Nathan Peterson, Author at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club

Big Sky, Montana

The Still Wild West

One of the best ski-in-ski-out resorts around is Montage Big Sky, owned by developer Lone Mountain Land, which opened its doors in December 2021 as the largest luxury hotel in the area.

It has 139 guest rooms and suites plus 39 residences (all now sold), ranging from two-six bedrooms and up to 8,100 square feet, with designer finishes and open-plan kitchens. As well as the six different restaurants, spa and bowling alley and golf simulator at the hotel, owners get access to a new clubhouse. During the summer months, there is also the 18-hole Tom Weiskopf championship course at Spanish Peaks.

Montana-inspired photos and pictures are ubiquitous, with over $1 million of curated art on the walls, including bold monochrome landscapes by Kene Sperry and the engaging faces of David Yarrow.

For a year-round lesson in beauty and nature, Montana really does have it all.

The vision behind Tom’s 10 at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club

A top-10 experience

We started back up in June 2023, coming off one of the biggest snow years and wettest springs that I have ever experienced. Because of the snowpack and wet weather, we couldn’t get out to do any work on the par 3 until late June.

It was a busy 2023 season with final shaping, cartpath installation, grassing and native establishment. We sodded the last green in early September and laid the last bluegrass sod in the rough surrounds at the end of September. We were able to mow the greens a few times before spraying our snow mold protection, preparing the course for winter, and for the most part, all the sod had rooted before we got our first snowfall. The course was ready for winter, and we felt good about where we were at.

We dedicated the par-3 course to Tom by calling it Tom’s 10. All the holes were homages to his favorite par-3 holes he had played throughout his career:

Hole 1. Design concept from Loch Lomond’s 18th green in Scotland, bunker within a bunker.
Hole 2. Design concept from the Riviera CC’s No. 6 green with the bunker in the middle of the green.
Hole 3. Design concept from Royal Troon’s No. 8 called the Postage Stamp, very small green with bunkers surrounding. Built a sod stacked bunker using ecoturf product.
Hole 4. Design concept from Augusta’s No. 16, we built the pond to mimic.
Hole 5. Design concept from Pine Valley’s No. 10, deep bunker front right of green. We ended up making the depth of this bunker the height of Tom, 6 foot, 3 inches.
Hole 6. Recreation of the original 18th green at Spanish Peaks before we redesigned it in 2020.
Hole 7. Design concept from the greens at Pinehurst No. 2 course, perched greens, convex movement.
Hole 8. Design concept from Merion’s No. 17 green — ridge in front, balls go to back right.
Hole 9. Design concept from Pebble Beach’s No. 7, the short downhill par 3.
Hole 10. Design concept from the Frost Creek’s No. 14 green in Eagle, Colo.

I often am asked, “Why a 10-hole par-3 course instead of a traditional nine-hole course?” The original design was a nine-hole par 3, but during the routing exercises, Tom made it a 10-hole routing. Tom’s answer was, “If we could fit more holes in this parcel, we would; I want to give them as much golf as we can see fit.” So we ended up with 10 holes and a practice putting green.

Why Autumn Is The Perfect Time To Visit Big Sky, Montana

Burrowed in Montana’s Madison Mountain range, near Yellowstone National Park’s northwestern border, Big Sky is year-round destination full of exciting outdoor activities for folks of all ages. From skiing, snowboarding, fat biking, tubing, and snowmobiling in the snow-filled months to hiking, mountain biking, golfing, or white water rafting in the warmer seasons to marveling at the towering Lone Peak, which stretches 11,166 feet into the air, there’s much to do at Big Sky Resort and the surrounding area to keep your entire family entertained no matter what season. Autumn, however, is an extraordinary time to visit Big Sky. You’ll find that not only is the weather crisp and clear, but also, there are fewer crowds and plenty of special offers and packages during this shoulder season.

“Autumn is an especially awe-inspiring time to visit our destination, for those seeking a peaceful retreat amidst the tranquility of nature,” says Victorio Gonzalez, Montage Big Sky General Manager. “The air turns crisp, and the foliage begins its vibrant transformation, the pace of life slows, and the wildlife returns to the forefront of the land, allowing guests to fully immerse in Montana’s untamed beauty.”

