Northern Pines - Montana - USA

Located a mere 10-minute drive north of Kalispel, with the US-93 highway running along the east side of the property, the course at Northern Pines Golf Club is a mid-1990s Andy North/Roger Packard co-design that’s laid out beside the scenic Stillwater River.

Much of the landscape is flat on the floodplain of the river so there was a fair amount of soil shifted during construction – especially on the front nine – to create peripheral fairway mounding which helps to separate the playing corridors and keep the outside world at bay.

Notable holes on the front nine include the 402-yard 3rd, featuring a surprising big dip in front of the green, the 191-yard 6th which has water behind the green to catch over hit tee shots, and the right doglegged 9th bringing players back to the clubhouse.

The back nine moves up a few gears as the routing takes players on a journey alongside Stillwater River for several holes, most markedly at the 404-yard 14th, where the tee shot from the back markers has to carry a bend in the river before the fairway then kinks right to a riverside green.