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Received yesterday β€” 25 April 2025

I visited one of the best golf clubs in America in Jackson Hole. It felt like a millionaire's playground.

25 April 2025 at 18:32
A golf course with bodies of water and pine trees dotting the landscape at sunset with mountains in the background
Shooting Star is an exclusive club and golf course in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Courtesy of Shooting Star

  • Shooting Star in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has been ranked as one of the top golf courses in the US.
  • The golf exclusive club requires an invitation and has a long waitlist for membership.
  • From the golf course to the clubhouse, here's a look inside the private mountain oasis.

Nestled beneath the Grand Tetons in one of Jackson Hole, Wyoming's most expensive neighborhoods, PGA pros tee up at one of the most celebrated golf courses in the US, ranking no. 1 in Golf Digest's best in Wyoming and earning a spot on the top 100 US courses in 2023 and 2024.

I'm talking about Shooting Star, a members-only club in Teton Village. You have to be invited to join, and a representative of Shooting Star told Business Insider last year that the club had an extensive waitlist.

It's also not cheap. Shooting Star didn't share its current membership price with BI, but when the club opened in 2009, it had 189 members and a $100,000 membership fee.

During a trip to Jackson Hole in September 2024, I got an exclusive club tour, and it felt like a millionaire's playhouse. Take a look inside.

Welcome to the ultra-exclusive Shooting Star of Jackson Hole.
A gold course divided by a stream and dotted with Aspen trees and sand dunes sits in front of a mountain at sunset
The golf course at Shooting Star in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Courtesy of Shooting Star

Shooting Star's history dates back to the 1930s when the Resor family created Snake River Ranch, now known as the largest working cattle ranch in Jackson Hole.

Shooting Star owner and operator John Resor transformed a section of the ranch into an exclusive golf course, club, and residential community. It was a $130 million project.

Shooting Star is in Jackson Hole's Teton Village neighborhood.
A map of Teton Village with an arrow pointing to Shooting Star Jackson Hole Golf Club
Shooting Star is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Google Maps

Roughly 22 miles from Jackson, Shooting Star is sandwiched between Snake River Ranch and Jackson Hole Resort.

The 1,300-acre space has a clubhouse, a golf course and shop, a pool deck, a barn, and residential lodges.
A large, cabin-like clubhouse behind a pool and a fire pit.
A wide view of the property.

Courtesy of Shooting Star

When I toured the property, I thought the clubhouse looked like a luxury ranch. The expansive building overlooked the golf course and a 25-meter lap pool.

The clubhouse opens to a grand foyer with a Western aesthetic.
A room with stone brick pillars on the walls, two chairs and a table between them, and a fireplace in front of the chirs with an animal skull on the wall above it
Inside the foyer.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spotted nods to the American West when I stepped inside the clubhouse. An animal skull and realistic paintings of cattle at Snake River Ranch decorated the foyer walls.

I also noticed a range of natural textures, from the wood floors and ceiling moldings to the leather seats in front of the large stone fireplace.

Outside, the 18-hole golf course looked like a painting.
A golf course with a lake on the left, a golf course on the right, and mountains in the background
A view of the course.

Courtesy of Shooting Star

I'm no golfer, but it was instantly clear why Golf Digest ranked this a top 100 course in the US.

The 250-acre course looked dynamic, with aspen and evergreen trees dotting hills parted by 50 acres of water hazards, including ponds and streams. It was designed by Tom Fazio, who alsoΒ designed Donald Trump's golf clubs in Westchester, New York, and Pine Hill, New Jersey.

Fazio also designed multiple courses at the exclusive Vintage Club in Indian Wells, California, where Bill Gates purchased a home for $12.5 million in 1999.

The golf course blended in so seamlessly with its surroundings that I thought it was a naturally occurring landscape, but the land was actually reformed with a design goal of making each hole unique.

