ON THE FIRST TEE...
With Nick Dietzen
"We made it. It’s 2025! Whether 2024 felt like it would never end for you, or you never wanted it to end, the calendar turns, and we are on to handwriting the wrong year for a few weeks (one of my most cherished New Year’s Traditions).
Here at the Montana State Golf Association, we did a year in review, a year in preview and to kick off 2025, our staff picked their favorite articles from the past year. I’d like to call out to the MSGA Team for a year filled with delivering golf news from around the Treasure State, historical gems, thoughtful musings, informational content and beautiful visuals.
I assigned staff to pick their favorite articles, but since I created the assignment, I am going to go away from the question and choose an issue. The February 1st debut issue of 406golf
It hasn’t been an entire year of going from a newsletter to an online magazine for our members, but we’re close enough.
I was in Seattle in a hotel lobby following a Pacific Northwest Golf Association meeting. During that trip, we had just become members of the PNGA, and a multi-day planning session helped create some excitement despite the depths of Montana winters and golf feeling forever away.
In that hotel lobby, I finished getting some interviews/quotes from a few friends of the MSGA to honor former Executive Director, Fraser MacDonald, who had recently passed away. I learned far more in my conversations about Fraser and his past, which included a lengthy duration as a sports media member. I found it fitting that our first issue of 406golf
Laurel Golf Club had 12,508 scores posted in 2024 ‒ but none by MSGA Executive Director Nick Dietzen. That will change in 2025.
would discuss Fraser’s life and hopefully make him proud, by embarking on some good storytelling. Over the past year, the team at the MSGA has tried to keep our members informed, entertained, educated and engaged.
The undertaking of putting together this online publication is not insignificant. It takes a team, and deadlines do not always mesh well with the news cycle, tournament travel or even syncing up with the days of the week. This issue is the 22nd installment of 406golf, and although factually incorrect – it seemed like every 1st or 15th of the month was on a weekend.
The first issue was a 24-page labor of love, over the year, most of the issues have been more than 40 pages, with a 66-page tournament-edition entering members’ inbox this season as well.
To the many members who have reached out to staff to compliment our work, we appreciate you reading. We truly love hearing from you and our resolution for the New Year is to continue to deliver relevant, timely stories and information to your inbox every month.
To close out 2024, the United States Golf Association (USGA), put out their “2024 Golf Scorecard.” This 18-page deep dive into handicap data is a fun exploration into some of the trends and simply the behavior of golfers in 2024. Nearly 35% of golfers enter their score
MSGA ABOUT US
BOARD OF DIRECTORS - OFFICERS
PRESIDENT................................. Peter Benson
VICE PRESIDENT................ Ron Ramsbacher
TREASURER..................................... Bill Dunn
PAST PRESIDENT........................... Carla Berg
WOMEN’S CHAIR...................... Mary Bryson
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bill Dunn, Ron Ramsbacher, Brett Bennyhoff, Rod Stirling, Mary Bryson, Tracy Paine, Karen Rice, Joe Rossman, Peter Benson, Lisa Forsberg, Marcia Hafner, Carla Berg, Cheri Ellis
MSGA STAFF
Executive Director......................................... Nick Dietzen
Tournament Director...................................... Tim Bakker
Communcations Coordinator.......................... Ty Sparing
Membership Operations Director............... Emily Hulsey
Member Services Coordinator......................... Ian Hulsey
Graphic Design & Content Coordinator......... Katie Fagg
USGA Boatwright Intern................................. Jess Miller
PARTNERSHIPS
Nick Dietzen ............................. 1 (800) 628-3752, ext. 2
406GOLF STAFF
Editor in Chief............................................... Nick Dietzen
Consulting Editor........................................ David Bataller
Staff Writer........................................................ Ty Sparing
Graphic Designer............................................... Katie Fagg
Montana State Golf Association P.O. Box 4306
Helena, MT 59604
1 (800) 628-3752
www.msgagolf.org
via hole-by-hole (HBH) entry. I am part of this thorough and analytical group. I was surprised to learn that I had a larger community of HBH golfers joining me in reliving their round in painstaking detail.
