Bully Pulpit Golf Course Review

We did it – number 41 is now on the map!!

Yes, that’s right, we have now golfed in 41 states. And our destination for number 41? The legendary Bully Pulpit Golf Course, in North Dakota! A track built in the true, untamed spirit of Theodore Roosevelt. Recently named USA Today’s #1 Best Public Golf Course, we knew we were in for something unforgettable – and honestly, it did not disappoint.

When we first pulled into the parking area, my jaw immediately hit the steering wheel. You see, when you drive through the rugged, dusty terrain of Medora, you expect a rustic, rugged setup. But the moment we turned onto Bible Camp Road and hit the parking lot, I realized Bully Pulpit is a world-class operation.

The parking area is beautifully framed by the towering, striped clay and sandstone buttes of the North Dakota Badlands, rising right up behind the asphalt like giant, natural stadium walls.

It felt like we were parking at the entrance to a hidden canyon sanctuary.

Walking toward the clubhouse, the first thing that hit me was the absolute oasis of green. The contrast of the meticulously manicured, emerald-green practice putting green against the harsh, dry, sun-baked desert canyon backdrop is a visual masterpiece.

And a special touch – Tyler met us at our car with a warm, small-town smile, ready to load our bags onto a cart before we even had our golf shoes tied.

This really felt exclusive, yet completely welcoming – the perfect blend of luxury golf and rugged, Wild West adventure!

Past the practice green, I headed straight into the beautiful, rustic clubhouse to get squared away. I have to tell you, checking in at Bully Pulpit Golf Course was an absolute breeze, largely because Bella treated us like old friends the second we walked through the door.

One of the best things about this track is their all-inclusive green fees. The green fees automatically cover my 18 holes, my golf cart, and warm-up range balls. No hidden fees or being nickeled-and-dimed here!

This first-class check-in had me energized and ready to swing!

We pulled up to Hole #1 and were met by Bob, our starter for the day. Bob gave us a quick rundown of the course rules and a very important piece of advice: keep your eyes on the cart paths. Because of the dramatic terrain on the back nine, he made sure we were aware that carts would need to return to the paths 50 yards before we reached any green.

With our scorecard and a couple of complimentary bottles of water in hand, we were pointed toward the staging area to find our cart. It was a seamless, first-class check-in that had me energized and ready to swing!

The layout at Bully Pulpit, masterfully designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, behaves like two completely different courses. The front nine is a relatively peaceful stroll. It loops gracefully through cottonwood trees, open meadows, and right along the banks of the meandering Little Missouri River.

It’s serene, beautiful, and gave me a great chance to find my swing rhythm early.

But hold onto your visors, because the back nine is where the real drama unfolded!

Once we hit the 14th hole, it was obvious we left the flat river valleys behind and ascended into a spectacular moonscape of towering sandstone buttes and deep canyon chasms.

Standing on those elevated tee boxes felt like I was teeing off at the edge of the world.

The restless canyon winds certainly tested my confidence, and I literally had to launch my ball across a 100-foot-deep chasm to hit the green on the famous signature 15th hole.

My heart was pounding, but what a rush!

Thankfully, the course offers five different sets of tees. It stretches to a meaty 7,413 yards from the back tees for the heavy hitters (a.k.a. Mr. Festa!), but players like me can tee it up comfortably from the forward tees.

If you know me, you know I love analyzing the design and bones of a course. Dr. Michael Hurdzan did something fascinating here by building a “tale of two courses”. So, let’s break down how it actually plays from tee to green.

The Front Nine: River Valley Rhythm

The front nine serves as a gentle handshake, playing along a flat river basin and through heavy cottonwood trees.

• The Look: It’s a softer, more traditional prairie landscape, but trust me when I say I was not able to let my guard down.
• The Hazards: Deceptive bunkers lurk right where I wanted to land my drives, and the Little Missouri River and Davis Creek actively defend several holes.
• Standout Hole: Hole 3 (“Crooks Feast”) is a clever dogleg right that forced Marc to choose how much rough he wanted to carry off the tee. It required real course management right out of the gate.

The Back Nine: Oh My Goodness Corner

The back nine builds the tension until you hit Hole 14, where we suddenly scaled the bluffs and entered a rugged canyon gorge.

• The Elevation: The dramatic drops in elevation are breathtaking. Thankfully, our cart featured an automatic braking system since we found ourselves driving up and down massive, steep buttes.
• The Elements: Up on the buttes, the wind took over completely. We both had to club up significantly just to combat the heavy gusts pushing against our ball.
• The Infamous 15th: A true “do-or-die” par 3. The tee is elevated to a “desert island green” surrounded by a 100-foot chasm. If we missed left, our ball fell into a deep crescent bunker 15 feet below the putting surface. If we missed anywhere else, it was obvious our ball belonged to the Badlands forever!