According to a Shooting Star brochure, the process included moving 2 million cubic yards of dirt, planting more than 2,500 trees, and carving out 50 acres of lakes.

For a handful of PGA pros, including the golf club's director Ben Polland, Shooting Star is more than a home course β€” it's a day job.

From the course, I could see the resident cabins and lodges.
Wood homes behind a golf course with a mountain and a hazy cloud in the background
Lodges and cabins beside the course.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty, most homes didn't hit the market. However, the available listings include two-acre plots of land for $15.5 million and three-bedroom, four-bathroom cabins for $11.75 million.

Next to the clubhouse, the Alpine Barn is used in ski season.
A long, booden barn behing a deck with lounge chairs and a large lap pool
The Alpine Barn at Shooting Star.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In the winter, Shooting Star becomes a skier's haven, and the Alpine Barn is the hub.

Inside, there were nearly 200 lockers. During ski season, the barn shows movies and serves complimentary food. A shuttle takes skiers to the nearby Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to hit the slopes, but there's also a track around the course's perimeter for a short run.

Back inside, the second floor of the clubhouse houses a fitness center.
Three elliptical machints with screens face a window with a view of a pool and a barn in front of mountains on a hazy day
Exercise equipment in the fitness center.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The 2,400-square-foot facility had smart cardio equipment with large screens overlooking the swimming pool and barn. A handful of workout studios offered classes like yoga and pilates.

Outside, there were also tennis and pickleball courts.

The spa was on the same floor.
Inside a spa treatment room with two beds on the left, two leather seats and an ottoman in front of a fireplace, and a bathtub below a window in the back
A peek inside a treatment room.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I entered one of the six treatment rooms and thought it felt serene.

Limestone and wood moldings texturized the walls. There was a fireplace, cozy seating, and two treatment beds.

Natural light poured in from the window at the back of the room. There was a gigantic stainless steel tub in front of it.

Bathing in there with a view of the course and the surrounding Tetons would be a dream.

The spa bathroom had amenities akin to a luxury hotel.
An array of bathrookm amenities in glass jars on a wood table in front of a window
Amenities inside the bathroom.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spotted glass jars containing toothbrushes, razors, hair ties, eye drops, and over-the-counter pain and allergy medication.

Back downstairs, there was a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining.
A covered outdoor patio with wooden tables and chairs and a mountain scene on the left an in the background
Outdoor dining at Shooting Star.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The dining room had a wood-burning fire pit inside. Out on the patio, members could dine right next to the golf course.

Before I headed out, I got to check out a miniature version of the property inside the clubhouse.
A mini diagram of a golf course with trees and bodies of water around it
The miniature version of the property.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The property feels vast, so seeing it all planned out on one table helped me better understand the course and development.

I left with a sense of what it might be like to be a member of such an exclusive club in an epic location.

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A full-time traveler who's been to 67 countries says these 3 are underrated gems for summer trips

25 April 2025 at 17:57
A composite image of a turquoise river between rocky hills and a traveler standing in front of a waterfall
Tia Thomas shared three underrated countries for summer travel: Pakistan, Montenegro, and Albania.

Courtesy of Tia Thomas

  • Tia Thomas, a full-time traveler, has visited 67 countries and over 100 cities.
  • Her favorite underrated countries for summer trips are Pakistan, Montenegro, and Albania.
  • She said she enjoyed a lot of quiet hikes in Pakistan and beautiful landscapes in Montenegro.

For as long as I can remember, summer has felt like the most popular time to travel.

After all, school is out and the weather is sunny and warm in many places worldwide. However, this also means vacationers can run into crowds if they plan to hit a popular travel destination.

Fortunately, there are underrated spots out there that may not feel as packed in the summer. Just ask Tia Thomas, a full-time traveler and founder of Why Not Adventures, a tour company focusing on hidden-gem destinations.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Thomas has been traveling nonstop for the last three years. She's been to 67 countries and over 100 cities across six continents.