You can read the entire report here or if you prefer just the highlights, here are a few:
• 3.35 million golfers posted a record 77.25 million scores this past year. Nearly 18% of those rounds were of the nine-hole variety. This trend is growing year-over-year, a reminder that you can squeeze 9 in! :o)
• While the average golfer is between 2025 posted rounds, an elite 2,000+ golfers posted 200 or more this past year. Do you know one of them?
• More than 400,000 golfers established a handicap for the first time in 2024. These golfers’ skills are not much less than the “establishment,” but they do play more 9-hole rounds.
• 1 in 4 golfers played in a competition. Less than 10% of the new handicap index cohort played competitively. Further evidence that handicap indexes are not
just for those who want to compete.
• When at least two groups played on a course, 8% of scores received playing conditions calculation adjustments (PCC) to reflect the relative ease or difficultly of that day – think weather or course setup.
• Montana did not rank among the lowest handicap groups, but we have all of 2025 to improve!
The 18-hole course with the most rounds posted was Laurel Golf Club, site of the 2024 Montana State Men’s Amateur Championship. MSGA staff posted nearly 500 scores to GHIN that week to do our part. As I reflected on my GHIN Rewind, I did not contribute to the 12,508 scores at Laurel GC in 2024. Add it to the list of golf resolutions for 2025. Do you have a few?
Wishing you and your community a safe and happy New Year. We thank you for taking the journey with us all year and we look forward to 2025 being your best golf year ever!
1. Who introduced you to golf?
My dad, Gary, introduced me to golf at about age 6 in Dickinson, ND. We would get out for 9 holes before he had to go to work. He continued to take me along with him to Lake Hills GC when we moved to Billings, and that is where I spent the next 20 years learning to play.
I was fortunate to play with him this year at Lake Hills, more than 50 years since we played our first round there in the early 1970s. Lots of great memories at Lake Hills.
2. Who influenced you the most in your golf life?
Hard to say it’s not my dad when he is the one who introduced me to the game. For the most part, I’ve been self-taught and learned through observation, imitation, and trial and error.
But many people have influenced my game. As a kid, I imitated the swing of our golf professional at Lake Hills, Don Hunter and looked at the pictures in Ben Hogan’s Five Fundamentals book. George Winn, a PGA professional at Hilands GC when I was in high school, gave me my one and only golf lesson and he changed how I held the club. That had a huge impact on my ability to improve.
My life-long friend and great player, Mike Grob, inspired me to get better as a
junior golfer if I wanted to try to compete with him. While working at Lake Hills, our professional Jon Wright and I would talk a lot about the golf swing, both on how to teach it and how to swing it ourselves.
In my younger professional days, I played a lot with Tom Anderson and Bob Eames and sponged off of them whatever I could.
3. What’s the best part of your golf game?
Can’t say this was always the case, but I think it is probably my attitude. I get frustrated like everyone else sometimes, but I can laugh at my bad shots more than I used to and don’t get so mad that it impacts the rest of the day.
4. What is your favorite course in Montana and why?
When I think about a favorite course, I think, “what course in Montana would I want to play for the rest of my life if there was only one to choose from?” The answer to that is my home course, Yellowstone Country Club. YCC is a very walkable golf course and a wonderful layout with firm, fast greens.
The real reason it is my favorite is that’s where my buddies are, and there are few things more enjoyable than walking the fairways with great friends. The Stock Farm Club is fantastic though.
5. What is a dream golf course you’d like to play once?
Augusta National GC. I’ve been fortunate to play on many of the great courses, but this one is at the top of my bucket list.
6. What is your dream celebrity foursome (living or deceased)? Why would you choose them?
I don’t have a great desire to play with celebrities, but if I did, it would be Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, because they might have some pull on playing this dream round at Augusta National!
7. What’s your most memorable moment on a golf course?
1990 Ben Hogan Tour in Boise, ID with my dad on the bag…not sure who was more nervous, me or dad! My name was on the leaderboard very briefly (think for just one hole before a double!) with Tom Lehman, Jeff Maggert, and John Daly. It got taken down so fast that mom didn’t get a chance to take a picture! I made the cut and played some good golf that week.
8. If you could change one thing about the game of golf what would it be?
I respect the traditions and rules of the game, and while there are some tough things that are rub of the green (ball in divot), I don’t think I would change the rules. If I could get all golfers to leave the course as good or better than they found it, that would be
a good start. It is disappointing to see divots not replaced, ball marks not repaired, and bunkers not raked.
