Wyoming courses gear up for golf season

SHERIDAN – With nearly 100 golf courses scattered across the state, Wyoming’s high altitudes and picture perfect mountain destinations offer residents and tourists alike ideal conditions for the ultimate shot.

From Torrington to Casper and Buffalo to Jackson, carefully planned golf communities and public courses offer open rolling terrain surrounded by natural Wyoming beauty ideal to sink a putt.

Across the state, the golf industry continues to grow as resorts and clubs improve and upgrade their greens and course features, and as new courses open almost yearly. The impeccable views are part of the reason golfers often travel hundreds of miles to sink a shot on Wyoming golf courses, as well as why course membership continues to grow among state residents. The stunning scenery mixed with league specials, updated bunkers and pro shop discounts create an ideal golfing experience.

“Wyoming’s becoming a destination spot for golf,´ said Dave Snyder, general manager and golf pro at Olive Glenn Golf & Country Club in Cody.

Spectacular views, smooth greens

In Sheridan, The Powder Horn Golf Course will challenge golfers’ shot making abilities and test their putting stroke on the smooth greens. Noted for its three distinct nines, the golf course offers many spectacular views and every measure was taken to preserve the natural beauty of the Wyoming landscape.

“We’re right at the base of the Big Horns,´ said Dale Volker, general manager of The Powder Horn.

The 27-hole golf course has earned national recognition as one of Golfweek’s Top 15 Best Residential Courses, and recently expanded its high-beamed clubhouse. An expanded dining room and new tennis courts opening this summer enhance the family friendly recreational amenities that include nature trails, picnic areas and stocked ponds.

Just over the mountain, the Olive Glenn Golf & Country Club in Cody also recently renovated its clubhouse, with a new bar and grill and expanded golf pro shop. Just added, a new golf simulator will also help die-hard golf fans make it through the snowy, cold months.

“It’ll be great in the winter time,” Snyder said.

With the help of $500,000 in member contributions, the Olive Glenn course itself now boasts new trees and cart paths.

    “It’s made a huge difference. People that are lifetime members say that they’ve never seen this course look better,” Snyder said.

At Torrington Municipal Golf Course in Torrington, course renovations are winding down just in time for the summer season. Golf pro Todd Coover said he’s eager for members to experience modifications the course has undergone this winter.

“We’re modifying our tee box on the driving range,” Coover said. “We came through the winter in good shape.”

Though the winter months added moisture to the courses, a new irrigation system at Riverton Country Club in Riverton will add some green. With the irrigation system, which took all of last season to install, new sod will be added to make a smoother course.  

“It should give it a good turf,´ said Steve Johnson, Riverton Country Club general manger and golf pro. “It’s going to produce a whole lot of changes.”

Completely renovated bunkers at Teton Pines Country Club in Jackson will continue to make it one of the top courses across the country. Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, the semi-private resort was recognized several years ago by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the “Top 100 Golf Resorts in North America and the Caribbean.”

“All of our bunkers are getting overhauled and redone,´ said Kevin Getz, director of membership and marketing at Teton Pines Country Club.

Teeing it up

As more and more people discover Wyoming golfing opportunities, courses across the state continue to improve as they look for ways to increase membership and attract tourists.

At Casper’s Paradise Valley Country Club, a newly renovated hole No. nine was redesigned to dogleg to the right, while the wind out of the southwest makes the hole longer than it appears. And at Buffalo Golf Club, an improved driving range is nestled within the view of the Big Horn Mountains.

    “There’s so many nice golf courses in Wyoming now,” Snyder said. “It used to be that there were just four or five and now there’s 20 or 30.”

    As the state experiences an increasing demand for energy resources, which has caused a population boost in many cities and towns, that growth is spilling into golf courses.

    “The economy in this area is really strong, and our membership continues to grow,” Johnson said.

With holes at Teton Pines Country Club like No. 16, a picturesque par three over a lake to a shallow green with the expert ski slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort as a majestic backdrop, abundant wildlife and beautiful sceneries give golfers exceptional playing conditions.

“With approximately 2.5 million tourists coming through Jackson, we get a lot of them here,” Getz said. “There’s only so many hours in a day and only so many golf courses in the country.”