Situated in the north west of the United States, the Treasure State of Montana is one of the largest by area in the country but with a population of less than one million people, it’s also one of the least densely populated states. Montana is home to seven American Indian reservations and it was here – near Little Bighorn River – that George Armstrong Custer and seven hundred men from the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the US Army were defeated in a famous battle known as “Custer’s Last Stand” by the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians in 1876. 

Montana’s modern day golfers (attached to the 100 or so clubs within the state) are governed by the Montana State Golf Association which was formed in 1917. Lady golfers are looked after by a corresponding organisation, the Montana State Women’s Golf Association.  

A couple of demanding Tom Fazio designs from the late 1990s – Iron Horse in Whitefish and Stock Farm in Hamilton – are amongst the top tracks in the state but they’ve been overshadowed in the last few years by Tom Doak’s Rock Creek Cattle Company course at Deer Lodge which has emerged as the premier 18-hole layout in Montana.