NORTHWEST G O L F + T R AV E L
WALLA WALLA
WINE VALLEY
NO. 1 PUBLIC COURSE IN IDAHO
CIRCLING RAVEN Nº 04 - JUNE 2022
n o i t a n i t s e DPALOUSE $79
Includes green fee, tax and cart. Excludes group outing play, and Friday/Saturday of WSU home football weekends through the 2022 season. Bring this ad to redeem promo. Palouse Ridge Golf Club at Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
Reservations at PALOUSERIDGE.COM or call (509) 335-4342
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WINE VALLE Y Walla Walla, WA
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CL E A R L A KE C C B uh l , Id a h o
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The Doyle s ’ Gif t to the Willa m e tte Valley
H o le s 4 - 8
No. 1 P ub l i c Course i n Id a h o
DI AM O N D WO O DS
CRU E L EIGHTE E N
CI RC L I N G R AV E N
Northwest Golf + Travel Magazine PO Box 85 Newman Lake, WA 99025 Director Tom Stebbins Creative Citywide Consultants
Hole #8 — Wandermere Golf Club
DARIN PATZER Golf Trekker
WALLA WALLA, WA
WINE VALLEY GOLF CLUB
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t took a scenic drive of 2.5 hours from Spokane through Palouse farm country to what felt like the middle of nowhere to reach one of the top-ranked courses in the Pacific Northwest. Wine Valley is in the mix with other blossoming and nationally-ranked courses the likes of Chambers Bay (site of the 2015 US Open), Gamble Sands, and the Bandon Dunes golf haven along the Oregon Coast.
Ironically, the course was designed by a man named Dan Hixson who was self-taught and did not apprentice under any of the powerhouse course designers with names familiar to the game’s connoisseurs. Hixson has another lauded course on his resume, Bandon Crossings in Oregon. Wine Valley, five-years in the making, opened for play in 2009 and uniquely rests on what was once 750 acres of hayfield. Still today players can glimpse distant crop-duster planes and nearby combine tractors while playing under the friendly eyes of farmers working their fields. I know this, because a farmer waved to me somewhere on the back nine as I gingerly stepped across his plowed rows retrieving an errant golf ball. In addition to the pastural setting, true to a links-style course not one tree is to be found on the whole of the 18. Though several marshy ponds filled with water fowl and the cacophony of thousands of birds makes you feel at times as though you are privileged to be playing in a bird refuge. In the distance, the oft snow-capped Blue Mountains are a site which caused my grandparents to fall in love with Walla Walla and decide to spend their retirement years in this
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small-town. The Walla Walla Valley – “so nice they named it twice” – is a community of under 40,000 souls, renowned for sweet onions and famed for the 1800’s work of pioneer missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, whose fort and mission can still be toured nearby. Joining me for the round on a windy, early April midday, was my brother, Troy, who like me is a graduate of nearby Walla Walla University. Long before residents of Walla Walla had the privilege of playing a course of this reputation we as poor college students used to grab a few bucks and a few friends and drive south to play another country-course just across the Oregon line, called Milton-Freewater. In fairness, to the less-prestigious course, you still today can play four rounds at Milton, for the cost of one round at Wine Valley, an important perk to not only college students. Also, joining in was high school principal, Erik Borges, from Walla Walla Valley Academy. As I watched his manly, long-ball I was reminded of our younger days when the three of us had played softball together while attending the University. Once or twice our team had the unique experience of playing an ‘away’ ball game across town at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary. I can still remember the machine-gun toting guards in the towers surrounding us above the courtyard ballfield. One of the fellows on our team, Ken, was proud of his long hair, and my did he ever hear the catcalls inviting him to stay after the game. Thankfully, we all
Troy and Erik stand by the pin during a windy round of golf.
with a downhill par four. I promptly hooked my drive into the rough, donating a ball to the farmers, but my partners were gracious and allowed a first hole mulligan which I managed to keep in play. In the true spirit of links-style golf (Wine Valley is considered a links course) being early Spring we had picked a cold day with very strong, gusting winds. Positively spun as a hint of what I would imagine an Open Championship in Britain might feel like.