9. What advice would you give to beginner golfers?
Swing hard and have fun! Especially with young juniors starting the game –speed first, accuracy later.
Bonus: Lay up or go for it?
Go big or go home… Go for it!
Jerry Pearsall
BY EMILY HULSEY MSGA Director of Membership Operations
Congratulations on another great year! How did you do? Open your GHIN app or log into ghin.com to view your highlights from 2024. You’ll find your personalized GHIN Rewind in the “More” menu. Or, check your inbox for an email from the USGA, with a link to your 2024 GHIN Rewind.
Immersive Experience
A dynamic, multi-slide story-like experience.
Comprehensive Highlights
See your Handicap Index changes, total rounds played, best and most challenging rounds, courses played, and more.
Shareable Moments
Each slide is designed to let you celebrate and share your accomplishments with friends and fellow golfers. If you need help logging in to GHIN, please contact us at support@ msgagolf.org. Join us in celebrating the success of golfers nationwide!
Note:
GHIN Rewind captures your 2024 golf data through November 30th, and a refresh in January 2025 will include your full-year 2024 activity. You need a current active Handicap Index and a minimum of three 18-hole scores posted this year to view your GHIN Rewind. Manual score entries are not included.
RULES OF GOLF: EDUCATION OPTIONS
BY TIM BAKKER MSGA Tournament Director
Winter has settled in across Montana, while we may always draw a good lie in the simulator, spring will be here presenting unique challenges every round. Why not use some of our indoor time to brush up on the Rules of Golf?
The USGA offers multiple options for expanding your knowledge of the Rules of Golf.
Rules 101
Rules 101 is an introductory course focusing on rules you may encounter during a round of golf. This free course is 9 modules with quizzes for you to complete and your progress is saved for you to complete at your own pace.
Rules of Golf Videos
Do you follow the USGA on YouTube?
They have many great videos, including a playlist for the current (2023) rules. These 12 videos are quick refreshers for many on course situations.
Topic Overviews
Quickly find information about certain areas of the golf course. Can you name the five areas of the golf course? Knowing where you are will determine the relief actions you can or cannot take.
Workshops
Want to begin a deeper dive into the rules? The USGA offers virtual and in person learning opportunities.
USGA Virtual Workshops are five, two hour sessions allowing you to interact with instructors, ask questions, all from the comfort of home. This 10 hour course also includes access to over 20 hours of videos in the virtual school library, providing an indepth look at the Rules of Golf.
3 ½ Day PGA/USGA Workshops
The deepest of dives. Gather with others for 3 days, sharing conversation and experiences in the rules of golf. In 2024 when I attended, there were PGA Tour Caddies, PGA Professionals, TV Commentators, golf association staff and tournament volunteers. In person provides the best opportunity to connect with other people who share the love and respect for the rules of golf.
Following the workshops, you will have the option to take either the 80 or 100 question exam. The 80-question exam is
great taking the exam for the first time, score 70 or better and receive Advance Level Knowledge. When taking the 100 question exam, score 75 or higher for Advance Level Knowledge, or 90 and above for Expert Level Knowledge. Those earning Expert Level Knowledge, will have the opportunity to volunteer as Rules Officials for USGA Events.
If you are interested in more information about the Rules of Golf or Volunteering for a MSGA event, please contact Tournament Director Tim Bakker via email at tim@msgagolf.org.
2024 MSGA BOATWRIGHT INTERNSHIPS –APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
BY NICK DIETZEN MSGA Executive Director
In 1991, the United States Golf Association (USGA) established the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program. This program is designed to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry level basis.
The Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) has three Boatwright Internship Opportunities available for this year. Interns have focus areas but will receive a well-rounded experience and learning opportunities in
many areas of golf administration. The nature of tournament administration will test one’s patience, initiative, and decision-making abilities, as well as one’s ability to endure long hours, hard work, and the opportunity to make new friends.
Playing ability is not considered and the MSGA encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, anyone 18 and over is eligible to apply. A prospective intern should demonstrate strong managerial potential and a sufficient interest in golf. Additionally, an interest in learning about the game, it’s traditions and positively promoting golf throughout the state.