In an email interview, she told Business Insider three of her favorite underrated countries for summer vacations that usually aren't crowded with tourists.

Hike quiet trails on some of the world's tallest mountains in Pakistan.
A composite image of a community at the base of a forested mountain range and a traveler taking a selfie on a street in front of mountains
Thomas enjoyed mountain landscapes and villages in Pakistan.

Courtesy of Tia Thomas

Thomas said she had the time of her life visiting Pakistan in June 2024.

"You would not believe the places I had all to myself," she said, recalling trekking glaciers and camping in solitude beneath mountains over 22,000 feet tall.

The country has many beautiful landscapes, and Thomas especially recommends hiking from Fairy Meadows to the base camp ofΒ Nanga Parbat, the ninth-tallest mountain on Earth.

She also suggests travelers head to Rakaposhi Base Camp and stay at Hapakun Campsite for glacier views. They can also drive the Karakoram Highway, one of the world's highest paved roads that's surrounded by mountain views.

If you're a thrill seeker, visit Skardu, where you can drive motorbikes, paraglide, ride horses, or go on desert safaris.

She also recommends spending a night in the mountain village of Karimabad, which offers boutique accommodations and local markets with handmade goods.

History buffs should also visit Lahore's iconic UNESCO sites, such as theΒ Lahore FortΒ citadel and Badshahi Mosque.

Skip the crowds in Italy and visit Montenegro instead.
A composite image of a beach shore with clear blue waters and a cliff in the background and a courtyard in front of historic buildings with a cliff in the background
Thomas liked seeing the beaches and architecture in Montenegro.

Courtesy of Tia Thomas

Montenegro is Thomas's all-time favorite country. She's been to the small European country multiple times, most recently in June 2024.

"It has everything for an amazing summer vacation," she said, including "picturesque old towns and cobbled streets with alfresco dining, beautiful beaches, mountain backdrops, and underrated national parks."

Thomas said Montenegro's beaches, mountains, and architecture are similar to what you'd find in Italy, but without as many crowds. After all, the Balkan country typically receives millions fewer visitors a year.

While there, she recommends visiting the coastal town of Kotor to take a boat trip around the bay or a cable carΒ to the alpine coaster that goes down a cliff overlooking the bay.

Travelers can also enjoy the historic architecture in the nearby town of Perast, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While in Montenegro, Thomas also suggests visiting Sveti Stefan for a beach day and Skadar Lake for kayaking.

Take a trip to Albania for crowd-free hikes and coastlines.
A composite image of a sail boat at sea in front of a sandy cliff and a house at the base of a mountain range at sunset
Thomas said Albania has great hiking and beaches.

Courtesy of Tia Thomas

Just south of Montenegro, Albania is an underrated spot for relaxing beach vacations and adventurous trips.

"Not only does it have a gorgeous coastline, but the mountains are incredible," she said.

Thomas visited the country in June 2023 and hiked to waterfalls, mountain passes, and alpine rivers. She said she didn't see many other tourists during her trip.

She recommends hiking in the Alps of Albania National Park and stopping at the Albanian Riviera, a coastline with turquoise water and white-sand beaches similar to what you'd find in more crowded spots in Europe.

The country's also home to Ksamil, which some have nicknamed the "Maldives of Europe," but Thomas recommends heading a little more north to HimarΓ« instead. Both places have beautiful beaches, but the latter is usually far less crowded.

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A couple who's flown 167,000 miles with their toddler share their top tips for long-haul flights with young kids

4 April 2025 at 10:02
A composite image of a family of three with a baby smiling in front of a tourist attraction and a toddler laying with a pillow and blanket on a plane seat while drinking a bottle
Traveling parents Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd have tips for long-haul flights with babies and toddlers.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

  • Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd travel with their toddler for a docuseries.
  • Their toddler has spent over 80 hours on long-haul flights since she was a baby.
  • They shared their tips for a successful long-haul journey with a young kid.

