Montana is a very interesting state. Not only for its diversified golf, but for its mining history and wonderful scenery. The city of Helena was discovered by accident. Four miners had been searching all over western Montana looking for gold and they were giving it one last chance, stumbling upon the area where the city is now. As luck would have it, they found gold in a stream they appropriately named “Last Chance Gulch” and which is now the name of the main thoroughfare in downtown Helena. In the 19th century, this vibrant city was called “The Queen City of the Rockies” and went on to become the capitol of Montana. Centrally located in the state and possessing a good airport, this is an easy city to reach.

Lodging at Comfort Suites Helena is a great home base because it is less than two miles from the airport and a half mile from the freeway. Opened in 2011, it offers 90 spacious guest suites, pool, complimentary breakfast and an array of other amenities that makes you feel at home. Very comfortable! Check out their stay and play package for the Fox Ridge Golf Course. www.comfortsuiteshelena.com

While visiting Helena, several golf opportunities are available. Just east of town, is the Fox Ridge Golf Course, with two golf layouts: an 18-hole championship course and an 18-hole par-3 course covering 300 acres, both well maintained. The par-3 course has some bite to it with a couple of holes around 190 yards, many trees to avoid and several water hazards. The championship course is really a tale of two nines. The back nine are the original holes which have plenty of elevation changes, while the newer front nine is relatively flat with doglegs and water. Check out The Red Fox Supper Club & Lounge for either a snack or full meal. www.foxridgegolfcourse.com

Bill Roberts Municipal Golf Course has been open since 1925, and is located right in Helena. Guests can enjoy the 18-hole course, practice facilities, restaurant and breathtaking scenery. The course layout has rolling terrain, several fairway doglegs, water that can come into play on ten holes and several blind tee shots. They do an excellent job of maintaining the course. www.billrobertsgolf.com

Just a short distance west of town is the Green Meadow Country Club, a semi-private golf facility. One of the key features adding to the beauty of this course is the lack of residential development surrounding it. Although the Club is only a few minutes from town, you feel like you’re miles away. Traversing the entire length of the course, 10-Mile Creek allows players to share this space with an abundance of wildlife. Although the course is relatively level, an abundance of very mature trees and bushes add to the challenge. Just keep it in the fairway and you will enjoy it! www.gmcchelena.com

Anaconda is a bit of a jaunt from Helena, but for golf enthusiasts it is well worth the trip (shortest route is over the continental divide at MacDonald Pass) to play Old Works Golf Club. The name comes from the land on which smelting was done, a process that started in the late 1800’s for refinement of ore. Jack Nicklaus learned from the locals how the crushed slag (a by-product of the smelting process) could be used in the bunkers. Personally I like it better than sand for consistency and playability. The “black sand” in the bunkers gives the course a unique look. Golfweek ranks Old Works #1 in Montana and it lives up to this ranking with a masterful and challenging design. This Troon Golf managed property is one of a handful of Nicklaus-signature publicly-owned golf courses. www.oldworks.org

On the return trip to Helena, take the route through Butte where mining began in 1864 and still continues. There you can visit the Berkley Mine, which is one mile long by half a mile wide with an approximate depth of 1,780 feet and is filled to a depth of about 900 feet with water. www.pitwatch.org

Miners on the Missouri River typically discarded everything in their sluice concentrates that was not gold, including the little pieces of “colored glass”. Little did they know they were sapphires, worth as much as the gold. We learned this at the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine, 10 miles east of Helena, where you can dig for sapphires or buy a bag dug from one of their mines. Sift through it with their guidance and you can keep any sapphires you find. This is a fun activity for the entire family. www.sapphiremine.com

While in Helena, visit the original downtown area and dine at On Broadway, a cozy, warm and relaxing atmosphere with great food. www.onbroadwayinhelena.com

Discover the Capitol Building’s magnificent history, ornate art and classical architecture which functions as the seat of the state’s government. Learn about Helena’s interesting history using their self-guided tour booklet.

This old mining town offers a variety of experiences with golf, gem hunting, good food and a colorful downtown with a climate that is WAY COOL. www.helenamt.com

So, get out of the heat and take a great adventure golf getaway in Helena!!