Not eligible for hire are golf professionals; USGA employees or their relatives; USGA
P.J. Boatwright, Jr., Interns from across the country gather at USGA Headquarters in Liberty Station, N.J. for a three-day summit each May. The Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) will have three Boatwright Internship Opportunities available for 2025.
USGA
committee members or their relatives; as well as association and organization employees and officials or their relatives.
The current MSGA Staff includes two Boatwright Alumni: Nick Dietzen (Minnesota 2012), Tyler Sparing (Montana 2022-23) and Katie Fagg (2023-24) who is returning to the MSGA during the springtime. Katie commented on her time as a Boatwright Intern to-date:
So far, my experiences as a MSGA Boatwright Intern have been nothing short of amazing. This internship has offered me many new opportunities including graphic design, tournament preparation and operations, and meeting many new faces within the Montana Golf Community.
Overall, I think that the Boatwright Internship program has been set up in a manner that creates such a well-rounded experience for all of us that get selected to participate. In addition to ensuring that I was exposed to all aspects of the association, the MSGA staff has allowed me to focus on some of the things that I really enjoy, especially graphic design.
I am grateful that the MSGA has allowed me to explore my creativity through many of the projects that I have gotten the chance to work on as a Boatwright Intern. I am very excited to be back and to see what new experiences the offseason brings as we prepare for another incredible summer season!
- Katie Fagg, Carroll College
KATIE FAGG’S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
“The Boatwright Internship is truly one of a kind. It’s an amazing experience that many of our staff (Nick, Ty, Jess, and myself) have gotten the privilege to participate in.
It’s almost that time of year! Keep an eye out for more information about our 2025 Boatwright Internship opportunities in future issues of 406GOLF!”
~ Katie Fagg MSGA Graphic Design and Content Coordinator
*** This article appeared in the February 1, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
GIVING BACK TO THE MSGA
BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS MSGA Operations Manager
“How far do I have?”
More than you think…
“This is going to be fast isn’t it?”
Just get it going...
“Can you keep your eye on this for me?”
I got it...
“Do you have a tee I can borrow?” Here you go...
“Am I out?”
Go ahead if you’re ready...
Whether we like it or not, and whether the foursome is filled with friends, or randoms, the life of a golfer is that of a volunteer. Need help with the yardage? I have your back. Need help finding an errant tee shot? I’ll help you look! Forgot your sunscreen? I have plenty!
After 22 years of playing in MSGA events, I had the pleasure of volunteering last year at my home course, Green Meadow Country Club, when they had the honor of hosting the Montana State Women’s Championships. It was wonderful. It was eye opening. In all the years of playing in MSGA events, I had never been the volunteer being told, “Thanks.” I had tried to remember at every event through the years as a competitor, to thank the staff, thank the shop, thank the check in table, thank the
mower, thank the starter, thank the scoring table, basically anyone in a uniform was getting a thanks. It was my time last year in the volunteer role, and it was everything I expected it to be. An avalanche of thanks. Plus, the golf was stellar.
So, MSGA golfers and competitors, remember…”do you have an extra tee?” “Can you keep your eye on this?” The volunteering is built in! Don’t be afraid to give it a try. If an MSGA event is in your neck of the woods, I highly recommend it. None of your shots count that day! You will miss zero putts that day! You will be bogey free that day! Volunteer. And if I forgot the last time I saw you, “Thanks.”
Michael Williams Operations Manager, MSGA
TY SPARING’S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
"I appreciate Michael’s article on volunteering. It highlights not only how much we rely on volunteer help at some of our events and the importance of letting them know we appreciate their efforts, but also shows the other side of how pleasant it can be when one decides to give back to the golf community in such a way."