Denver-based journalist Lindsey Granger and producer and director Kolyn Boyd have spent over 80 hours on long-haul flights with their 3-year-old, Kynsley, in tow.

They've been traveling with Kynsley since she was an infant. The globetrotting tot has flown over 167,000 miles to 12 states and seven countries. Granger and Boyd document their family travels on the international docuseries "World of Travel" on Samsung TV Plus, which was recently renewed for a second season.

Over the past three years of trips with Kynsley, Granger and Boyd have learned from their travel mistakes β€” from overpacking to missing flights. They told Business Insider their biggest tips for a successful long journey with a young kid.

Take your child on long-haul journeys as an infant β€” it will make flights easier as they get older.
A family of three with a baby stands smiling in front of a tourist attraction.
Granger and Boyd have traveled with their toddler since she was an infant.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

One of Boyd's top tips for flying with kids is to start them young.

"You just have to jump out there and get your baby used to doing these flights," Boyd said. He added that flying with an infant is challenging because they can't express their needs β€” not to mention frequent diaper changes.

"With a toddler, it's a little easier because she's able to go to the bathroom, notice the TV, and play with toys," Boyd said.

Since she flew so much as a baby, Boyd said that as a toddler, Kynsley doesn't seem anxious when the plane takes off. Instead, she finds it fun to go faster and faster until they're soaring through the sky.

Granger said that while she and Boyd may get nervous during storms and turbulence in the air, Kynsley seems unbothered.

"She's really the cool, calm, collected person," Boyd added. "Her being calm actually helps me because I think, 'I can't be scared if my baby's not scared.'"

Travel with family and friends to lighten the load.
A large group of travelers stands smiling in front of a park entrance
Granger, Boyd, and Kynsley on a group trip.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

Granger and Boyd advise traveling with a group who can help with parenting duties.

"I always recommend traveling with family or a friend who's willing to watch the baby and let the adult be an adult," Granger said. "We had a bunch of family and friends with us on the same flight to South Africa."

Granger added that having so many loved ones around on their 15-and-a-half-hour flight to South Africa seemed to make 3-year-old Kynsley feel more comfortable on the plane, too.

Do your research to ensure you don't overpack large items like strollers or car seats.
A composite image of a mother holding a baby on a cobblestone street and a baby in a stroller next to her father at the airport
Granger and Boyd took Kynsley to international destinations as a baby and a toddler.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

"One of the big lessons we learned as a group is how to condense and pack appropriately for the trip," Boyd said, adding that they'd made the mistake of packing the wrong stroller and unnecessary car seats.

Granger advised that before checking your car seat, find out if there will be one at your destination, especially if you're renting a car. When deciding on strollers to pack, do your research to ensure they'll suit the destination.

For example, she said bringing a bulky industrial stroller on their trip to Greece was a bad idea because they had to take about 10 ferries.

"Look at the landscape. Is there cobblestone everywhere? Then you can't bring your cheap umbrella stroller because your wheels will break like ours have," Granger added.

Shift your baby's sleep schedule the night before so they're more likely to rest on the plane.
A toddler sleeps in a plane seat with a blanket and pillow. There's a bowl of nuts on a table on the right.
Kynsley sleeps on a long-haul flight.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

When the family took a red-eye flight to Greece in 2023, Boyd remembers everyone around him sleeping β€” except for 2-year-old Kynsley.

"She stayed up the entire night until it was time to land, and I had my opportunity to get one hour of sleep," Boyd said. "She was super excited, so she wanted to play the entire time."

Granger said this often happens when she doesn't adjust Kynsley's sleep schedule the night before a flight.

"Let's say she went to bed at 7 p.m. and our flight is at 5 a.m. β€” she had her 8-hour rest already, so she's wide awake and ready for the day," Granger told BI. "But if she went to bed a bit later, waking her up around 5 a.m. would throw off her sleep, so she might go right back to sleep and give me a peaceful flight."

