When I had the invitation to visit the opulent Yellowstone Club and enjoy golf, dining, and more beautiful accoutrements than any travel photojournalist would dream of - I readily accepted.  Here was a chance for three days of VIP treatment behind closed doors for a privileged glimpse of "what life is at the top,"  at the world's most respected private community.  Who would not want to be a guest of the exclusive, world class,  Yellowstone Club, recognized by discriminating movers and shakers of the world as "the best" private club on the globe?

As a golf/travel writer and photojournalist, I have had the honor to have played some of America's prominent and renowned courses - Sawgrass, Maui, Hawaii's   Kaanapali Golf Course, Aspen/Snowmass course, and the fine courses of the east and west coast.  But, none were more commanding or breathtaking than Yellowstone Club's course.    I realized I was even more privileged when the golf pro told me that I was the first golf writer they had extended this personal invitation to since the course had been designed.  Where else on earth is one of the most exclusive and top-ranked courses with only ten or twenty people a day playing?  No slow play here, unless you want it!   And plenty of views even the fabled Pebble Beach can't match!

The golf course - designed by retired pro golfer Tom Weiskopf, and on most days experiences less than 20 golfers a day since the "public is not invited" - members and guests only, and most landowners do not live full time on the property.  That is the incomparable concept of a "non revenue driven course" - just members, and fees included in the membership!  The greens are bent grass, the fairways are blue grass, and the white sand was brought in especially from Idaho to contrast against the green grass and trees.  Every hole would challenge Sawgrass, Pebble Beach, or anything the Master's has to offer, and the views at each tee box will enthrall and dazzle you.   Click here - Take a look at the holes and their layout, yardage, hole by hole.

Caddies with bear spray in pockets:

Deer beside one of the tee boxes.

The course stats are as follows:

18 holes                  Length: 4,900 to 7,200 yards               Par: 72 (36 out – 36 in) (Par 3’s: 5  Par 4’s: 8  Par 5’s: 5).  Golf course slope rating is 142, and average green speed is around 11

Approximate Yardages:
  Pioneer tees= 7,000 yards to 7,200 yards
  Frontier tees= 6,700 to 6,900 yards
  Yellowstone tees= 6,200 to 6,400 yards
  Gallatin tees= 5,600 to 5,800 yards
  Cedar tees = 4,900 to 5,100 yards

The course was all one would expect - excellent greens, unprecedented views,

incredible fairways, and enough challenge to provide any golfer with an enjoyable game.  This course is a towering achievement in golf course design, and stunning scenery 7,500 feet altitude that is energizing, intriguing, exhilarating,  and spectacularly dramatic. - not to mention the added yardage you will hit the ball!  For additional information about YC see this month's article, John's Notes.

Happy golfing.