~ Ty Sparing MSGA Communications Coordinator
*** This article appeared in the March 1, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
By
Kent Kasting and Marjean Penny Bozeman, Montana
"I want to report to you that on Sunday, June 16, 2024, I was lucky enough to make a hole in one on #15, a 129-yard Par 3 at Valley View Golf Club in Bozeman, Montana. I used a Callaway Steel Head Plus #7. It was witnessed by my wife, Connie, and my son, Justin. It was special because it was Father's Day, with my son and the club was from my Dad's bag which I snagged after he went to the great golf course inthe sky about 12 years ago." ~ Kent Kasting
TIM BAKKER’S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
*** This article appeared in the July 1, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
"Just want to share my hole in one story. I have been playing golf for 43 years. I have seen several holes-in-one while playing for the U.S. Army Golf Team in Germany. On Wednesday, June 12th, my bucket list... birthday wish came true! During Ladies League at Cottonwood Hills GC Hole #14, 98 yards with a 9-iron. I had a milestone birthday on June 11th and the best birthday gift of a hole-in-one on June 12th. I'd like to think there was a little divine intervention from my late grandfather, W.C. Hatfield, who taught me to golf as a kid. I know he was smiling when that ball went in the hole. I fell to my knees and cried... when you have golfed as much as I have... when that magical moment happens... it truly is a flood of emotions. My playing partners took pictures, which I have shared on Facebook and were posted by Cottonwood Hills GC. Thanks for providing great golf opportunities for people of all ages!" ~ Marjean Penny
BOWLING FOR BIRDIES
BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS MSGA Operations Manager
Men are from Mars.
Women are from Venus.
Men play golf.
Women bowl.
Ok, listen, I am a girl dad and over the last 20 years I have played most of my golf with my wife and the girls. Now that we are empty nesters, I find myself playing more and more with the guys. And I’m here to tell you: The ladies BOWL.
Hear me out. I’m not a bowler but I know a few things. When you bowl, you knock down 7, the computer says 7. You cross that line; the computer says BUZZ and the shot is a foul. You don’t say, “Well I would have made that, let me try again.” You miss, the sweeper comes out, mocking your miss, and resets a new frame. The ladies I play with BOWL.
Everything counts. Every rule is enforced. Every putt is finished. The MACHINE doesn’t give mulligans. I play with my wife and two of her good friends, we always play for a friendly wager, the wager is total putts. At no point in my round am I ever assuming I can just pick it up. It’s BOWLING. The computers are always watching. If it goes in the gutter, well…it’s a gutter ball. Try again.
I’m a 0.4 my wife is a 13, one friend is a 9 and the other is a 19. The competition is thrilling. No one wants to lose that dollar. I think they hit their approach shots on the fringes on purpose so they can zero putt… but I digress.
My advice to golfers out there, who might look at their index and say, “Wait. What?” Remember, play like you would bowl. Count the pins you hit, then count the pins you miss. Take the fouls. Accept the gutters. Take dead aim and see what happens. And if you feel the urge to pick up that 2-footer…remember, my wife and her friends might be watching.
Just tap it in.
There are no do-overs in bowling – your score is how many pins have fallen and how many are still upright. Why should golf be any different?
JESS MILLER’S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
"This is one of my favorite articles, not only because Mike is a talented writer, but also because his anecdotes ring true to me. I have not equated golf to bowling before, but this article made me rethink how people approach the game of golf. This is a fun read, and you should check it out if you haven't already!"
~ Jess Miller USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr., Intern
*** This article appeared in the April 15, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
SPOTLIGHT on the GHIN APP: Games and Score Keeping
BY EMILY HULSEY MSGA Director of Membership Operations
In addition to the useful GPS features discussed in our last 406golf, the GHIN app also has a fun Games/Score Keeping feature!
To use it, tap “Play with GPS/Games”, choose the course, then choose one of the following:
• Match Play (Net) – Keep track of a match that applies handicap strokes based off the golfer with the lowest Playing Handicap™.
• Match Play (Gross) – Keep track of a match where no handicap strokes are applied for any golfer.
• Keep Score for Group – Keep track of the scores for you as well as the other golfers in your group.
It’s easy to use and includes a digital scorecard that will keep track of 5 players – yourself, and 4 others, that you can look up using their last name or GHIN #. Search the name, click the “+” sign and “Add golfers”. You can also manually add golfers if they don’t have a GHIN #. Players can then be moved into any order you wish by pressing and dragging the “=” symbol.
Once the game is completed, you have the option to digitally transfer scores to the other GHIN golfers in your group. Once transferred, those golfers will receive a push notification that a score is waiting (if enabled, and they have the GHIN app installed on their device). They can also access this in the “Saved Rounds” menu item within the app, as well as will be prompted when tapping “Post Score”. They can then review, edit (if needed), and post the score to their record.
