(Editor’s note: Throughout the remainder of the summer, MontanaSports.com’s Alec Bofinger will be visiting golf courses in and around the Billings area to feature ‘signature holes’ or holes that tie in to what makes the courses unique. Up first is a challenging par-4 hole at the Miles City Town and Country Club.)
MILES CITY — The Miles City Town and Country Club features one of the state’s most difficult holes. The 435-yard par-4 second was once rated in Montana’s top 20 hardest par 4s. But what is it that makes this hole, which plays relatively straight, so difficult?
“The length. We’re always getting a west wind usually coming out of here, on the evenings especially,” Miles City Town and Country Club pro shop manager Traver Hunter said. “As you can see, it’s lined side to side all the way down. If you hit a good tee shot, you’re still looking at 190-200 yards sometimes going into this par 4 and not much room for error.”
The hole is lined with gigantic cottonwood trees that hinder the visual window from the tee box. The wind pushes directly across the fairway most days, making it even more difficult to avoid the trees and the rough. From there, punching out may be the only option.
“You find your way back onto the fairway,” Hunter said. “There’s some shots that you can make, there’s some windows. The trees are 90 percent air, right? It’s best bet just to swallow your medicine, punch out and continue on.”
Members of the Miles City Town and Country Club love the difficult second hole, even if it can ruin a round early.
“The pond is off to the right. They’ve got the fountain on in the evening and it lights up. It follows up with a par 3 that’s very beautiful, as well. They’re very proud of it,” said Hunter.
The second hole isn’t the only hole on the course lined with trees. In fact, it’s what the Miles City Town and Country Club is known for, and it makes it difficult to find a good score.
“It’s a shot maker’s, punching out of trees, learning how to cut it around something and hook it around something else. … The other courses that I’ve played definitely do not have the amount of trees that we have. And that’s kind of what we’re known for, is every hole is cottonwood, evergreen-tree lined,” said Hunter, who spent several years at Peter Yegen Golf Course in Billings. “It’s very tight and you’re going to have to hit it in the fairway to score well out here.”
This course is one of the 51 courses included in the 2019 Golf & Go Summer Pass, which is available through MTNDeals.com for $99. To purchase a pass granting you access to 18 holes at each of the 51 courses, please click here.
