Black Bull Announces Acquisition of State-of-the-Art Golf Fitting and Testing Equipment

Black Bull recently announced the acquisition of two pieces of golf equipment that aids in the process of giving members the best golf experience in the Rocky Mountains; the Callaway OptiFit System and the TrackMan.

"We have acquired a Callaway OptiFit System that matches individual club heads to individual shafts to optimize the golf club for the player," says P. David Baucom, Director of Golf. This new innovative system eliminates much of the guess work out of club fitting. "Our PGA Professionals have been trained by Callaway to assist members in determining the best club for their abilities."

"And, our new TrackMan allows Black Bull's trained PGA Professionals to evaluate a golfer's swing using measured radar impulses and 3-D images on a special computer screen," adds Baucom. "This device is so advanced that it measures and projects actual data instead of calculated data." Additionally it provides the operator the ability to track carry distance, ball landing position, ball speed, vertical launch angle, spin rate, club speed, and more. This is especially useful when fitting a ball to a certain club, club to swing speed and dispersion groups to both.

During the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines (June 12-15), the TrackMan captured player launch and trajectory data. This is only the second time in USGA tournament history that this data has been captured during live competition."Black Bull is the only golf club in the neighboring states to feature this combined equipment and the advantages the process has to offer members," says Baucom. There are less than 100 TrackMan systems in the United States.

In 2009, Black Bull intends to partner with Callaway Golf to construct a state-of-the-art test center to house the TrackMan and OptiFit equipment. “Once completed, it will be the first such facility in a private club. Then, our members will be able to use the equipment any time of the year in all weather conditions."

"We are excited to offer our members this unique Callaway advantage. It is just one of the many amenities at Black Bull that helps make it like no other golf club in Montana."

Black Bull Community Update

Sunny June days bring much anticipation for the golf course opening at Black Bull. Progress was slowed slightly by the late snow and rain we experienced last month, but we are still estimating that the golf course will open mid- to late July. Landscaping continues to be the focus with daily additions of trees, shrubs and native grasses. Trees are budding and flowers are beginning to bloom throughout the community. Golf cart paths are in and the greens are filling in nicely.

Black Bull plans to open the grill in the temporary clubhouse to members the first part of July. We will be serving lunch daily, as well as a limited-menu dinner a few nights each week. Construction on the tennis courts and a car washing facility has also begun and is scheduled to be completed mid-summer.

We have a number of Locati-designed club homes going up, including two speculative residences. These two homes overlook the 9th fairway and have expansive views of the Bridger Mountain Range. They also have a beautiful creek running through the back of each property.

The Granite Peak is a 2,300+ square foot ranch style home that features 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a covered porch. This home will be featured in Bozeman's Parade of Homes tour in early September 2008. For more information about the Parade of Homes, visit www.swmbia.org. The Granite Peak club home is offered at $895,000.

The second speculative home is our popular Yellowstone model. This two-story home is features 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a covered patio and a walkout basement. We've modified our standard lower level floorplan to include a custom golf cart garage that takes you right to the golf cart path located in front of the 9th tee boxes. The rest of the lower level is unfinished for the buyer to complete as they'd like. The Yellowstone club home is offered at $995,000.

Mike Duquette Receives Highly-Acclaimed PGA Certification

This month Mike Duquette, Director of Operations at Black Bull, successfully completed the PGA Certified Professional Program in Golf Operations. Mr. Duquette is the first PGA member to complete the program in Montana.

Since the program's inception in August 2004, less than one percent of the PGA Members have earned this certification. Each career-specific path typically requires an average of four to six months to complete; however, Mr. Duquette completed the entire program and passed the exam in less than one month.

"The program has helped me to expand my knowledge in Golf Operations, as well as other important areas of the golf profession," says Duquette. "It will definitely assist me in providing the high quality of customer service and professionalism that is integral to the success of Black Bull."

The PGA Certified Professional Program is the first of its kind to recognize specific career paths where PGA members are employed. It offers members the opportunity to advance in one of six desired career paths, including General Management, Golf Operations, Instruction, Retail, Executive Management and Ownership/Leasing. The courses within this program challenge golf professional to expand his/her knowledge in the areas of accounting, business planning and budgeting, turf grass management, customer relations, marketing and swing analysis.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcase themselves as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

Stunning Architecture Complements Rustic-Yet-Upscale Appeal

In the Rocky Mountains, when you are looking for quality western architecture, one of the first names that come to mind is Jerry Locati, A.I.A. Locati is the architect behind the stunning Club Homes, Swim and Tennis Center and Clubhouse at Black Bull. A Montana native, Jerry Locati has set the tone for regional design of the highest quality. Inspired to combine his architectural perception with the Western culture, Jerry works to create spaces that both capture and celebrate the true spirit of the American West.

Locati Architects is recognized nationally for their designs, with homes featured in publications such as Cowboys & Indians, Log Home Living, Big Sky Journal, and Mountain Living magazines.

"Black Bull is a remarkable project for us," says Locati. "We have worked hard to create a unique architectural style that takes cues from the southwest, but also incorporates Montana's rustic elegance and heritage. Helping to create a sense of community is what makes this project so special."