Based on our scorecard, we score Bully Pulpit Golf Course a Birdie. 

I would say no matter your skill level, the friendly staff, immaculate greens, and the included golf cart and warm-up range balls make for a seamless, top-tier day.

From navigating the dramatic elevation changes to soaking in the panoramic vistas on the back nine, Bully Pulpit Golf Course is a bucket-list destination that will leave you eager to play all 18 holes.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting

Written By:  Kathy Festa

COURSE REVIEW SCORECARD

Course:  Bully Pulpit Golf Course

Type: Public

Date Played: 08 July 2026

HOLE	PAR	SCORE	COMMENTS
1 – Tee Time Availability	4	4	The online tee-time portal runs via a streamlined platform. It allowed us to filter by player count and view open times alongside the standard green fees.
2 – Cost of Green Fees	4	4	If you pay the peak morning rate, you are getting a fair deal for a nationally ranked public course. However, if you can book a twilight spot or an afternoon tee time for under $90.00, Bully Pulpit stands out as one of the best affordable golf experiences in the country.
3 – Condition of Tee Boxes	4	4	The course offers five distinct tee boxes per hole. The grass on the tee boxes was healthy, tightly mowed, and level. Grounds crews were doing a great job managing the heavy regional winds and dry climate to prevent dead zones or patchy turf.
4 – Condition of Fairways	5	5	The fairways were in excellent, lush condition, which provided ideal lies for our approach shots.
5 – Condition of Greens	4	4	The overall maintenance of the course appeared to keep the putting surfaces true and consistent. The grass quality was generally healthy, offering a fair surface that reacted predictably to spin.
6 – Length of Course	5	5	Black: 7,413 yards; Gold: 6,758 yards; Silver: 6,298 yards; Copper: 5,475 yards; Green: 4,750 yards
7 – Hazards	4	4	The course splits into two distinct personalities: a relatively flat, punishing river basin on the front nine, and a dramatic, “tricked-up” roller coaster ride through the Badlands canyons on the back nine. Navigating the hazards here is less about standard bunkering and more about survival against the brutal natural terrain.
8 – Starter/Marshal	3	2	Bob, our starter, set the tone for the entire day. He was incredibly welcoming, professional, and full of great local knowledge. Before we teed off, he gave us an excellent breakdown of the course layout, tracking the transition from the flat river basin to the famous Badlands holes. He also shared a few helpful tips on navigating the winds and managing the extreme terrain changes. It’s rare to find golf staff this genuinely friendly and passionate about the player experience. A massive asset to the course!
9 – High Handicap Friendly	3	3	For higher-handicap players, navigating this course requires a mix of realistic expectations, strategic tee box selection, and a packed cooler full of extra golf balls. While the breathtaking canyon views make it a bucket-list destination, the physical layout has the potential to ruin your scorecard if you do not play it smart.
OUT	36	35
10 – Practice Area	5	5	The driving range features plenty of space and helpful target structures. It sits right alongside the first hole, offering an expansive view that mirrors the lower river valley portion of the course. The putting green is a small, nicely manicured green that sits near the first tee box. There is no dedicated chipping green or practice bunker.
11 – Locker Rooms	3	3	There are fully equipped locker room facilities.
12 – Pro Shop	4	4	The pro shop itself is fully loaded with fantastic gear. They have everything from high-end layering pieces to custom Bully Pulpit ball markers.
13 – Location	4	3	Tucked into the North Dakota Badlands just three miles south of the historic old western town of Medora.
14 – Rental Equipment	4	4	The course offers high-quality rental sets that are readily available. The motorized golf carts were clean and efficient EZ-Go golf carts.
15 – Food Cart	4	3	Karnie, the beverage cart attendant, made the rounds frequently, ensuring we were never left thirsty during the long, scenic holes.
16 – Restaurant/Club House	4	4	The restaurant serves as a fantastic 19th hole. It offers a relaxed clubhouse atmosphere with classic bar bites, sandwiches, and cold drinks. The patio overlooks the rugged Badlands, making it a stunning spot to unwind after a round of golf.
17 – Parking	3	3	The parking area is a flat, easily accessible gravel lot. It is spacious enough to accommodate busy tournament days and provides a straightforward, no-fuss transition directly to the clubhouse.
18 – Customer Service	5	4	OUTSTANDING!! From the moment we arrived at the clubhouse, the staff exuded a genuine, down-to-earth Midwestern friendliness. There was no pretentiousness or arrogance that we sometimes find at high-end, top-ranked courses. The pro shop staff was welcoming, efficient, and highly enthusiastic, giving us “first-timers” a quick breakdown of what to expect on the course, particularly the famous “Badlands holes”!
IN	36	33
TOTAL	72	67	PLAYER: Kathy F.  ATTESTED BY:  Marc F.