The rooms are spacious and well designed, giving guests the opportunity to relax and sink into the mountain culture. Montage Big Sky

For comfortable luxury with a modern alpine feel, look no further than Montage Big Sky, where the spirit and character of the mountain west is alive and well. From eye-catching photography, found throughout the hotel and in the guest rooms, to ambient lighting and plush linens, fabrics, and furnishings, each of the 139 spacious guest rooms, suites, and residences are designed with nature’s palette of colors and natural materials.

Where to Eat

Enjoy sips and noshes at multiple places around the resort, including Backcast, a casual option for vacationers. Montage Big Sky

Dine at Cortina, for mouthwatering Italian fare, where you may order handmade pastas or something off of the wood-fired grill. Open for breakfast and dinner, this is the elevated spot to fill your belly before or after an adventurous activity in the outdoors.

Enjoy live music, bites, and inventive cocktails at Alpenglow, named after the lovely sunsets Big Sky is known for. An all-day menu is available to keep you satiated no matter what your vacation’s itinerary holds. Choose from bison tartare, cucumber soup, chicken schnitzel, caviar, or a number of other seasonal favorites.

Families love the ease and fun of Beartooth Pub & Rec, the perfect casual place for a game of bowling, darts, or pool. Be sure to sample a wood-fired pizza or giant pretzel while you play arcade games with your loved ones for the evening.

Other options in include the Wildflower Market for grab-and-go snacks and coffee; Backcast, for mountainside ambiance and imaginative fare; and in-room dining.

How to Save

Kids get to pick out their very own stuffed animal, a special on-arrival amenity. Montage Big Sky

Several packages and extra savings are offered during the fall season at Montage Big Sky. For example, for the Autumn Away Package, enjoy a complimentary fourth night, when you reserve three consecutive nights. For the Advance Purchase package, reserve your vacation 30 or more days in advance and enjoy discounted rates. The Spa Memories package includes a $200 daily spa credit, a $75 daily breakfast credit, and complimentary valet parking. The Discover Big Sky Package offers discounts for bike rentals, guided hikes, and archery.

The extra savings make this property the perfect basecamp for adventure before you head out to explore Big Sky or visit Yellowstone National Park. Plus, the the added benefit of fewer tourists this time of year really makes this a special experience for families.

What to Do

The large outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs provide perfect places to relax and enjoy some down time with your family in tow. Montage Big Sky

“The inherent solitude of this vast landscape creates a sense of peace that is hard to find elsewhere,” says Gonzalez. “The fall season at Yellowstone National Park is a hidden gem that offers a truly spectacular experience and prime viewing opportunities, without the elevated number of visitors that the park experiences in the summer months. Guests can enjoy a privately guided tour led by one of our expert naturalists and witness the famed rut season, where bison, elk, and other wildlife put on a dramatic display of dominance to attract their mates, a truly captivating time to observe animals in their natural habitat.”

When you’ve explore Big Sky and the surrounding area enough and are ready for some rest and relaxation, book a treatment at Spa Montage Big Sky. Make sure you give yourself extra time to enjoy the heated plunge pool, steam rooms, and exclusive indoor swimming pool. From body treatments to facial therapies to massages to skin care to sound therapies to couples’ treatments, there’s something for everyone here.

“Complement these moments with a cozy fireside nook to enjoy a warm beverage and a comforting meal featuring locally harvested fare at Cortina, leaving you rejuvenated and grounded in Montana’s natural beauty”, says Gonzalez.

How Big Sky, Montana Became The Hottest New Mountain Town

Residences at Montage Big Sky

After its much-celebrated opening in 2021, Montage Big Sky has doubled down on its coveted mountain hospitality with new residences. In addition to its 139 guest rooms, Montage now offers residences from two to six bedrooms available for short-term rentals. Many of these are two-story and come complete with expansive living spaces, outdoor patios, hot tubs, and fully equipped kitchens for entertaining and staying awhile. Located right in the heart of the hotel or a quick walk to the other side of the property (through an underground tunnel to stay warm in winter), the residences still have a luxury hotel feel and, of course, offer all the same amenities.

The Montage recently unveiled 14 free-standing Mountain Homes right next door to the main lodge. These state-of-the-art five- or six-bedroom homes are ideal for those who want to enjoy the best of mountain home ownership and the five-star hotel experience.