The Club Homes, located at the center of the community are elegantly-rustic, single-family homes designed for turn-key convenience. There are multiple models from which to choose and all provide unique amenities.

The Swim and Tennis Center, pictured at right, with its vaulted spaces and heavy timber trusses, feature men’s and women’s locker rooms, direct access to the pool and hot tub, and food and drink service. An expansive deck provides ample space for outdoor dining and lounging.

The centerpiece of the Black Bull Golf Community will be the Clubhouse. Located on a bench overlooking the expanse of the Bridger Mountains and the golf course below, the Clubhouse will be designed to maximize the spectacular views, create a social venue for Black Bull members, and provide a uniquely "Montana" private golf experience of which the Gallatin Valley has no equal. Amenities of the clubhouse will include a restaurant, full-service pro shop, locker rooms, complete fitness center with spa services and car-washing services.

For more information on Locati Architects, visit http://www.locatiarchitects.com/.

Black Bull Sculptures Welcome Visitors and Members Alike

Recently, Black Bull commissioned world-renowned artist Jim Dolan to craft creative renderings of five bulls that would welcome visitors and members to our unique private community. The bulls represent the heritage of the development, beckoning back to the days when it was home to the historic Leachman Angus Ranch.

The bulls are in place and landscaping around the sculptures and water features will resume this spring. The project took six months from conception to completion. "The process begins with an idea of what the customer wants. Clearly, bulls were in order for the community," says Mr. Dolan. "We did, however, take some creative license to add horns to the bulls, although Angus bulls do not have horns."

"We decided to do a group of five because I like to tell stories with my sculptures. It's hard to tell a story with one piece," adds Dolan. "We designed them specifically so you could see through each piece, providing a sense of movement." Jim Dolan’s goal is to "intrigue and delight with enduring texture, unlikely spatial relationships and fragile balance." He mixes the non-traditional and unforeseen with the traditional and familiar. "I try to capture isolated moments," says Dolan. "To do that, I include details such as wind direction and wildlife subjects responding to one another. My sculpture always implies motion."

Each metal he uses weathers at its own distinct rate, and so years of exposure only enhance the sculptures' contrasts. Dolan has more than 95 public art sculptures in the United States and 9 public pieces in Japan. Individual pieces have found homes in the US, Canada, Belgium, France, Australia, Brazil and Japan.


Visit http://www.jimdolanart.com/ to learn more about his creative process and available artwork.Stop in and visit Black Bull to see the sculptures up close and personal. We are located at 4711 Love Lane in Bozeman, Montana. Model homes are open daily.

P. David Baucom Wins Rocky Mountain Section PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award

Congratulations to our own P. David Baucom for receiving the 2007 Bill Strausbaugh Award. This award adds to an already distinguished resume for Baucom, Director of Golf at Black Bull in Bozeman, Montana. David was previously honored as Rocky Mountain Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2001, Private Merchandiser of the Year in 2004 and 2006, as well as Teacher of the Year in 2003.

Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA Professional who distinguishes himself or herself by mentoring fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations, and through his or her services to the local community. David is instrumental in the Yellowstone Chapter's Adopt-a-Club Program that has resulted in more jobs for more PGA Members. Course owners within Montana often seek out his opinion regarding their staffing needs and operations.

Baucom, a thirteen-year member of The PGA of America, is currently the President of the Section. As a PGA member, David has worked tirelessly to promote the PGA of America and its members. As a result, he has been actively involved with assisting many of his former assistant professionals in establishing their careers. He has mentored many PGA members and gives his time to numerous organizations in the Bozeman area, as well as throughout the Rocky Mountain Section. Baucom currently serves as the liaison between the Idaho and Montana State Golf Associations and the Rocky Mountain Section. He is also a member of the 4-Rivers Junior Golf Board and works with many other charitable organizations and conservation groups. David will be formally recognized as the 2007 Rocky Mountain Section PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner in May of 2008 as part of the Rocky Mountain Section PGA Annual Meeting.

Featured Club Home

All of the Black Bull Club Homes have been inspired by Bozeman's renowned Locati Architects. Locati has selected the best quality natural building materials, such as pickle-wood flooring, natural slate in the entry and laundry rooms, beautiful heavy timbers, and granite-slab countertops in the kitchen. Other details include a master bath detailed with solid travertine vanity tops with travertine tiles detailing the 6-foot luxury soaker tub and shower. Enjoy the complete home audio/video wiring package, including high-speed internet, ceiling speakers with surround-sound throughout, and pre-wired flat-screen television locations. Visitors are also comfortably housed in the attached casita with a private entrance and kitchenette.

Best of all, owners of a Black Bull Club Home can enjoy all of the amenities without the burden of maintaining the landscaped yard or shoveling snow, which is all maintained by the Home Owners Association (HOA). In addition to the exterior maintenance provided by the HOA, the owner will automatically become a Social member at Black Bull and have access to the finest amenities in Bozeman, including the swim and tennis center, fitness facilities, gourmet dining, spa services, and unparalleled service.