- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Mild Winter Brings Early Crowds to Billings Golf Course
Record-breaking traffic at Peter Yegen Golf Course as warm weather extends the season.
Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
An early-season golf boom in Billings highlights the impacts of a warming climate on seasonal activities.Billings TodayA mild winter and warmer-than-usual weather in Billings, Montana have kept local golfers busy and golf courses packed with players months earlier than a typical season. At the Peter Yegen Golf Course, the parking lot has been full as golfers take advantage of the conditions, with the pro shop manager confirming that the course saw record-breaking traffic to start 2026.
Why it matters
The early start to the golf season in Billings is an unusual occurrence driven by the unusually mild winter weather, which has allowed golfers to get out on the courses much sooner than normal. This is a boon for local golf businesses and enthusiasts, but also raises questions about the long-term impacts of climate change on seasonal activities.
The details
January and February were record-breaking months for traffic at the Peter Yegen Golf Course, with the exception of a brief snow storm in early February that shut down play for about a week. Golfers John Holland and Garris Spaccamonti were among the many taking advantage of the nice weather on a Sunday in early April, noting that it's rare to be golfing this early in the year in Montana.
- In January and February 2026, the Peter Yegen Golf Course saw record-breaking traffic.
- In early February 2026, a snow storm shut down play at the course for about a week.
The players
Jason Flick
The pro shop manager at the Peter Yegen Golf Course in Billings, Montana.
John Holland
A Billings golfer taking advantage of the mild winter weather to play earlier than usual.
Garris Spaccamonti
A Billings golfer who has been able to play golf at several courses across Montana due to the warm weather.
What they’re saying
“January and February were record breakers. We had one snow storm at the beginning of February that had us down for about a week and that's it. It's just a lot busier because the weather has been so nice.”
— Jason Flick, Pro shop manager, Peter Yegen Golf Course
“It's a good winter. You don't have these types of winters.”
— John Holland, Billings golfer
“We've got to golf several places across the state of Montana. It's very rare to be golfing in February and March, let alone this early in April.”
— Garris Spaccamonti, Billings golfer
What’s next
With the Masters Tournament in Augusta wrapping up, the nice weather and high quality golf in Billings is expected to continue drawing more golfers to the courses in the coming weeks and months.
The takeaway
The unusually mild winter in Billings has allowed local golfers to get out on the courses much earlier than normal, boosting business for golf course operators and providing an unexpected extended season for enthusiasts. However, this trend also raises concerns about the long-term impacts of climate change on seasonal activities.
