Golf in Montana
Overview
Golf in Montana
What golf looks like for retirement in Montana: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Golf in Montana
Montana's public golf season runs roughly May through October given the mountain climate, and cities such as Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman each have multiple public courses open to all. Big Sky Resort operates an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole public course open from mid-May through late September with tee times bookable online.
Published local price
Briarwood Golf Club (Billings, MT): guest weekday 18-hole fee $35; guest weekend 18-hole fee $40. Public play available. Rates vary by season and tee time.
Published range: $35 to $40.
Briarwood Golf Club Billings Membership Dues and Fees 2025 · as of 2025Where to go
What Montana costs
Cost of living
95
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
~5.0% state income-tax planning rate
Social Security
Partly taxed
How people start
- 1
Map the public and municipal courses nearby
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
- 2
Ask about senior and resident rates
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
- 3
Price the season, not the round
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Common questions
Is Montana a good place to retire for golf?
Montana's public golf season runs roughly May through October given the mountain climate, and cities such as Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman each have multiple public courses open to all. Big Sky Resort operates an Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole public course open from mid-May through late September with tee times bookable online.
What does it cost to retire in Montana?
Montana has a cost-of-living index near 95 (U.S. = 100), about a 5.0% state income-tax planning rate, and taxes some Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for