If the golfer was manually added without a GHIN #, the score won’t be transferred, but the score keeper can take a screenshot of the scorecard and message or email the image.
Even if you don’t play in tournaments, the Games/Score Keeping feature in the GHIN app is a fun way to compete, whether a competitive or friendly game. It’s an MSGA membership benefit that can be used by everyone – young and old alike! Help us spread the word about the benefits of an MSGA membership!
Do you have an Apple Watch? If so, check our next issue as we spotlight how it’s integrated with the GHIN app for added convenience.
EMILY HULSEY'S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
"I love to highlight features of the GHIN app, and one of my favorites is Games/Score Keeping. It’s something everyone can enjoy using, no matter the age or ability.
If you haven’t had a chance to try it yet, it’s worth a second look!"
~ Emily Hulsey MSGA Director of Membership Operations
*** This article appeared in the April 15, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
ON THE FIRST TEE...
With Nick Dietzen
Thanks to support from the United States Golf Association (USGA), members from most areas of the golf community in Montana attended the second consecutive Montana Golf Community Meeting in Helena on April 18th.
In addition to the MSGA Staff and Board of Directors, representatives from the USGA, Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Montana High School Association (MHSA), Professional Golfers Association (PGA) rounded out the alphabet soup of golf partners. Additionally, high school and collegiate coaches as well as rules officials and MSGA Volunteers were all in attendance to learn from presenters, engage in discussion and formulate plans for the upcoming season and beyond.
One half day together is not enough to cover the vast array of topics, trends, and educational opportunities that these diverse and talented groups brought to Helena, but it was a continuation from last year’s meeting in Butte – the first statewide assembly in nearly a decade. If once is random, twice is a coincidence we’re looking to make this gathering a trend next year and improve our communication between entities in the time between.
The MSGA is embarking on a 3–5-year journey as we have put forth the effort to build a strategic plan to guide our collective mission to promote golf to serve and connect the Montana golf community. In the coming months we will be introducing and publicizing our strategic plan, but our mission is clear and we’re off to a good start thanks to bringing together so many partners and forging relation-
Regional Affairs Director Mike Sweeney (back right) provides an update from the USGA to attendees at Green Meadow Country Club.
ships to achieve smaller goals, together.
One thing is clear from the group conversations – there needs to be investment, collaboration and understanding from all those who contribute and participate in golf. We have a vibrant membership that is growing and playing often. Golf course usage requires significant resources and opportunities for events creates competition that can overwhelm a facility if we do not strategize and plan.
This year, the MSGA will conduct seven multi-day championships and 18 one-day events. When you factor in practice rounds, we will have nearly 50 days of golf course usage. This is nearly 1/3 of the active season calendar – currently the bulk of our events take place from May-August. When you factor in junior events, high school, collegiate, fundraising tournaments, and local events it’s easy to see how course compression happens quickly.
Thanks to many of our member clubs who
*** This article appeared in the May 1, 2024 edition of 406golf ***
have opened their facilities for events, we are excited to offer a geographically and facility diverse slate of events for 2024. We endeavor to help provide a hub for our members and our clubs to continue to stay active and have opportunities across the state. This will require future planning, generosity from host facilities and communication with all the stakeholders from our partners to continue to provide access and opportunity for all those who play and enjoy our game.
Golf course access is just one of many topics that we discussed as a community this past month. I am confident that the engagement and investment from personnel to resources in the coming years will provide a successful pathway in building on the momentum of past seasons and the enthusiasm for golf in Montana.
The next time you pull up to a golf course in Montana think of all those who act as caretakers for the game we enjoy – from those working on the grounds, on the practice tee, in the golf shop and beyond – it takes a community to serve the game and the golfers who play it. Thank you to everyone who plays a role and for those who take the time to thank someone who contributes to our wonderful golf community.
IAN HULSEY’S FAVORITE ARTICLE OF 2024
"In addition to the action-packed articles from our bustling tournament season, a highlight for me is April's Montana Golf Community Meeting mentioned in the May 1st issue.
It's so important that we continue to collaborate, refine, and grow the game of golf in Montana, and this meeting contributed to the success of our 2024 season.