"Don’t play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty.” — Harry Vardon
Weaving our way through the front nine and having a ton of fun we also experienced an additional Wine Valley challenge, the monstrous bunkers, none alike, which play into the reputation and esteem in which the course is held. But even more impressive are the amazing and renowned greens. Firm, fast and reminiscent of the phrase which caused TV announcer and comedian Gary McCord to lose his Masters’ did eventually make it back out through the prison gates – even Ken. We credentials - ‘bikini-waxed.’ The undulations make putting both learned that day you don’t argue balls and strikes no matter how poor extremely enjoyable while simultaneously stroke-gobbling. the call …when the umpire is serving a life-sentence. Wine Valley is unique in that the par-72 course features five of both At the first tee-box, we took note of the various tee names including: the par three and the par five holes. The par 3’s were the highlight of our Chardonnay, Merlot and round. The 165-yard sixth hole over a marshy pond filled with colorful Cabernet, a nod to the birds was my scenic favorite, while the short 125-yard 14th, guarded many vineyards in the by three bunkers proved exciting. Troy nearly aced this hole, shooting Valley. Amidst wine barrels long, but watching wide-eyed as his ball trickled slowly back before, scattered visually about heart-stoppingly, hanging just on the lip. As I reflect on the shot today, the course, each hole’s I still feel shame that a moment of pure envy of my younger brother flag is also a reminder of (achieving another ace before me), may have broken the unity of our the theme, imprinted with cheering causing the ball to momentarily halt what was destined to be the logo of the corkscrew. a glorious shot. On the hole, we each recorded no worse than par and We chose to play from congratulated our mutual success together. My typical round of bogeythe blue tees as the golf had one other highlight when I calculated the wind just right and length seemed to match nearly struck the pin on the par-3 12th, happily rolling in a birdie two. a traditional course’s In the final tally, a couple of us were able to fight through the gale storm rating (6,335/70.5). As and post a score in the mid to upper 80s, an accomplishment for us on might be expected from a such a challenging course. nationally-ranked course, there were at least two With rates approaching $200 per round, Wine Valley may be a rare or three other boxes we opportunity for most golfers to visit, but the opportunity to play a could have chosen both premier links course in southern Washington is worth the trip, if even forward or behind us, with to watch the sunset over this “Masterpiece in the Middle of a Hayfield.” the furthest playing 7,600 www.winevalleygolfclub.com yards (76.4). Reach out to Darin at: darinpatzer@yahoo.com Troy nearly hit a hole-in-one. Hole one starts you off
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BUHL, IDAHO
CLEAR LAKE COUNTRY CLUB
CHRIS WOOD
G o l f i n the N or t hwest
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ucked in the temperate climate of the Snake River Canyon, Clear Lake Country Club offers a truly unique golf and travel experience.
don’t see on the scorecard are the narrow fairways, deep rough, and small greens that slope in every direction.
