubhouse and one located next to the driving range. An area to practice chipping and bunker shots is located between 1 Green and 5 Tee on the South Course.
Whitefish Lake Golf Course Hole by Hole
In this section, I will describe each hole on the North Course and the South 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.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club North Course
North Course #1
Hole #1 is a fairly easy Par 4. Try to avoid the right side, there is a bunker along the right rough in the landing area. On the approach shot, the green is protected by bunkers on the right and left side.
North Course #2
The 2nd hole is another short Par 4. Avoid the left side of the fairway on your drive. The approach to the elevated green is much easier from the right side of the fairway due to the bunker and trees along the left.
North Course #3
Hole 3 is the number 1 handicap on the North Course. This hole is a long Par 4 with trees along both sides. A good drive is key to scoring on this hole. If you hit your drive long enough, you will have an easy approach shot to a large green with a trap on the right. A short drive or a drive into the trees on either side of the fairway will make par very difficult.
North Course #4
The 4th hole is the first Par 3 on the North Course. A large green that slopes from back to front is protected by a pond on the left and traps on the right and rear of the green. Make sure to choose the right club, 3 putts are common on this large green.
North Course #5
The first Par 5 on the North Course. A drive down the left side will set up a good angle for your second shot. The approach into this green requires good club selection. This green is very long from front to back with a swale in the middle. If you land your ball on the wrong end of the green, a 3 putt is a good possibility.
North Course #6
This Par 3 is easy with a pin placement on the right side of the green. Any pin placement on the left makes for a difficult shot over a large trap. The hole drops off sharply if you go over the green.
North Course #7
This is a pretty straightforward Par 4. Keep your drive down the right side to avoid the traps on the left and to set up a good approach shot. There is a bunker on the right side of the fairway that can be reached. The green is slightly elevated and protected by a trap on the left.
North Course #8
Dogleg left Par 4. Here is where the blind shots start on the North Course. A perfect drive will land on the left side of the fairway at the top of the hill and roll down to the center on the other side of the hill. Cutting the corner on this dogleg left is not worth trying and the trees on the left will leave you with no shot into the green. The fairway slopes from left to right so if you start out right, you will have tree trouble or a long shot into the green. Another long green from back to front requires a good approach shot. There are traps on both sides of the green.
North Course #9
The front nine finishes with a long Par 5. Another blind tee shot, keep your drive just to the right of the trees on the left and you will be in the middle of the fairway. Play down the left side of the fairway so you can avoid an approach shot over a large bunker on the front right of the green.
North Course #10
The back nine starts out with a terrible hole. You have to lay up with an iron on this short Par 4. There is a large Birch tree in the middle of the fairway at the corner of this dogleg right. If you hit a drive straight down the middle to the corner, you have no shot (see photo below). The best play is to hit your layup drive just past the tree so you will have a straight shot into the green. If you hit your drive just short of the tree, you will have to clear a large bunker on the front right of the elevated green. There is also a trap behind the green.
North Course #11
The first Par 3 on the back nine is a long downhill shot. There is a swale in front of the green and a bunker behind for shots that go long. This is a very large green from left to right.
North Course #12
This Par 4 is a slight dogleg left. The fairway slopes from left to right so try to play down the left side to end up in a good approach position. The approach shot will be to an elevated green with a trap on the left side.
North Course #13
Some great views of Whitefish Lake on this tee box. If you are playing from the back tees, it will be a blind tee shot. The hole drops off and the fairway slopes from left to right to the green. Keep your drive just to the left of the large pine tree on the right side of the fairway and you will end up in a good spot. A good drive will leave you with a short approach shot into the green. There is a bunker on the front right and left side of the green.
North Course #14
Another blind tee shot, this Par 4 moves slightly right from the tee box. A perfect drive is just to the left of the large pine on the right side of the fairway. There is OB right on this hole. A good drive will leave you with a short approach into a green with traps on both sides.
North Course #15
This short uphill Par 3 is protected by a trap on the front right and 2 traps behind the green. Depending on the wind, this uphill shot can play a lot longer than the posted yardage, choose your club wisely.
North Course #16
The difficulty of this dogleg left Par 5 will be decided by your first 2 shots. There is a pond along the left side of the fairway. A good drive and 2nd shot will be down the right center of the fairway. If you are too far left on these shots, you will either be in the pond or not have a clear approach shot into the green. There is a bunker that protects the right side of the green.
