Rising Sun Golf Course
The state of Montana has been a hot destination the last few years, no doubt spurred on by the hit series “Yellowstone,” and its spinoffs.
So what if we told you could have an authentic ranch experience in Montana not far from the famous national park? And what if we told you that it could include golf on one of Big Sky’s best courses as well?
That’s all true if you book a package at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch near Emigrant, Mont., which is just over an hour drive from the Bozeman airport and 40 minutes north of Yellowstone National Park.
Along the Yellowstone River
Mountain Sky is located on 17,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness, beginning at the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley and continues upward through grass-covered foothills, sagebrush meadows, pine forests and stands of aspen up the Gallatin National Forest. The waters of Big Creek runs 4 1/2 miles through the entire property and links the main lodge and guest lodges with a working ranch.
This incredible property is owned by Arthur Blank, the billionaire who co-founded Home Depot and also owns the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta’s United FC of Major League Soccer. He also loves golf, and the course at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, Rising Sun, is as good as it gets. In fact, while it would be a shame not to partake in some of the other activities at the guest ranch — like fly-fishing, horseback riding, or excursions to Yellowstone National Park, for example — playing this Johnny Miller-designed golf course every day would never get boring. It’s that good. But more on that in a bit. And yes, you should definitely take advantage of the other experiences at Mountain Sky Ranch.
Rising Sun Golf Course
Fly into Bozeman
The best way to get to Mountain Sky Guest Ranch is to fly into Bozeman, then either rent a car or utilize the ranch’s shuttle service. Once you arrive, your life will change while you are there. While the cabins are rustic luxury, you’ll soon find out that you are somewhat cut off from the rest of the world, which is part of the beauty of the place. It is indeed an escape. There are no TVs anywhere on property, and there’s no wifi in the cabins, and no cell coverage for the most part. The Main Lodge, Wellness Center and Golf Club House offer 24/7 WiFi for those that wish to stay connected.
Dining is open seating, family style where the guests all eat together, just like a real ranch. There are set times for meals, punctuated by a dinner bell in the early evenings. The menu is outstanding, and there are vegetarian and pescatarian options but whether it’s burgers, steaks, omelets or desserts, everything is outstanding. Breakfast and lunch are both buffets, while dinner starts with appetizers and drinks in the main lodge saloon, followed by a three-to-four course meal and dessert. They are all great opportunities for guests to get to know each other and share stories of their experiences on the ranch.
As for how you fill the days, there are so many cool options. Hiking, tours of the property and Yellowstone National Park, fly fishing, clay shooting, archery, white water rafting, and, of course, horseback riding are just some of the options. The last activity is led by a group of fun-loving, but seriously good wranglers who will improve your horseback riding skills, even if you’re a novice. And the views on the rides are breathtaking. There’s also a wonderful fitness center and spa, yoga, and on certain nights, you can demonstrate your two-step with live music in the main lodge.
Rising Sun Golf Course
Back to the range and the golf course
Rising Sun Golf Course originally opened in 2012 as just nine holes. But Blank was so impressed with it, he decided to build nine more. The course is currently exclusive to guests of Mountain Sky Guest Ranch which offers opportunity to be the only person on the course sometimes!
As a guest, you can play this course as many times as you want, and you’ll want to play it more than once. The quality of holes, the backdrop, and the challenge are all exceptional. Practice facilities are also outstanding. And before or after 18 holes, you can play a terrific par-3 course right next to the small, rustic clubhouse.
The course is laid out into the rolling hills and grasses of Paradise Valley. As you make your way around, you can take in the views of the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges. During early spring and late fall, some of those mountains are snow-capped. And Rising Sun is the first golf course in Montana to earn certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status by Audubon International.
The par-72 course, which has five sets of tees, plays anywhere from 5,017 yards to 7,130 yards. Every hole is unique and there are some that are really challenging. The fairways are bluegrass and the well-protected undulating greens are bentgrass. There are plenty of bunkers both in the fairways and around the greens, and you’ll find some water features as well, like streams crossing the fairway or ponds in front of greens.
The no. 1 handicap hole comes early, the 563-yard par-5 dogleg left second, which will require three well-placed shots if you play it conventionally to a green tucked in behind three bunkers. The par 3s are all varied, ranging from 165 yards to 211 yards from the back tees. The course ends with a nice variety of holes — a short par-4 and birdie opportunity on 16, the 207-yard par 3 17th, and the 588-yard par-5 18th, which finishes with a green well-protected by a large pond.
This is a premium destination, offering a variety of packages that generally run about a week and range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more depending on the size of the cabin and season.
Rising Sun Golf Course