“People look at the scorecard and think this is an easy track, but it’s a “It’s one of Idaho’s hidden gems,” said Brian Kane, general manager and challenge,” Kane said. “But if you hit it straight off the tee and have a director of golf at the course located less than two hours southeast of good short game, you shouldn’t have many problems.” Boise off I-84. The original nine holes were built in 1929, and nine holes were added Clear Lake CC is semi-private but open at all times to visitors, who will in 1987. The course climbs to the canyon walls as it parallels the Snake discover challenging golf, trophy trout fishing, and a first-class RV park River flowing west. Golfers can view the canyon from every hole, and the finishing holes play along the river. Kane’s favorite hole is the par-4 for overnight stays. 14th, a sweeping dogleg left uphill that offers great views of the river “We get quite a few people who just stop and decide to stay awhile,” from its elevated tee box. He said the entire course requires a strategic approach. Kane said. The club is close to its maximum of 500 members, who hail from central “You’re not going to go out there and just beat your driver all day,” Kane said. “There are holes like number six where you have to make a Idaho, Boise, and throughout the region. strategic play to have a chance to hit the green.” “We have a lot of members who live here and travel south for the winter,” The price is less expensive than most Boise courses at $55 including cart Kane said. on weekends. Plus, the lake offers fly fishing for trophy trout supplied Part of Clear Lake CC’s attraction is the mild winter weather, which is by Riverence Provisions, the company that owns the fish hatchery right next to the course. The lake was stocked with 3,500 pounds of trout last typically 5 degrees warmer than the canyon rim. spring. Play is completely open to visitors, however, and they are discovering a “The fishing kind of died off some years back, but it’s really gotten good year-round playground. again in the last year and a half,” Kane said. “We get people who come “We’re closed two days per year – Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Kane down here just for the fishing.” said. “We may not be playing golf a few days here and there during the Challenging, affordable golf, trophy trout fishing, and a scenic RV park. winter, but we’re open.” What’s not to like about Clear Lake Country Club? The layout is deceiving at just under 6,000 yards from the tips. What you
Book a trip and enjoy a few rounds of golf and the mild weather in the Lewis Clark Valley. When the 19th hole rolls around, hang out at one of our many wineries, breweries, and restaurants. Adventure into Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge, on an exciting white water jet boat tour and explore the scenic vistas, world-class fishing, and tales of legend and lore.
COME FOR THE GOLF, STAY FOR THE
adventure STAY & PLAY PACKAGES & SPECIALS
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LEWISTON, ID • CLARKSTON, WA Photos ©Brad Stinson
www.visitlcvalley.com | (509) 758-7489
The 14th hole at Clear Lake Country Club is typical of this challenging layout as it curves uphill along the Snake River.
Playing Clear Lake CC offers a history lesson of the Snake River Canyon. Each hole is named after a pioneer of the region, its geologic features, or native plants and animals. Request a copy of “Saga of Clear Lake Country Club” before you tee off to add enjoyment to your round. The story of each hole is also on a large frame inside the clubhouse. Following is an excerpt describing the 16th hole: “About 14,500 years ago, an ice dam broke at Red Rock Pass near Preston, Idaho. A resulting flood ensued that catastrophically eroded the Snake River Canyon. This enormous water flow drained most of ancient Lake Bonneville. The water level in the canyon was 390 feet above the river’s present level. About 10,200 cubic feet per second of water rushed down the
canyon for eight weeks at velocities over 50 mph. This volume is 2,000 times greater than the Snake River’s normal flow. The flood was the second largest in the Earth’s history. The water’s force was so powerful that huge boulders, weighing many tons, were torn from the canyon walls and rolled along the stream bed. The concentration of remnant boulders on the fairway and along the edges of 16 are these “Bonneville Boulders.” Tee times can be made up to five days in advance at Clear Lake Country Club. Groups of 16 or more can make longer reservations by contacting General Manager/Director of Golf Brian Kane: Pro shop: 208-543-4849 bkain@clearlakecc.org
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Golf Course Kellogg, Idaho
Visit silvermt.com for tee times
FEATURE
DIAMOND WOODS THE DOYLES’ GIFT TO THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY
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ver 25 years ago, two enterprising Oregonian brothers, Greg and Jeff Doyle, partnered to create a championship golf course that reflected the beauty of the timber and rolling farmland that makes the Willamette Valley a yearround attraction for tourists and golfers. Diamond Woods is family owned and operated with a history that dates back to the early 80s.
Diamond Woods is a 7,000+ yard championship course off HWY 99W in Monroe, Oregon, halfway between Corvallis and Eugene. Designed by Greg Doyle and opened in 1997, the golf course reveals a dramatic layout that challenges beginners and pros alike. There are five sets of tees to choose for golfers of all levels, and players are offered free range balls to hit before playing, a result of Jeff’s observation that hitting golf balls is fun and the more you hit, the more likely you’re going to become a regular player. As the primary designer, Greg sculpted the landscape from the original densely forested 160 acres into the unique offering that is celebrating its Silver Anniversary this year. The co-owner is brother Jeff, a former major league baseball player who had a “cup of coffee” with the St. Louis Cardinals in the early ‘80s.
