Bully Pulpit Golf Course | Medora

Tucked deep in the scenic Badlands south of Medora, the Bully Pulpit Golf Course offers one of the most visually stunning and uniquely challenging rounds of golf in the American Midwest. Designed to immerse players in the raw grandeur of Theodore Roosevelt’s beloved landscape, the course winds through rugged river valleys, meadows, and buttes shaped by millions of years of wind and water. Opened in 2004, this public 18-hole course has gained national recognition for its breathtaking scenery, thoughtful design, and deep sense of place-it’s golf played against one of nature’s most dramatic backdrops.

Name and Inspiration
The course’s name comes from President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous phrase “bully pulpit,” his term for using the presidency as a platform to inspire and lead. It’s fitting: Roosevelt spent formative years ranching near Medora in the 1880s and found spiritual renewal in the Badlands’ wild solitude. Bully Pulpit honors both his adventurous spirit and his commitment to the natural world, offering golfers a chance to walk in the same untamed beauty that shaped his conservation ideals.

Course Design and Layout
Bully Pulpit was designed by acclaimed architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan, known for blending environmental sensitivity with bold, strategic course design. The layout stretches across over 400 acres, moving through three distinct landscapes that each present a different character and challenge:

The River Holes (1–5): These early holes trace the winding Little Missouri River, with wide fairways framed by cottonwoods and native grasses. Morning mist often rises from the river, softening the hills into watercolor shades of gold and blue.

The Meadow Holes (6–12): The middle stretch opens into rolling prairie, where long drives and wind strategy come into play. Wildflowers bloom along the rough, and antelope or mule deer sometimes appear near the edges of the fairways.

The Badlands Holes (13–18): The final section climbs into the buttes themselves-narrow ridges and elevated tees carved into the stark, eroded formations. The signature 15th hole, perched high above the valley floor, offers a 200-foot drop from tee to fairway and panoramic views that stretch for miles.

Each hole is designed to frame the surrounding landscape rather than compete with it. The course uses native grasses, minimal irrigation, and natural contours, ensuring that it feels inseparable from the land it occupies.

Facilities and Experience
The clubhouse, styled in rustic Western architecture, sits near the course entrance and offers a warm, relaxed atmosphere with sweeping views of the river valley. A full-service pro shop, restaurant, and patio lounge make it an ideal place to unwind before or after a round. The course also features practice greens, a driving range, and rental carts equipped with GPS yardage systems that display aerial maps of each hole.

Playing at Bully Pulpit is both athletic and meditative. The silence of the Badlands is punctuated only by the sound of a drive cracking through the air, the rustle of prairie wind, and the distant call of a hawk circling overhead. Even non-golfers often visit simply to walk the grounds or take in the views from the scenic overlooks near the upper holes.

Accolades and Recognition
Since opening, Bully Pulpit has been widely praised by national golf publications. It has appeared on lists such as Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Public Courses in America” and Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play.” Reviewers frequently highlight its natural beauty and the seamless way the course interacts with the Badlands terrain-demanding precision without overwhelming players.

Connection to Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Located just three miles south of Medora, the course sits near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit, and many golfers combine their visit with hiking, sightseeing, or attending the Medora Musical in the evening. The course operates under the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, ensuring that its management and upkeep align with environmental conservation and local heritage preservation.

In Essence
The Bully Pulpit Golf Course is more than a test of skill-it’s a conversation with the landscape itself. Every tee and green offers a new perspective on the Badlands’ sculpted horizons, every shot a reminder of how the land shapes the game. For golfers seeking a course that combines strategy, solitude, and the grandeur of the American West, Bully Pulpit is unforgettable-a place where the game becomes a journey through Roosevelt’s own wilderness playground.