Thanks to support from our own golf community as well as the PNGA and USGA, this meet-up provided a rich session of ideas and sharing the possibilities of growth in the game in the Treasure State."
~ Ian Hulsey MSGA Director of Membership Operations
GREGOR MACMILLAN: LEGENDARY MONTANA ENGINEER AND GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT
BY TY SPARING MSGA Communications Coordinator
For Montana golf fans that routinely look up information on local courses like ratings and slopes and such, chances are you’ve come across the name Gregor MacMillan. Born in Butte in 1895, MacMillan was a legendary Treasure State engineer that among other pursuits, spent a lot of time designing and building over one hundred golf courses around the western United States.
A Butte High School graduate in 1915, MacMillan went to Montana State University for a brief spell before enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving as a second Lieutenant throughout the duration of World War 1. When the Great War ended, MacMillan went back to school at the University of Washington where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Perhaps not a surprising career choice for MacMillan who came from a family of builders.
His grandfather, Hugh Allan was an architect and millwright who helped construct the original smelter in Anaconda, while his father John MacMillan worked for years with the Northern Pacific Railway Company in Butte.
Shortly after college Gregor MacMillan found himself still in Seattle working for the prestigious William H. Tucker & Sons Construction Company, a firm known for building all types of athletic fields. It was there that MacMillan sharpened his engineering skills on a variety of exciting projects. As he explained to a reporter from the Independent Record in 1965, “While working for the Tucker company, I built a private polo field for the late Will Rodgers. Shortly after that I struck out on my own. I built a tennis court for Actress Jean Harlow. I also did landscape for actors Victor McLaglen and Noah Berry.”
Aside from working with celebrities, MacMillan was a key architect, designer, consultant, and general engineer for numerous golf
A George MacMillan drawing of original Eagle Falls Golf Course in Great Falls, Montana.
courses during the 1920s. MacMillan and Willie Tucker for example designed the Country Club of Lincoln (Nebraska), which opened in 1922 as a “prairie style course with only one tree,” and it’s still going strong today over one hundred years later.
After going solo and moving to Palm Springs, MacMillan also helped build the swanky El Mirador Golf Course in 1928 that
was designed by local entrepreneur Lawrence Crossley. Sadly, El Mirador only lasted a short while before shuttering its doors due to the onset of the Great Depression. Likewise, a recently married MacMillan “went broke and decided to return to Montana,” not long after the famous Crash of 1929.
MacMillan eventually found a new career in the Works Progress Administration, which
Photo of Whitefish Lake Golf Course (WPA)
was part of Franklin Roosevelt’s broader New Deal initiatives. The WPA was tasked with a wide variety of public construction and cultural projects ranging from building bridges, fish hatcheries, courthouses and even golf courses. As the Chief Engineer for Montana, MacMillan directed many of those projects and as far as golf courses were concerned, he had plenty of wisdom to share from his previous decade of work.
Lasting throughout the 1930s and finally phasing out by 1943, the WPA built sixteen golf courses and improved 23 others all over the state. The WPA even provided free golf classes in Butte as one writer for the Montana Standard gushed in 1939, “we should appreciate more than ever before the benevolent interest in our Uncle [Sam] in the physical welfare, the recreational opportunities and the social ambitions of the populace, even while the taxpayers rant and howl. The WPA relief golf classes in Butte comprise the fastest growing and most popular project WPA has yet inaugurated here.”
From Kalispell to Glendive and everywhere in between the entire landscape of golf in Montana went through a dramatic transformation during the 1930s, much of which was done under MacMillan’s watch. And while
not every course that was built or worked on by the WPA survived over the years, some of them yet remain the most played courses in the state. Whitefish Lake Golf Course, Polson Bay Golf Course, and Buffalo Hill Golf Course were three early success stories, and even in the year of 2024 were among the most popular playing destinations in Montana. Whitefish Lake Golf Course for instance had more rounds played this past year (20,403) than any other course, and between all three they amassed well over 40,000 total rounds.
The WPA wasn’t meant to last, however, and once again Gregor MacMillan was on the move. He next served as a captain in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War 2, where he worked as a project engineer for the Farragut Naval Training Station at Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho.