Enjoy this course tour YouTube video
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Jeff and Greg bought the land in 1984. Jeff played for two major league baseball teams in two different countries, for the St. Louis Cardinals (1983) in the U.S. and the Nankai Hawks (1984, 85) in Japan, earning the money to buy the land the course was built on. His brother worked on the construction and was an irrigation specialist for two premier Oregon courses: Pumpkin Ridge and Trysting Tree. Greg quit his previous job to build and design the course in 1994, opening the first nine in 1997 and the second in 1998.
fairway fool you, as you approach the green everything narrows like a sieve, requiring your full concentration. A course tour is available Here.
“We started this because we love doing it,” said Jeff, “we were lucky to get a lot of support from local people, including the forestry and turf management programs at Oregon State University to put this course on the map.” All golf course directors need the support of Jeff said, “the name Diamond Woods combined two important factors environmentalists, and Doyle is proud of his association with OSU that that made the golf course possible: ‘diamond’ in reference to our started back in 1975-77 as a member of the Beaver baseball team and baseball history and ‘woods’ in memory of the Woods family who sold continues today with the technical expertise available from the school’s us the property.” resilient and productive forests, natural ecosystems and sustainable agriculture resources. The front nine is wide open and plays fairly level, while the back nine is more tree-lined with fairways over rolling terrain that many prefer Lessons are also available from Mike Olberding who operates the to play from carts. Oregon’s most precious and plentiful asset, water, Biocentric Golf Academy on the premises of Diamond Woods. Olberding comes into play on seven of the holes, all with gorgeous views of the is considered a guru of the teaching system “Golf Machine” and boasts Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain Range. The men’s course previous students such as Mac O’Grady, Gil Morgan, and J.C. Snead. options range from 74.6/140 to 66.2/118 while the ladies can choose from 78.2/141 to 67.4/119. Not just a premier golf attraction, Diamond Woods also boasts additional facilities that include a deli, indoor event center, and outdoor The course record is held by Matt Jones, who shot a 63 during the pavilion that easily hosts over 100 guests for tournaments and outings. 2002 Nationwide Qualifier. Another PGA star, Webb Simpson, shot a 64 The ideal day for lovers is also possible at Diamond Woods—you could during the 2008 Nationwide Qualifier. play a round of golf and later in the day, get married in front of over 300 guests in The Inn at Diamond Woods. Jeff Doyle’s signature hole is number 11, a 429-yard par four that requires a straight drive over a slight rise that once accomplished, the Ken Woody covers college football for the Eugene Register Guard and golfer can see the green below, innocently elevated over a nasty chasm KUGN radio in addition to discovering great places to golf around the and brook that requires a pin-point approach to have any chance at par. US and Canada. Like his mentor, Shivas Irons, he seeks the joy of “true Play it once and you’ll be hooked to play it again, and again. gravity” in the game of golf. Number 13 is another favorite: a downhill 515-yard par five with a fabulous view of the valley and mountains beyond. Don’t let the wide N O R T H W E S T G O L F + T R AV E L
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EDITORS AT A l l G o l f I d aho
The “Cruel 18” continues this month with holes 4-8 of the most challenging golf Idaho has to offer. Here's a reminder of the parameters for holes to qualify: •
To gain consideration as the opening (1st) hole on the Cruel 18, the hole must be the opening (1st) hole at its respective course, and so on throughout the round.
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No course can be featured more than once on the Cruel 18.
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All holes are measured from the tips.
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The Cruel 18 must feature an even mix of holes in order to accurately simulate a real course.
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A solid representation should be given throughout the state.
protect the green. If you put a ‘snowman’ on your scorecard it may not be too late to just pull out your fly fishing rod and call it a day. Editor's Note: Osprey Meadows was still functional when the "Cruel 18" was compiled. It's dormant now, but owners plan to reopen the resort course near McCall in 2023.
You can read about the first three holes Here.
