News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


Tiger_Bernhardt

Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« on: August 01, 2012, 12:19:48 AM »
I saw courses at Waterton NP Canada and Glacier NP USA today. I tried to learn a bit about both but between my difficulty talking and the lack of right guy in proshop it was a failed effort. The Glacier course is in East Glacier, MT.

Garland Bayley

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2012, 01:15:51 PM »
I've played the course at Glacier. Extremely narrow with guaranteed lost balls if you stray off the fairway into the thick forest and underbrush. Nothing special, but a few good views.

I had trouble getting around the place with just a 7 iron. But, then as Barney will tell you, I'm a 22 handicapper and an idiot.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Tiger_Bernhardt

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2012, 11:46:26 PM »
Garland do you know who designed the nine hole course as well as the pitch and putt.

Ryan Admussen

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2012, 11:58:22 PM »
I saw courses at Waterton NP Canada and Glacier NP USA today. I tried to learn a bit about both but between my difficulty talking and the lack of right guy in proshop it was a failed effort. The Glacier course is in East Glacier, MT.

Waterton is a Stanley Thompson, definitely a few steps below his other Alberta courses though.

http://golfwaterton.com/

http://courses.stanleythompson.com/courses/15-Waterton-Lakes-National-Park-Golf-Club

Garland Bayley

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2012, 07:33:12 PM »
Garland do you know who designed the nine hole course as well as the pitch and putt.

No I don't.

It was built by the Great Northern Railroad to attract additional riders to the park.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2012, 07:40:29 PM by Garland Bayley »
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Carl Johnson

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's. New
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2012, 08:55:24 PM »
I played both courses about seven years ago.  The nine hole course at Glacier Park Lodge, East Glacier, USA (not the pitch and putt, which I did not know existed then) was, you might say, a fraud.  You might say that, but I would not.  However, one of the terms that have been debated here before, such as “dog track,” or “goat track,” would be appropriate.  I would also say, “Do not waste your money, or, more important, your time” unless you must play every “course” you come across.  For example, if you're interested in the question, "How bad can a golf course really be," then by all means have a go.

Waterton Lakes was a different story.  It was a very nice course and quite adequately maintained.  I did not know it was a Thompson design, as I recall, but it was obviously done by someone who knew what they were doing.  The website says it was "inspired by" Mr. Thompson, whatever that means.  If you’re there, and assuming the upkeep is like it was when I played it, I’d say you’d have fun.  Well worth it.  And yes, it's not in the class of Highlands Links, Jasper Park, or Banff, but it was a very, very nice course.  http://golfwaterton.com/  

War story.  There was a sign outside the pro shop at Waterton Lakes as you exit to play the course that tells you to look out for bears and if you see any, not to mess (my word) with them.  Very funny.  Until my wife and I were ready to tee off on a long down hill par 3 on the front and we noticed a large furry creature with two smaller ones behind sauntering in front of the green.  At that moment a “ranger” drove up in a cart and said he was just monitoring the bears.  When the bears get on the course, and the staff is alerted, they try to watch them and to make sure the golfers and the bears don’t mix.  Without saying, we waited until the bears (black bears) were out of sight, and then some, to proceed.  I have a photo somewhere.  I posted the photo back at my home club, blah, blah, etc.  You do not want to hear more.  
« Last Edit: August 03, 2012, 12:03:02 PM by Carl Johnson »

Dan_Callahan

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2012, 10:47:38 PM »
Nice timing on this thread. I took my kids to Whitefish last week, where we spent most of our time fly fishing in Glacier. I intentionally left my clubs at home so I wouldn't be tempted to jump on a course. After seeing the options, I doubt I would've been tempted ... some surprisingly bad courses out here. I'm in Big Sky right now, where I drove past another very boring looking layout. On the way here, however, I stopped in Bozeman for dinner. The farmland to the west of Bozeman is spectacular and seems to have loads of potential for golf if anyone every makes the investment.

Tiger_Bernhardt

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2012, 12:10:35 AM »
Thanks guys. even to be inspired by Stanley Thompson is a big deal. I oddly saw a huge Grizz on the way back tot he highway from the course.

Garland Bayley

Re: Golf course at Waterton and Glacier NP's.
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2012, 11:21:50 AM »
I contacted the archive committee at the Great Northern Railway historical society. They suggest "The Hill family papers and GN corp papers at at Minnesota Historical Society" as a place where one can find out about the course. I also got this reply.

"On page 38 of the book "View with a Room" by Ray Djuff and Chris Morrison, it says that the building of the golf course was an on-again, off-again process over a thirteen year period. Howard Noble, manager of the Glacier Park Hotel Company, argued that purchasing land for a golf course was a smart move for at least a couple of reasons. He claimed having a golf course abutting the hotel grounds (at Glacier Park Lodge) would be a good attraction to keep paying guests close to the facilities there, and more likely to spend more of their money at the hotel than they would if they tromped off into the mountains to hike or something. He also pointed out that the 1,000 acre land acquisition - added to the mere 80 acres already owned there by the GN - might provide something of a development buffer around the hotel grounds."

 

"Work on the golf course began in 1927 and quickly fell behind schedule. William H. Tucker and Sons, Inc., of New York was contracted to do the work. [There is no record in this book of who actually designed the course - I suppose it was simply someone who worked for Tucker]  Louis Hill ended up firing the contractor due to insufficient progress. George Dishmaker, who operated the GN greenhouses in Monroe, WA, was also put in charge of developing and managing the gardens between Glacier Park Depot and the lodge. When Tucker and Sons were fired from the golf course contract, Dishmaker was tasked with finishing the work."

"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Tags: