Golf on the Hi-Line: Signal Point, a historic stop

Through the first three installments of the Golf on the Hi-Line series, we’ve taken a close look at three courses which certainly keep Hi-Line golfers busy during the summer months. And next week, we’ll take a look at the oldest and most historic course in the area.

But the U.S. Highway 2 corridor isn’t the only place in our area which is golf crazy. Our neighbors to the south like golf, too, and Signal Point Golf Course just outside Fort Benton is the course of choice for many area golf enthusiasts.

Signal Point, which is a public, 9-hole course that borders the Fort Benton Airport, has long been known as one of the nicest, and most well-maintained, public 9-hole courses in the state of Montana. And while all that’s true, it also plays a key role in the golf community for the Havre area and to the south.

Signal Point has long been home to golfers from Big Sandy, Rocky Boy, Box Elder and even Chester. It’s centrally located, and many golfers who participate in ladies’ and men’s league at Signal Point aren’t actually from the town of Fort Benton itself. Its location also attracts a variety of tournaments, and 15 events are on the slate for the 2013 golf season.

With Prairie Farms, Beaver Creek and Chinook to the north, as well as Marias Valley (Shelby) far to the west, and several 18-hole courses to the south in Great Falls, Signal Point’s location has always been prime for golfers who are kind of in the middle of those areas.

Signal Point has long stood as a not just a great 9-hole course, one that’s fun and challenging to play, but it’s also one which has bridged the gap for many area and rural golf enthusiasts, and will continue to do so long into the future.

The Course

Signal Point opened in 1969. In that time, the original course, designed by Norman H. Woods, has maintained its original design and landscape.

While Signal Point isn’t on the Hi-Line, per se, it has a lot in common with neighboring courses to the north, like Prairie Farms and BCGC, especially the fact that it’s surrounded by Montana’s pristine beauty.

You get a lot of scenery at Signal Point. The course sits on bluffs above the scenic Missouri River with spectacular views of historic downtown Fort Benton. And the views don’t stop with the river. Majestic views of both the Bear Paw Mountains and Highwood Mountains are in play throughout most of the layout, while in other directions, great panoramas of rolling Montana farmland can be seen for miles and miles.

But beauty isn’t the only thing the course has going for it.

Signal Point has something for every level of golfer. It’s a traditional par-36 layout with two sets of front-nine tees for men, as well as one set of back-nine tees, and two sets of tees for women. From the farthest tees, Signal Point can measure 3,457 yards, but length isn’t the course's challenge. Signal Point surprisingly has a number of elevation changes, including a major one on the scenic and difficult par-5 ninth hole. That hole, which may play as only the fifth-most difficult on the course, gives golfers a blind tee shot over a hill, with a dogleg left approach, to a viciously sloped green and trees surrounding the way in. So for all its beauty, as the hole lines the bluffs overlooking the river valley to the left, it’s a super-challenging finish.

And trees and sloping greens are two of Signal Point’s signature features. Every green is designed as a table-top type green and are all severely sloping in every direction. Several greens have multiple tiers, and all nine slope from front to back. All nine greens are also relatively small, and guarded by bunkers, which makes Signal Point a course in which golfers must be very precise with approach shots in order to score well. Signal Point’s greens are so tough, in fact, that a wrong leave with your approach shot will bring two and three putts into play most of the time.

Trees are another of the courses defenses. Signal Point has imposing cottonwoods like Prairie Farms to the north, as well as pine trees like many courses in western Montana. The trees at Signal Point are strategically positioned and with Nos. 6, 8 and 9 playing as doglegs, trees will certainly make you think about your shot while standing on tee boxes.

And while there are plenty of trees to get in your way at Signal Point, one lone pine stands out above the rest.

The par-3 fourth hole joins No. 9 as Signal Point’s feature holes. From the front nine men’s tees, the hole measures a modest 152 yards, but with water to the right, a heavily bunkered green complex and plenty of trees surrounding the landing area as well, it’s actually an intimidating shot. Then add in one lone tree which often obstructs the view of the flag stick, and it turns what should be an easy shot into one that can be a knee-knocker. Play the back-nine tee on this hole, and the tree may not be in your way, but Signal Point’s lone water hazard stands right in front of you, and it’s a full carry over the drink to the difficult green complex ahead. As par 3’s go, No. 4 is tough, and with the 200-yard seventh hole later in the round, Signal Point’s par 3s really stand out.

Of course, at a golf course with the beauty and integrity of Signal Point, every hole seems to stand out. The par-4 first hole and the par-5 second both border the airport and are really the only two wide open holes on the course. But don’t let that fool you. Out of bounds lines the entire left on the way out, trees line the fairway to the right, and length is an issue. The second is rated the toughest hole at Signal Point, as it measures 518 yards at its longest, plays straight uphill all the way, and is lined with dense rough on both sides of the fairway. The first two holes often play into prevailing winds as well. The first hole also plays as the third-hardest hole on the course, which makes the course unique in that, its starting stretch can play more difficult than the holes coming in.

So Much History

For years, Signal Point has received high marks in Montana as one of the most outstanding 9-hole public venues in the state. But what also shines is the municipality of Signal Point. Despite only being a 9-hole track, Signal Point just has that feel of a real public course, the likes of which you’d see nestled between Skyscrapers in Manhatten or San Francisco.

Signal Point’s fairways border each other, it’s tee boxes and greens are located near each other, and it just has that tight and testing feel of a true city municipal course.

Of course, what is different about Signal Point is that it’s got that municipal feel while it sits in some of the most beautiful country in north-central Montana. It’s also surrounded by history. Long before it was a golf course, Signal Point was a lookout for Lewis and Clark after arriving on the banks of what is now Fort Benton. Yes, just a stone’s throw away from the golf course is about as much Montana history as one can get, in historic downtown Fort Benton with all its Lewis and Clark and Missouri River History, as well as railroad history and the story of Shep is there too.

In fact, you can’t, and shouldn’t, just go to Fort Benton to play a round of golf. You should go there to play an historic course in Signal Point and then take in all the history as well. It’s well worth the stop.

Editor's Note: This is the fourth installment in a series of stories on local golf courses and golf courses of interest. For a look at golf courses in Medicine Hat, Alberta, see Thursday's Havre Daily News. The series wraps up with a look at Beaver Creek Golf Course next Monday.