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Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort (Donnelly) – 608-Yard Par 5: When traveling to McCall you may want to leave your 3 iron at home and replace it with a fly fishing rod because you may need it on the 4th hole at Tamarack. Offering a split fairway off the tee, the left fairway is the wider and safer route. Going to the right fairway will give you your only chance at getting home in two by blasting a second shot over a fly fishing pond. Not only is the fairway on the right more difficult to hit, but a large tamarack tree looms in the right rough ready to cause havoc on your approach shot to the green. A stream and long bunker separate the two fairways while a pair of bunkers and pond
N O R T H W E S T G O L F + T R AV E L
DONNELLY – The monstrous par-5 4th will once again terrorize golfers when Osprey Meadows reopens in 2023.
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Blackfoot Golf Course (Blackfoot) – 237-Yard Par 3: When gazing at the green at Blackfoot’s 5th hole, one might have thoughts of Royal Troon’s famous 8th hole, aptly named ‘Postage Stamp’ due to the size (or lack thereof) of the miniature putting surface. In reality, these holes have several similarities. Both feature tiny greens, both have bunkers in play, and both almost always are played with a stiff wind blowing. Other than location, though, the biggest difference between these holes is that Blackfoot requires you to hit the small green from over 100 yards further out! Often downwind, this hole is extremely difficult to hit and hold while the alternative of ‘running one up’ is often thwarted by the bunker protecting the left side of this tiny, sloping green. Since going long will almost surely post a big number on your card, you may consider taking a 5 or 6 iron off the tee and then chipping one close in hopes of saving par – your ego may suffer, but at least your score won’t. BLACKFOOT – You won’t find many par 3s more challenging than #5 at Blackfoot GC.
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This list is a compilation of the nastiest, most punishing, roundruining holes in Idaho.
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Blue Lakes Country Club (Twin Falls) – 200-yard Par 3: This hole plays 200 yards whether you’re hitting from the ladies tees or from the tips. Now 200 yards is a fairly stout par 3, but when you factor in the 150-foot drop to a green that sits back in the Snake River with a water hazard along the back and left side and a bunker on the right, the hole takes on a whole new level of ‘mean’. Even the slightest mishit is severely punished due to the drastic elevation change. If you’re looking for your first hole in one here, look elsewhere. A tee shot that is lucky enough to find the putting surface has a pretty good likelihood of plugging.
TWIN FALLS – It’s easy to get distracted by the scenery of the Snake River Canyon on #6 at Blue Lakes CC.
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7 •
Highland GC (Pocatello) – 470-yard Par 4: You know you’ve reached the #1 handicap hole at Highland when you look at the scorecard and realize this hole is longer than the par-5 12th and only 20 yards shorter than the downhill par-5 11th. Actually, this hole was a par 5 at one time. However, when tee shots off of #9 kept pelting golfers on the #7 tee box, a change had to be made. Unfortunately for you, the golfer, that change only equated to moving the tee box up 10-15 yards and offering one less stroke to score par. The green is protected by steep hills on both sides. To the left is heavy rough and o.b. while missing to the right side will leave you a pitch shot from the 8th fairway to a green so elevated that you won’t be able to see the flag. Unless you play in a group of scratch golfers, someone in your foursome will be waiting for the 8th tee box to clear so they can go down and play their wayward ball.
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POCATELLO – Long and mean describes the Par 4 7th at Highland GC.
Headwaters at Teton Springs (Victor) – 517-Yard Par 4: Just how tough did golfing legend ‘Lord’ Byron Nelson design this 517-yard par 4? Tough enough that it beat out the 503-yard par 4 third and the 601-yard par 5 fifth holes to represent Headwaters on the Cruel 18. Now that is tough! Uphill from tee to green, this hole plays into the teeth of the prevailing winds ripping out of Pole Canyon, which make this hole nearly superhuman to reach in regulation. While the fairway is large, the left side falls off hard into long rough and native grasses. Unfortunately, staying too far to the right side of the fairway leaves you the shallowest angle at which to approach this green that also falls away from you. The old cliche' that par is a good score hardly seems to apply on this monster.
VICTOR – The Par 4 8th on Headwaters at Teton Springs measures a PGA Tour worthy 517 yards.