Best of all, the Montage Big Sky resort is conveniently at your fingertips, including its three signature restaurants, massive spa facilities, fitness center, daily yoga, event spaces, cozy lounge areas with sweeping views, daily curated live music, and impressive art collection of work by David Yarrow, Sperry Kane, and more. The hotel and residence alpine hospitality offerings pay homage to welcoming Montana culture.

Nestled within the private Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, the hotel is a luxury hub for mountain activities in any season. It has direct access to the rest of the resort and all the amenities of its resort community, including an 18-hole golf course.

For those wanting to make Montage Big Sky a more permanent investment, a purchase of a coveted residence also buys you an automatic membership to the neighboring Yellowstone Club, the famously posh 2,200-acre playground with rumored members including Bill Gates, Justin Timberlake, and more.

Owning a residence at Montage Big Sky means enjoying all the state-of-the-art spaces including ski-in ski-out services, boot rooms, and private entrances.

To read the full article on Paper City Mag, click here.

Tom Weiskopf’s final design opens at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club

On July 1, Spanish Peaks Mountain Club opened its new Tom’s 10 golf course, designer and 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Tom Weiskopf’s final contribution to the sport before he passed away in August 2022.

The 10-hole par-3 course pays homage to Weiskopf’s favorite holes from around the world. A member of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and resident of the Big Sky, Montana, community, Weiskopf designed the club’s original 18-hole championship course and, in his final years, collaborated with longtime partner Phil Smith of Phil Smith Designs on the new par-3 course.

With increasing membership and the opening of Montage Big Sky on its grounds, Spanish Peaks Mountain Club began looking at options for a new golf course in 2020. The effort was led by Ryan Blechta, senior director of grounds and mountain operations.

“Working with Tom on this course was such an incredible experience,” Blechta said. “From our first walk through the woods when he shared his vision till the last time he was on the site a week before his passing, I got to know Tom on not just a professional level, but a personal one, and will always cherish the time spent with him and his wife, Laurie. On behalf of the club, I’m proud to share this course with our members — I truly believe it kept Tom going in his final years.”

In Blechta’s time at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, Weiskopf had taken to visiting his office on occasion to talk. On one of these visits, Blechta told Weiskopf of the club’s desire to expand and Weiskopf said he knew the perfect location for a par-3 course, a 35-acre site where he liked to walk his dog among the timber, streams and wetlands. Soon, the two were scouting the site on foot with Weiskopf describing potential locations for tees and greens.

The club broke ground on the course in summer 2021. Weiskopf brought in Smith throughout the design and construction process. Smith worked for Weiskopf for many years and continued to partner with him after starting his own company. Frontier Golf was the primary contractor. Construction took three summers because of the complexity of the project and its elevation at over 7,000 feet.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020, Weiskopf was undergoing treatment during the initial design and construction of the course. In spring 2022, when his cancer returned, a second shaper was brought in to speed up the process. Weiskopf was able to work on the course until the week leading up to his passing in August 2022 and approved all but the final hole.

Spanish Peaks Mountain Club dedicated the course to Weiskopf with the name Tom’s 10 paying homage to the British Open winner’s favorite par-3 holes from around the world. Holes include the original 18th at the club, seventh at Pebble Beach, 18th at Loch Lomond, eighth at Royal Troon and 16th at Augusta National. Holes range from 90 to 161 yards and total 1,199 yards. The course has 200 feet of elevation change.

Unique features include a man-made half-acre pond stocked with over 1,000 westslope cutthroat trout — the state fish of Montana on hole 4 — a deep bunker at the front right of the fifth green set to Weiskopf’s 6-foot-3 height and an old log cabin from one of Weiskopf’s properties that was reassembled and converted into a comfort station filled with memorabilia from his career that was donated by his wife, Laurie.

“This new par-3 course really shows off the design principles we used throughout our time working together — It’s a throwback to a lot of fun things we’ve done in the past,” Smith said. “And it was very therapeutic for Tom. Because he lived nearby, he was able to keep his mind off his illness and give the project his personal attention. Being at Spanish Peaks from the inception of the original course till he couldn’t work anymore was such a gift. This final project is a direct reflection of his commitment to his craft.”

Tom’s 10 is open to members of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and their guests.