
Eagle/Bear Course
Eagle Bend Golf Club
About this course
Eagle Bend Golf Club sits along the Swan River in the Flathead Valley near Bigfork, Montana, with views of the surrounding mountain ranges that define this northwest corner of the state. The facility features 27 holes designed in two phases: the original 18 holes by William Hull opened in the early 1990s, followed by a nine-hole addition designed by Jack Nicklaus that allowed the club to create multiple 18-hole combinations. The Eagle and Bear nines form one of these rotations. The course occupies relatively level terrain along the river corridor, with water hazards and wetlands coming into play on several holes. The routing takes advantage of the valley setting, incorporating mature stands of pines and cottonwoods that frame fairways and define playing corridors. The design emphasizes strategic bunkering and water placement rather than dramatic elevation change, asking players to navigate hazards and manage angles into greens. Eagle Bend serves as a public facility and has hosted regional amateur competitions over the years, drawing players to the Flathead Valley's resort and recreational landscape. The combination of Hull's original design work and Nicklaus's later contribution creates variety across the 27-hole property, with the different nine-hole loops offering distinct character and challenge levels. The course operates within Montana's short but intense golf season, when the valley's mountain backdrop and long summer daylight make it a destination for visitors exploring Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
Quick facts
- Location
- Bigfork, MT, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1995
- Designer(s)
- William Hull, Jack Nicklaus
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,711 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.5/138
Getting there
The journey to Eagle Bend Golf Club unfolds across the vast northern reaches of Montana, typically beginning at Kalispell's Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), a gateway less than an hour's drive from the club's perch above Flathead Lake. Private aviation clients will find Kalispell City Airport equally convenient, offering discreet hangar facilities and a swift transition to the property. From either arrival point, the drive winds through the Mission Valley before ascending into the forested slopes above Bigfork, where the landscape shifts from open rangeland to dense ponderosa pine and Douglas fir - a gradual ascent that mirrors the elevation gain into one of the Northern Rockies' most secluded golf sanctuaries. The final miles dissolve into a private drive that emerges at Eagle Bend's clubhouse, perched high enough to command sweeping views of the lake and mountains that define this corner of northwestern Montana.

FAQ
Common questions about Eagle/Bear at Eagle Bend Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Eagle/Bear was designed by William Hull and Jack Nicklaus.
Yes. Eagle/Bear at Eagle Bend Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Eagle/Bear is 72.
Eagle/Bear plays 6,711 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Eagle/Bear is 138.
Eagle/Bear is a 18-hole course.