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valoridaho.com Reveille All Age Community Trilogy ® 55+ Resort Community Sign up to receive updates on the Northwest's newest golf communities:
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208.362.8897
From the award-winning restaurants, a scenic river and mountainous backdrop, to culture like you wouldn’t believe, Boise has it all. There’s 15 public courses to try and over 200 days of sunshine a year – so no matter what time of year you come, you’re bound to enjoy. Visit boise.org to plan your next adventure.
CIRCLING RAVEN GARNERS NO. 1 PUBLIC COURSE DISTINCTION IN IDAHO GOLFWEEK MAGAZINE ‘BEST-OF’ PANELISTS RATE COEUR D’ALENE CASINO RESORT AMENITY TOPS IN STATE (Worley, Idaho; May 26, 2022) – Best-in-kind course raters have ranked Circling Raven as Idaho’s No. 1 public course in the justpublished Golfweek’s Best 2022 – a compendium of best-of lists that the national media outlet generates annually. Designed by Gene Bates, this marks the 11th time that Circling Raven has been voted the state’s best public golf course by Golfweek raters. To derive “Golfweek’s Best,” hundreds of Golfweek course raters evaluate courses nationwide annually and score them based on 10 criteria. Owned by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and an amenity of its awardwinning casino resort in the scenic Idaho panhandle, Circling Raven’s 18 holes are astoundingly routed across 620 stunning acres of Palouse Region terrain. The course unfurls amid woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife, including eagles and moose. “Circling Raven is named for one of our tribe’s most important chiefs who guided us through our most difficult times,” said Laura Penney, CEO, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. “Our homelands mean everything to the tribe, so Circling Raven’s award is testament that we’re nurturing it respectfully and our honoring our ancestors as well.”
ABOUT CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF CLUB AND COEUR D’ALENE CASINO RESORT HOTEL
In addition to being rated No. 1 in Idaho, the course is ranked among Measuring 7,189 yards from the rear tees, the 18-hole layout sprawls the country’s best in the Resort Course, Casino Course and Pro Shop categories, twice being named Merchandiser of the Year in the Resort magnificently through 620 acres, nearly four times the number of acres found on golf courses in North America. Its gleaming white sand Category by the PGA of America. bunkers are large and strategically placed and its hole variety ingenious. Further, the course is home to the Circling Raven Championship With no surrounding development and a plethora of pristine flora and presented by KXLY News 4 Now, an Epson “#Road2LPGA” Tour event. fauna gracing the landscape, Circling Raven is an inspirational oasis. As This summer more than 100 top women professionals will vie for their the Creator intended. share of the $200,000 prize purse, August 22-28. Other Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel amenities and activities Located approximately 50 minutes from Spokane International include the full-service Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced Sock-wock-en); 300 Airport (GEG), Circling Raven measures 7,189 yards from the rear tees. hotel rooms; bars, restaurants, lounges, and eateries; cultural tourism The golf club is one of several amenities that make the casino resort options; and more. The casino completed a $15 million renovation of its one of the most popular in the Western U.S. It boasts a full-service spa, gaming floor and Events Center in 2019. Circling Raven has garnered recently renovated gaming floor, two hotel wings, multiple restaurants, numerous best-in-kind honors since opening, including being rated a Top 100 Resort Course, Best in State, and a Top U.S. Casino Course. Its and live entertainment shows and events. golf shop has won national and regional awards for its excellence and For more information about Circling Raven and Coeur d’Alene its variety of products, displays, and performance. Casino Resort Hotel, including stay-and-play packages, frequent player MEDIA CONTACT: Advantage Cards, and instructional programs, visit www.cdacasino. Dan Shepherd, danshepherdpr@gmail.com, 703-403-5317 com or 800-523-2464. Yvette Matt, ymatt@cdacasino.com, 208-500-9989
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Aerial view of the 5th hole split fairway at Circling Raven
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WHEN IT’S TIME TO FLY
Chicago O’Hare
Burbank
(Begins May 2022)
Dallas Fort Worth
April 2022