North Course #17
This Par 4 seems very narrow from the tee box. Keep your drive along the right edge of the fairway and it will roll into a good position for your approach. The trees make you want to stay left. With the fairway sloping right to left, you can easily end up with a difficult approach due to the trees. Too far left and you will find a pond or tree trouble. There are bunkers on the right side of this green.
North Course #18
This Par 5 finishing hole is made difficult with a blind approach into the green. The fairway slopes hard from right to left in the landing area of your drive. A drive that looks too far right, usually ends up in perfect position. The 2nd shot is usually straight uphill with a sidehill lie. This green is not visible until you are about 130 yards away.
The photo above shows the view you will have on your 2nd shot. Aim just to the right of the clump of 4 trees in the middle of the picture above. If you have enough club to get to the green, there are bunkers right, left, and behind this green. On days with a lot of people on the course, you are supposed to ring the bell behind the green when you leave to let the people behind you know that it is safe to hit!
Whitefish Lake Golf Club South Course
South Course #1
The first hole on the South Course is a straightaway Par 4 with the driving range running down the left side of this hole. If you can avoid the trees on the right side, you will have an easy approach shot into a large green. There are bunkers on both sides of the green.
South Course #2
This Par 4 turns slightly right towards the green. The trees on the right will want you to play left, but the perfect drive will be down the right side of the fairway. There is a large trap at the left front of this green that catches many approach shots from the left side of the fairway.
South Course #3
This Par 3 can be difficult with right-side pin placement. 2 bunkers guard the right side of the green and club selection is key with a right pin.
South Course #4
This Par 4 requires an accurate tee shot to the center of the fairway. Trees on both sides of the fairway can cause big problems. A drive down the middle of the fairway will give you an easy approach shot into this green. There are bunkers on both sides of this green.
South Course #5
This Par 4 Currently has my vote for the worst golf hole in Montana! A 90-degree dogleg left. There are homes along the entire left side of this hole. People who try to cut the corner usually end up hitting a roof or the side of a house.
The best way to play this hole is to try and hit about a 200-yard drive along the left side of the fairway. There is a fairway bunker at the corner on the left. A drive to this spot will give you about a 165-yard approach to a green that has homes directly to the left and behind. There is a trap on the left front of this green. The South Course has some very good holes, this is not one of them!
South Course #6
This Par 5 is a good hole that will tempt you to try and hit it over the water with your driver. Driving from the White tees, it is 190 yards to the edge of the water and 220 yards to carry the pond.
From the Blue and Black tees, it is a much longer carry. If you can hold back and layup to the edge of the pond, a decent 2nd shot will put you in very good position for an easy approach to this green. Your 3rd shot should be under 150 yards to the elevated green. There are traps on both sides and the green has 2 tiers, so make sure to hit enough club if the pin is in the back.
South Course #7
This Par 3 is the best hole at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club. This green requires a perfect shot over the lake and bunker. Depending on the wind and pin position, this can be the most difficult shot on the golf course. There is a small area to bail out on the right, but that could leave you with a very difficult chip if the pin is in the back.
South Course #8
This straightforward Par 4 continues along the lake. Keep your drive in the middle and you will have an easy approach to this green. There is a bunker that guards the left side of the green.
South Course #9
This short uphill Par 4 is fairly easy with a good drive. At the landing area on the top of the hill, you will have a good view of the green that is protected by traps on both sides and behind.
South Course #10
As you turn the corner on the South Course, you begin the back nine with a Par 5, dogleg left. Try to stay on the left side of the fairway with your drive. If you go too far down the right side, your ball will roll down into the trees along 11 fairway. It is a tough shot to get close to the green from that location. On your approach, the green slopes from left to right and it is protected by bunkers on the left and right. Try to avoid missing the green on the right, your ball will end up down the hill on #11 tee.
South Course #11
This Par 4 requires an accurate drive down the right side. The fairway slopes from right to left so any drive landing on the left side, has a chance to kick into the trees left of the fairway. Your approach will be into a large green with a trap on the right.
