Rock Creek Cattle Company

Tom Doak's walkable single-loop course on a 30,000-acre working cattle ranch in western Montana, playing over rocky hills and along Rock Creek at about 4,800 feet.

Rock Creek Cattle Company is a private club and residential community on a roughly 30,000-acre ranch outside Deer Lodge, land that was once part of the historic Grant-Kohrs Ranch. Bill Foley bought the property in 2004, and Tom Doak's course opened in 2008. It entered Golf Digest's national ranking in 2013 and has climbed steadily since. The ranch is still a working cattle operation, and trout fishing on Rock Creek is as central to the club as the golf.

Doak routed the course in one large loop near the creek so that it could be walked and would stay close to the development, with greens and next tees set a short distance apart. The holes move from a low valley through a series of rock-strewn hills, down to the water and back up across a hillside, with the Flint Creek Range as a backdrop. The 7th plays blind over a rocky rise and between two converging ridges.

At roughly 4,800 feet the ball flies farther, which offsets the length from the back tees, and the consecutive par-3 12th and 13th play over dramatic, elevated ground. The finish leans on Rock Creek: the short 17th and the par-5 18th both play near it, and the 18th green was moved in 2017 so the creek threatens anyone trying to reach it in two.

Holes to know

7

Par 4

The tee shot is blind over a rocky bump, then the hole threads between a pair of converging ridges.

8

A short, downhill hole on the front nine with long views across the ranch.

18

Par 5

A wide, simple-looking finisher that tightens near the creek; the green was moved in 2017 to bring the water into play on second shots.

Design history

• 2017: 18th green moved so the creek comes into play for players going for the par 5 in two