Allot extra time for TSA screenings to avoid missing flights β€” especially if you're bringing milk.
Aerial view of airplane passengers proceeding through the TSA security checkpoint at Denver International Airport
Make sure to plan for TSA stops.

Robert Alexander/Getty Images

"I used to pump a lot and then bring a lot of milk through TSA, which parents should know you are allowed to do," Granger said. "It's just a rigorous process where they scan every bottle."

When traveling with milk through TSA, Granger recommends arriving at least two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

If you're traveling with a toddler and no milk, she suggests arriving one and a half to two hours before domestic flights and two and a half to three hours before international flights.

"If your child is mobile or prone to meltdowns, give yourself extra buffer time for security and bathroom stops," she added.

Don't stress over missed flights.
A toddler stands smiling in an airport terminal with a stroller in the background
Kynsley uses a GoPro in an airport after a missed flight.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

When I asked Granger and Boyd if they'd ever missed a flight with Kynsley, they chuckled.

From long TSA stops to ill-timed diaper changes, they said they've missed multiple flights β€” some by two minutes and others by a full hour.

"At this point, we just laugh it off and get something to eat," Granger said. "We travel a lot, so we know there will be mishaps. We just figure it out day by day."

Maintaining a light mood after a missed flight has led to some special memories for the family of three.

"I'll never forget when we missed a flight to New York before we went to Greece," Boyd said.

As they waited for the next flight, 2-year-old Kynsley was bored, so Boyd gave her his GoPro for the first time.

"I wanted to see what she would do, and she started taking pictures and filming our experience in the airport," Boyd said. "And now she really loves cameras because of that moment. So it was actually a really good day."

Respect the people seated around you on the flight.
Children's bare legs playfully open folding shelves on the back of the front seat in airplane cabins.
Don't let your child kick the passenger's seat in front of you, Granger and Boyd advise.

LENblR/Getty Images

In Granger's experience, other passengers are typically courteous and understanding of a sightly bothersome young child β€” but there's a limit.

"It is a tough time traveling with your kid, but you have to be a good neighbor still β€” you can't let your kid stick their arm through the middle of the seat, throw stuff, kick the seat," Boyd said. "You have to be a responsible parent and make other people comfortable as well."

Granger and Boyd's strategy is to find something else she'd be interested in doing, like walking the aisles or getting a snack box as a reward for stopping.

When babies cry and toddlers have tantrums, keep calm.
A toddler lays with a pillow and blanket on a plane seat while drinking a bottle
Kynsley on a long-distance international flight.

Courtesy of World of Travel

Boyd said that when Kynsley cries or throws a fit on an airplane, he goes through the list of things she may want or need, from food and cuddles to walking the aisles and playing with toys.

"If your child is throwing a tantrum, just be calm because no matter what, it just is what it is," Granger said. "So just relax, engage with them, and see what they need or want or how you can play with them so that maybe you could stop the tantrum."

Let kids be kids, and ease restrictions you may have at home.
A composite image of a man and his daughter standing in front of an airplane and the daughter playing on an iPad in the window seat of a plane
Kynsley's parents relax rules when they're in the air.

"World of Travel"/ Gilded Focus

As a toddler, Granger and Boyd give Kynsley more freedom on flights, from what she wears to how she passes the time.

Throughout long-haul flights, they ask Kynsley what she wants to do β€” whether it be watching a movie, playing with toys, having a snack, walking the aisles, or even using the iPad, a device they don't allow at home.

"It's really about making her comfortable, especially because, at the end of the day, she didn't ask to travel," Granger said. "She's still a toddler, but she's autonomous, and we want her to feel excited about flying rather than 'Do what I say' for 10 to 15 hours."

Granger said she also allows Kynsley to pack her own bag "full of nonsense" for flights now that she's a toddler.

"Kynsley brought her Halloween costume to South Africa in November," she said. "She actually wore it and felt like the trip was fulfilling to her β€” even just the journey."

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