Yellowstone Club

The Yellowstone Club sits at high elevation in the mountains near Big Sky, Montana, on a private residential development that opened in the late 1990s. Tom Weiskopf designed the course, which occupies terrain at approximately 7,500 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest-elevation regulation courses in North America. The layout moves through alpine meadows and forests of lodgepole pine and aspen, with the surrounding peaks of the Madison Range visible from many holes. The thin mountain air affects distance and club selection, and the short growing season limits play to summer and early fall months. Weiskopf routed the course to take advantage of natural elevation changes and mountain vistas, incorporating native grasses and minimizing tree removal where possible. The design emphasizes strategic bunkering and green contours rather than excessive length, though the altitude adds carry to well-struck shots. Several holes play across or along natural drainage corridors, and the back nine generally occupies higher ground than the front. The Yellowstone Club operates as an ultra-private club with real estate ownership required for membership. The property includes ski facilities and other recreational amenities beyond golf. The club's remote location and exclusivity mean the course sees limited outside recognition in rankings or public commentary, though Weiskopf's work here represents his approach to mountain golf design during a period when he completed several high-altitude projects in the Rocky Mountain region.