After playing at Circling Raven Golf Club on Saturday my friend and I had a Sunday morning tee time at Canyon River Golf Club. Since we were driving in from Portland we wanted to play a course in Montana without getting too far into the state. Old Works Golf Course looked awesome, but sadly we didn’t have enough time on this impromptu trip to Montana!
Canyon River normally gets ranked among the best public courses in Montana so it looked like a solid course in a convenient location (next to the I-90). And, that turned out to be the case as we got to add another state golfed to our personal lists! For me, Montana represented the 27th state where I’ve played at least one round of golf.
Canyon River is a community course (built in 2006) that is located about ten minutes east of downtown. The course and community sit in a small valley on a bend in the Clark Fork River. While you cannot see much of the river from the course you are treated to dramatic views of the surrounding canyon. The tree-covered mountains nearby will likely be the thing that sticks with you about Canyon River.
We played the black tees which are 72.3/125/6966. Even from nearly 7,000 yards Canyon River was a playable golf course. The fairways are large and there is little lost ball trouble. The distance will probably be the biggest challenge, although with five par-5’s you can score well.
Ultimately, I think the incredible setting at Canyon River more than makes up for an average layout. It isn’t that the layout is terrible, but not much stood out about the design. For example, many of the holes felt the same to me and much of the front nine plays near power lines. Homes line the course and because of the flatter land I found them quite noticeable.
The front nine wasn’t as interesting as the back nine, but it was highlighted by its two par-3’s – the 3rd and the 7th. The 3rd is 179 yards and is framed by a beautiful mountain backdrop. The 7th, at 242 yards, is a beast of a par-3! I hit my 3-wood as it is mostly carry to the green.
The back nine has a more rugged feel and also has two stunning par-3’s of its own (there are five par-3’s at Canyon River)! The 12th and 14th play in different directions but have a similar look – downhill with mountain views. The 12th is 211 yards while the 14th is 179 yards, but they will likely play one or two clubs less than normal. The 14th looks straight down the canyon and is the signature hole.
Our green fee was in the $70 range and considering the short season and nice conditioning, Canyon River was a good value. There were some spots that were still trying to grow in from the winter, but nothing too bad. The turf was lush and had a nice shine to it.
Missoula struck me as a fun college town, at least from the short time that we spent there. It isn’t a golf destination (probably like much of Montana) so Canyon River is an upscale course for the locals and visitors. If you fall into either of those groups then I’d recommend a round here because of the postcard views you’ll get on the course!
Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):
