Buffalo Hill Golf Club facts for kids
 |
|
Quick facts for kids Club information |
|
|---|---|
 Location in the United States
|
|
| Coordinates | 48°12′50″N 114°18′55″W / 48.2139°N 114.31541°W |
| Location | Kalispell, Montana United States |
| Established | 1918 |
| Type | Parkland (public) |
| Total holes | 27 |
| Tournaments hosted | Labor Day Tournament |
| Website | Buffalo Hill GC |
| Championship Course | |
| Designed by | Robert Muir Graves |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,605 yd (6,040 m) Longest hole is #2 - 598 yd (547 m) |
| Course rating | 71.9 |
| Slope rating | 121 |
| Course record | ‡ 64 – Scott Desmarais (Labor Day Tournament) |
Buffalo Hill Golf Club is a fun public golf course in Kalispell, Montana. It has 27 holes, which means lots of space to play! This golf course started way back in 1918. Before it became a golf course, the land was a big field where buffalo used to roam.
The golf course is located near some amazing natural spots. It's about 31 miles (50 km) southwest of Glacier National Park. It's also about 8 miles (13 km) north of Flathead Lake. A famous golf course designer named Robert Muir Graves helped create the main 18-hole course here.
Contents
History of the Golf Club
How Buffalo Hill Started
The first part of the golf course was bought in 1918. This area is now part of the Cameron 9-hole course. It was named after Dave Cameron, who was a mayor of Kalispell. He also helped with golf in the area a long time ago.
At first, the course had 18 holes with sand greens. The grass areas (fairways) didn't have a watering system. This course was used until the late 1930s.
Improvements by the WPA
The WPA helped improve the golf course. The WPA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. They built the rustic log clubhouse that you can still see today.
The WPA also built a new 9-hole course with grass greens and a watering system. Some of these original holes are still used. Others have been changed as the course grew over the years.
Growing to 27 Holes
In 1964, the club made a big improvement. They built nine more holes. Four of these new holes are now part of the main Championship 18 course.
By 1974, people from the Kalispell Golf Association wanted the course to be even bigger. They decided to expand it to 27 holes. This meant building new golf holes around the Stillwater River.
The expansion cost almost $1,000,000. This money came from donations by members and other groups. Two local businessmen, Duane Bitney and Sid Torgerson, even donated 82 acres of land for the project! This shows how much the community cared about the golf course.
Famous Golfers at Buffalo Hill
Many great golf professionals have worked at Buffalo Hill. George Haddow was the head professional for 25 years. Later, Charles "Skip" Koprivica took over in 1976.
A famous golfer named Alice Ritzman grew up playing at Buffalo Hill. She later became a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.
Championship 18 Course
Grand Opening with Arnold Palmer
On August 11, 1978, something very exciting happened! The legendary golfer Arnold Palmer visited Buffalo Hill. He was there to celebrate the Grand Opening of the "Championship 18 Golf Course."
Another professional golfer, Bob Dickson, joined Palmer for the event. Bob Dickson was famous for winning two big amateur championships in 1967.
Course Design and Upgrades
The Championship 18 course was designed by Robert Muir Graves. Many people think it's one of the best golf courses in the Pacific Northwest.
Since the 1990s, the golf course has continued to get better. They have rebuilt tee boxes, which are the starting points for each hole. They also upgraded the watering systems and improved the sand in the bunkers. In 1999, four new greens were rebuilt on holes 12, 13, 16, and 17.
In 2011, the Cameron 9-hole course was updated. It now includes a new driving range and practice area. This gives golfers a great place to practice their swings!
Tournaments Hosted
Buffalo Hill Golf Club has hosted many important golf tournaments. The most famous one is the annual "Labor Day International Classic." This tournament has been played every year since 1939.
Golfers from the Canadian province of Alberta often come to play. Many local and regional players also join in the fun. The tournament lasts for 54 holes. The first round is played on the Cameron 9-hole course. The second and third rounds are played on the Championship Course.
Course location
1176 N. Main Street
Kalispell, MT 59901