After the war MacMillan moved back to Helena where he spent the next couple decades working jobs as the Secretary Manager of the Helena Chamber of Commerce, an administrator for the VA at Fort Harrison, and ultimately ended his winding career after several years at the Montana State Highway Department. Reflecting on his varied work history MacMillan himself declared upon retirement in 1965, “I can say truthfully that I liked every job I had.”
A photo of the ninth hole of Green Meadow Country Club in Helena, Montana.
Even after his career drifted beyond the realm of golf courses, MacMillan nevertheless continued to independently design and consult on course development until the end of his life. In the early 1940s he designed the original Green Meadow Country Club course and followed that up a couple years later with a municipal course in Great Falls that now goes by Eagle Falls Golf Course.
And the hits just kept on coming for MacMillan, who in serving a variety of roles put his stamp on dozens of Montana’s favorite courses over the ensuing decades. Glacier Park Lodge Golf Course, Cabinet View in Libby, the Hilands in Billings, University of Montana Golf Course, Anaconda Country Club, just to name a few.
Even at the time of his death in 1973 he had been working as a consultant for the city
of Helena who was looking to expand the Bill Roberts Golf Course from nine holes to 18.
MacMillan died 51 years ago this January 2, yet his presence lives on in the grounds we walk. His influence on the history of golf in Montana is vast.
The courses themselves are distinct, historical artifacts from a bygone era: trees planted, water and bunker hazards placed, clubhouses built – in many cases these were all done before many of us were born, and they represent the creative expression of those who took part in its construction. Unlike other sports that have rigidly defined dimensions, golf is unique in this sense. The personality of a golf course can shine in a way that most athletic fields simply do not. In that way as one of Montana’s most prolific golf course architects, Gregor MacMillan is still all around us.
A photo of Glacier Park and Lodge, taken in 1965.
NEW FACES, SAME MISSION
BY ROSS NIEWOLA USGA AGRONOMIST, WEST REGION
Change isn’t just common in the golf course maintenance industry, it’s constant. The weather, course politics, technology and golfer expectations are just a few variables that are always shifting. As superintendents, we adapt through growth. We learn and evolve, adopting new technology and methods as fast as they’re proven. Superintendents have to keep their eyes open for every opportunity, whether it’s a new way to enhance your maintenance program and improve your golf course, or the chance to take the next step in your career. I recently left my role as the superintendent at Walla Walla Country Club in Washington to dive into
being a USGA agronomist. While that means a new voice in the Green Section Record and a new face visiting courses in the West, this type of change is par for the course.
Originally from Virginia, I have spent most of my adult life out West. Although I spent many years in Southern California and Arizona managing bermudagrass with overseeded ryegrass, the turf types I’m most accustomed to are cool season. Even in Scottsdale and Palm Springs, we managed bentgrass putting surfaces. Talk about learning the importance of moisture management!
On the California coast, we faced challenges growing Poa annua with poor water quality and ocean waves crashing over putting greens. In the high desert, we had to overcome weeks of temperatures over 100 de-
grees with the short roots of juvenile Poa trivialis. I was fortunate to gain the experience of managing creeping bentgrass in the Coachella Valley with summer temperatures exceeding 125 degrees. A few hours east in the Sonoran Desert, we battled thatch accumulation and puffy summer conditions with the strong disease pressure of monsoon season.
At Walla Walla Country Club, we would survive the crammed growing season to finally catch our breath in winter, only to have the stress of snow mold and winterkill blow in with the cold. While I’ve always enjoyed math, the equations, precision and extent of fungicide programs during my time in the Northeast had my eyes watering.
Every seasoned golf course superintendent
has faced similar challenges and so much more. Managing quality turf in every region has unique obstacles, but we all share a unified objective to provide the best playing conditions possible with the resources available – and with what Mother Nature has to offer.
I hope my varied experiences will allow me to provide insight that will help others, but I’m also looking forward to learning from all the new superintendents, agronomists, researchers and industry professionals that I’ll be working with in my new role. Cory Isom upheld the high standards of the Green Section through his many contributions, and I know I have big shoes to fill. I’m thrilled to continue our work toward better turf for better golf, and doing it all for the good of the game.
Click Here for more from the USGA Green Section Record ‒including the latest articles and videos on sustainable management practices that produce better playing conditions for better golf.
The steps you take today can help prepare turf for the cold weather ahead.
too late to give in 2024!
