Destination golf trips take planning. Our trip to The Golf Club at Devils Tower was three years in the making through our partnership with Sioux Links Golfers Guide, so we had quite a bit of hype leading up to our weekend in the Black Hills of Wyoming. That's right, the Black Hills extend beyond the South Dakota border, west into Wyoming, about 10% of the total area is in that state. The course has been on my radar for nearly a decade, and I occasionally would hit up the website and dream about going.
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I had driven the I-90 corridor past this area many times but had never been to Hulett. I knew it would be a special day when we turned off the interstate. The scenery changed to large canyons and pine trees with a winding road. When we arrived, the clubhouse and restaurant were a haven. A peaceful paradise far away from the activity of the city we left behind. The view from the clubhouse is astounding, including a view of Devils Tower to the west, and it didn't hurt that we had a picture-perfect weather day. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at the 77 Steakhouse and Saloon, including a couple of tomahawk steaks, fish, and shrimp. The bar at the saloon is a historic 1890s red birch wood back bar from the Cowboy Bar in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Following dinner, a trip to the local bars in downtown Hulett was capped by a couple of drinks back at the Lion's Den, our room for the night.
We woke to blue skies and whispering wind through the pines. This property is special and unique. The first few holes play through a valley and are a good warm-up for what is to come. The increase of 2500 feet in elevation from our hometown was felt by our shots flying longer (but not always straighter). Our first drive from the elevated first tee flew to the valley floor for what felt like a mile. Despite the early-season round, the pine trees provided lovely greenery even though deciduous trees did not. The fairways are your friend on this course, as later in the season, the fescue gets thick and may even be a hideout for a rattlesnake. Tread lightly, looking for lost balls.
Hole Eight at The Golf Club at Devils Tower
As we began hole eight, you could start to see why this course is iconic. The pine trees make for tricky shots as large elevation changes through canyons were complemented by the amazing views of the Belle Fourche River and, of course, Devil's Tower. We found signature hole after signature hole on the back nine, but number twelve deserves a detailed description–not just because I nearly hit a hole-in-one!
Hole Twelve at The Golf Club at Devils Tower. Click to watch the video.
The par three twelfth hole plays uphill and over a ravine. It measures 171 yards from the black tees but is a more manageable 145 from the blue sticks we teed off from. The green is large, slanted from back to front, and is protected by five bunkers in the front right. Walking to the box provides a panoramic view of the town of Hulett, the river that runs through it, and the sawmill. There is also one more icon on the horizon you can't miss, Devils Tower. I teed my ball and setup with my pitching wedge. The crisp mountain air breeze was helping, and I made sure to take that into careful consideration when I decided what club to use. I struck the ball well, and it was online with the flagstick. Was it too short? Where is that breeze from behind me? It hit the green and started to roll out. My excitement built as it rolled up to within six feet! What a feeling to play the signature hole and mark down a birdie.
Hole Fifteen at The Golf Club at Devils Tower.
The next three holes stretch out toward the private airstrip and back marked with two par fives. The fifteen measures a whopping 582 yards from the blue tees, and 603 from the tips. The course brags tarmac to tee in 10 minutes! Shuttles are provided to the clubhouse upon request. The last par three sixteenth hole requires a long carry to reach safety over the water, 181 yards from the blue box. My shot fell short of the green, hit a rock at the edge of the water, bounced 40 yards in the air, and splashed in the water!
Hole Eighteen at The Golf Club at Devils Tower.
The final holes encapsulate The Golf Club at Devils Tower. Nestled back in the trees is the seventeenth tee box. An accurate and long tee shot will find the fairway, mine did not! I made up for it on the eighteenth. The view from the box is worth a few minutes to take it in before you tee up, and we made sure to pose for a photo. The elevation change from tee to green is massive, so much that one in our group hit the water that we were sure was unreachable. The elevated green is protected on the right by the lake and wraps around to the front. With the clubhouse behind the green, this hole is the perfect ending to a memorable round.
Hole Ten at The Golf Club at Devils Tower.
The Golf Club at Devils Tower is just an outstanding round of golf, and we can't recommend enough planning a trip for yourself! The course conditions are fantastic, the layout is intriguing, and the clubhouse staff gets five stars. The hospitality in the clubhouse and 77 Steakhouse and Saloon was felt by our entire group. Reach out to your group, get in touch with the course and plan your own trip. Whether it's this fall, next spring, or summer, Devils Tower is worth the experience.
- Derek Soukup, Editor
Hole Seventeen at The Golf Club at Devils Tower.