Thinking Rocky Mountain golf? You might want to think Montana

I’ve played a lot of golf with spectacular backdrops across the country and the world, and the one thing most of them have in common is that they are pricey.

Not so in the Flathead Valley of northern Montana.

These really are true hidden gems, although Canadians sure seem to know about them.

Canada is just north of here, and northern Montana seems so remote to most Americans.

In truth, though, it’s not that hard to get to. Kalispell, a town of around 70,000, has a pretty decent size airport with jet service from Delta and Northwest Airlines. And once you get here, hotels are fairly inexpensive, and the golf is a bargain.

This week, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling some of that great golf. In particular, I thought the North Course at Whitefish Lake was one of the best golf courses I’ve played this year. It goes back some 70 years, and this classic layout has been updated several times.

Some consider the newer South Course at Whitefish Lake even better than the North. And get this: the club is owned by the city, and golfers can pay around $500 for an annual pass. Not surprisingly, tee times can be hard to come by during peak season, but it’s well worth trying.

There are actually nine public courses in the Flathead Valley Golf Association, and they are all very affordable ($50 or under in most cases). You could spend a week or so here and never get bored or broke, unless you got suckered into a three-putt game at Meadow Lake Golf Resort (man, those greens are difficult).

So next time you’re thinking of mountain golf, don’t forget Montana.