South Course #12
This Par 5 is a good driving hole. If you can avoid the trees down the left side, you will be in position to set yourself up for an easy approach. The green is long from back to front so be sure to choose the right club for a back pin placement. There are traps along the right side and a hillside on the left that will kick shots back towards the green.
South Course #13
This Par 4 will tempt the big hitters to try and hit it over the pond that crosses the fairway. Unless you can get it on the green, it is not worth the risk. If you hit about a 220-yard drive, you will be in perfect shape for a short approach to the green that is protected by traps on all sides.
South Course #14
This Par 4 dogleg right requires a well placed drive to avoid trees and a wetland area. Aim just to the right of the large Birch trees at the end of the fairway. The approach shot will be over the wetland area to a green that is protected on all sides by bunkers.
South Course #15
This Par 3 is the first of back to back Par 3’s. A fairly straightforward shot with a pond on the right and no bunkers. There is plenty of room on the left side for those trying to avoid the pond. The green is fairly long from front to back so choose your club properly depending on the pin placement.
South Course #16
A short Par 3, this green is protected by bunkers on all sides. The wind can make this hole challenging at times.
South Course #17
This Par 4 can be very easy with a good drive. If you land your drive just to the right of the large pine tree on the left edge of the fairway, it will roll down to the middle of the fairway and leave you with a very short approach to this green. There are fairway bunkers down the right side in the landing area. 2 bunkers protect the front right and front left of this green.
South Course #18
The South Course finishes up with this long straight Par 4. Grouse Mountain Lodge is OB and runs down the left side of this hole. There is tree trouble on the right so a straight, long drive is key to scoring on this hole. The green has bunkers on 3 sides so an accurate approach shot is required.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Conditions & Review
The courses at Whitefish Lake Golf Club get tons of play. In mid-summer, you must call 3 days in advance to get a tee time. Unless it is raining, forget about showing up with a group and expecting to play without a tee time.
Despite the heavy play, the courses are usually in good condition. The biggest problem that you will find is the poor irrigation system. In mid to late summer, the course starts to dry up especially in the roughs. You can get some difficult hard pan lies if you miss the fairway in the late summer.
The greens had a stimpmeter reading of just under 9 in mid-May.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Pro Shop
The pro shop at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club is located right off of the restaurant in the clubhouse. They have a large selection of men’s and women’s golf attire, golf clubs, and accessories for sale. You may also purchase range ball tokens in the pro shop. There is a golf simulator that can be rented out by the hour. The simulator is located in a seperate building near the maintenance shop.
The History of Whitefish Lake Golf Club
The thought of Whitefish Lake Golf Club started in the 1920’s when a group of people bought 104 acres of land where the North Course now sits for $1600. It was originally designed as a 9 hole golf course and a landing strip. The original clubhouse was built in 1936 as an “administration building for a nine-hole airport”. In the early 1960’s, the North Course added 9 holes to make the current 18 hole course.
Nine more holes were added across the highway in the early 1980’s to make Whitefish Golf Club a 27 hole facility. In 1994, the final nine holes were opened to complete the South Course. For the full history of Whitefish Lake Golf Club, click here.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Food & Beverage
There will be no problem finding something good to eat or drink at The Whitefish Lake Golf Club! There is a full bar and high-end restaurant located in the clubhouse. For a look at the full menu, click here.
One of the best spots for a drink or meal during the summer is the deck located right behind #9 Green of the North Course. A full bar and food is available at this great location. There is not a better spot in the summer than the deck at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
During the summer, there is a full beverage cart that services both courses. On the South Course, there is a half-way house located at #10 tee that serves some food and drinks.
Whitefish Lake Golf Club Real Estate
The real estate around Whitefish Lake Golf Club is primarily on the South Course. There are a few homes that back up to the North Course along #11 & 12 but they are behind a fence and not part of the complex. The South Course winds it’s way through a subdivision and there are many homes that border the course.
The gated community of Grouse Mountain Estates sits on a hill that overlooks part of the South Course. The home sales around Whitefish Lake Golf Club in the past year ranged from $363,500 for a 3 bedroom/2.5 bath condo up to $1,557,500 for a 5 bedroom/5 bathroom home in Grouse Mountain Estates. If you would like more information on homes around Whitefish Lake Golf Club, click here.
Great review, I will play it next time I am in Whitefish.