Sometimes, once in a great while, something extraordinary happens. It may be an event of remarkable significance; a noble leader may appear from out of nowhere; or it may be the discovery of an incredible golf course, such as Circling Raven Golf Club.
Circling Raven Golf Club is a place where nature still reigns supreme; a land of big skies, tall trees and views that can only be described as spectacular. Gene Bates, the course architect, must be an extremely sensitive human being, for nowhere is this beautiful golf course at odds with its surroundings. Circling Raven's cart path is an unobtrusive ribbon that meanders around the course for more than eight miles, leading us from one grand vista to the next. This is especially true of the final eight holes, a finishing stretch that will create memories to last a lifetime; a finishing stretch that Tom Davidson, director of golf at Circling Raven, calls "our 360-degree holes." What he’s saying is that, no matter in which direction you look, you’ll be stunned by one endless panoramas of Northern Idaho’s pristine wilderness after another: tall, old-growth trees, sublimely tranquil meadowlands and the ever-present, awe-inspiring big skies that leave one literally breathless.
Owned and operated by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and part of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort, the Circling Raven Golf Club is nestled on a reservation encompassing a vast tract of more than 345,000 acres of mountains, lakes, old-growth forest and farmland. The resort spans the western edge of the northern Rocky Mountains.
Circling Raven is named for a great chief and prophet of the Coeur d’Alene; a powerful, spiritual leader who, so the ancient legends tell, formed a close relationship to the raven. The raven, so the story goes, became his spiritual guide, helped him find his way along life’s great journeys, warned him of dangers, and showed him the secret places where he would find abundant fish and game.
Circling Raven Golf Club was created from a unique blend of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. The 7,189-yard, par 72-championship layout stretches across more than 620 acres of Northern Idaho. Wildlife is abundant, including elk, deer, moose and an occasional black bear. In fact, the opening was delayed due to damage on two greens by migrating elk.
Circling Raven is a links-style course with wetlands impacting play on 13 of the 18 holes. Tall grasses, a natural constituent of the wetlands, challenge on 16 holes and, everywhere, old-growth pines, aspens, cottonwoods and birch form a natural backdrop to the blue grass fairways and bent grass greens. All of which are meticulously manicured.
This is a shot-maker’s course. To score well you’ll need to consistently hit the fairways. The four par 3s are all tough, each measure more than 200 yards from the Gold Tees. The 4th, the toughest hole on the course, is an innovation: relatively short (406 yards off the Gold tees), your tee shot must carry a stretch of wetland that forms in front of the tee, then sweeps left and extends all along the left side of the fairway, the green, and beyond. The fairway itself is split by five bunkers, all strategically placed to gather even the slightest of wayward shots. The ninth is a long, par 4 of 474 yards that doglegs endlessly left and is rated the 3rd toughest hole on the course. Circling Raven is a true test of golf but, with five sets of tees, still offers a fair and pleasing experience to golfers of all levels of skill.
Amenities:
The clubhouse is 6,500 square feet, including the Twisted Earth Grill and full service bar. Both locker rooms include showers and lockers. The practice facility covers 25 acres; separated into areas for wedges, sand play and all clubs in the bag. The resort adjacent to the course includes 202 hotel rooms, casino, events center, buffet, and restaurant, off track betting and conference/convention facilities.
The Specifics:
- L93 Bent Grass Greens
- Bluegrass tees, fairways and rough
- Golf Carts are quipped with a Global Positioning System
How To Get There:
Located adjacent to the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, is less than an hour’s drive from Spokane, WA, airport.
From Spokane, Washington
From I-90, take Pines Exit. Follow Pines south becoming Hwy-27 for 15 miles. Turn left into Rockford. Continue through Rockford to Hwy-278. Hwy-278 becomes Hwy-58. At US-95, turn right. The Casino is just around first bend.
From Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
From I-90 take the Northwest Blvd Exit. Head south down Northwest Blvd. Take US-95 ramp toward Plummer/Moscow. Head south on US-95 for 25 miles. Casino is on left hand side of US-95.
From Lewiston, Idaho
Head north on US-95 towards Moscow/Coeur d’Alene. Casino is located on the right hand side of US-95 four miles north of Worley.
Contact:
Circling Raven Golf ClubUS Highway 95
Worley Idaho
1-800-523-2464
