PABLO, Mont. — The call of “Fore!” isn’t heard at other American Indian
colleges, but it resounds at Salish Kootenai College in Montana.

The school decided in the late 1990s to provide access to golf for their
students. A course was designed, and the Silver Fox Golf Course opened for
play during the fall semester in 2000 before opening full-time during the
spring of 2001.

The school and golf course are within easy walking distance of each other
and sit in beautiful Flathead Valley. The Mission Mountains to the east
form a magnificent backdrop, their high sharp peaks — snow-capped for much
of the year — piercing the sky. Mature ponderosa pines line the fairways.
A pond and water fountain welcome golfers to the first tee, and the greens
and fairways are bright green and well kept. Electric golf carts are lined
up near the clubhouse in readiness for the next group of golfers.

Snows in this northern Montana region keep the course closed from about
mid-November to April, but during the balance of the year it provides
recreation and learning for SKC students and others in the community as
well. Summer instruction brings in many younger students from throughout
the reservation.

Mark Cordier, Salish, has served as the course’s golf pro for the past five
years. He explained the course is considered an “executive” course. “It’s a
9-hole course and every hole is either par 3 or par 4; there are no par 5
holes.” This works well for beginning, junior and senior golfers, and
allows more advanced golfers the opportunity to sharpen their game even if
it doesn’t provide the challenge of a longer course.

Cordier is a PGA member and qualified to teach golf. During the fall
semester he offers two beginning classes, which are restricted to 16
students in each class. “Facilities limit the number of students,” he said.
Weather conditions also limit the fall classes to five weeks. School opens
late in September, and fall snows sometimes come early. The spring semester
brings another beginning class plus an advanced class. Again, each class is
limited to 16 students but the classes run for 10 weeks. Golf is a popular
option at SKC, and a waiting list is normal to get into one of the classes.

The U.S. Golf Association has provided grant money in all but one of the
years to implement a summer program for juniors. The grant provides money
for transportation. A bus travels through the reservation, picking up
youngsters for transportation to and from the course. Numbers are again
restricted due to course limitations; but 40 youngsters in the 7 — 10 age
bracket take lessons, and another 40 in the 11 — 16 age range also have
the opportunity to learn golf.

“It’s been nothing but a success,” Cordier said. “Golf is a tremendous
learning opportunity and something that can be played one’s entire life. It
teaches honesty and integrity as well,” he said, referring to scoring.

Silver Fox also includes a driving range where $2 will buy a bucket of
balls. A small putting green lies adjacent to the clubhouse, where the
pro-shop provides a full line of merchandise. The course is open to the
public as well, offering something the community didn’t have prior to 2000.

Asked about the future, Cordier replied, “Another nine holes is a distinct
possibility. The school is negotiating on acquiring additional land to the
south. The additional nine holes could occur within a year or two,
depending on what happens with the land purchase.”

The Silver Fox Golf Course has the added advantage of also providing
part-time and seasonal work for a small group of students. Some work in the
pro shop, while others perform maintenance work on the course. It’s been a
win-win situation for Kootenai Salish College, offering instruction for
students in a lifelong recreational pursuit, jobs for other students and
something of value for the entire community.