Modest in populace, Northern Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene spreads wide from water to wilderness to wedges. From mid-spring through mid-autumn, the all-seasons activity hub of just 55,000 residents finds ample mountain bounty via a spread of visitors seeking sizzle solace from Southern California, Arizona, Texas and points beyond.
With 27-mile-long Lake Coeur d’Alene serving as playground centerpiece, idyllic temps and mountain elevation (approx. 2,300 feet) pair with small city vibes to make for an adventurist’s getaway.
The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort (CDA) is nexus set amid the activity, perched in the center of the welcoming, waterside, ever-walkable downtown, with hiking and biking trails just outside the resort doors, along with the views and vibes of its on-site marina.
Golf guests need not traverse far for the property’s fairways eponymous, with the unique option of a boat ride from resort-to-course a mere seven-minute journey. Arriving on-course proves resort-style extension, with forecaddie for each group, aquatic driving range (floating balls hit to buoy targets) and a complimentary, range-adjacent sports massage.
And while all amenities precede the grounds’ famed 14th hole, known as the world’s lone “Floating Green,” the playable, lake-laden grounds prove much more than merely its social media maven par 3.
“Yes, we’re known for the Floating Green, but our owner wanted to make sure that the course and experience were more than that,” said Andy Mackimmie, director of golf at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.
Such “more” often includes playground plans for a post-round Coeur d’Alene day in full.
“Selfishly, we think people come here just to play our course,” smiles Mackimmie. “But, yes, there are so many all-seasons, outdoor activities here, with spring and summer offering all the fishing, hiking, biking, boating, paddleboarding and kayaking.”
One native Texan, in particular, is well-versed on the Coeur d’Alene visitor itinerary.
“Folks love getting in the water out here, especially our morning golfers,” said Fort Worth-born Taylor Fore (real name), head golf professional at The CDA Resort Golf Course. “They wanna’ play in the morning and then get in some water time in the afternoon, whether it’s the resort pool, getting in the lake or on a boat.”
In the post-pandemic era, Fore has noted a big uptick in Lone State guests arriving by way of family getaways, buddy trips and corporate travel.
“It’s awesome to see so many zip codes and area codes that I recognize when folks make their tee times,” continued Fore. “The American Airlines nonstop flight from Dallas to Spokane (a 40-minute drive away) has been huge for us, and Southwest also has one in the summer months. Whether people are coming from Dallas, Houston or Austin, they get up here away from the heat and into the fresh mountain air.”
Designed by Scott Miller with vacation play in mind, the well-manicured grounds prove fun, playable and generous, with bowled fairways drawn to feed balls back to the short grass, and ongoing Lake views providing continual photo opportunities.
“It’s interesting when they built our course; ’91 was a big year for golf, with Kiawah (Ocean Course), Kapalua (Plantation) and others,” said Fore. “And the fad then, of course, was these very challenging courses. But here, they recognized that the vast majority of players aren’t scratch golfers. So, they decided to build an experience around the 95 percent of players who just want to come out and have fun.”
A particularly fun run includes the latter side’s par-5 11th yard-to-yard recreation homage to No. 13 at Augusta National. After the tough, 230-yard par-3 12th, the short par 4 ensuing plays lakeside risk-reward along the Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline.
And then, the phone pics follow in full, with the signature 14th taking players by boat from dock-to-green.
“We get our serious players here, but also folks on vacation who just wanted to say they played the Floating Green that they saw on a video game or simulator,” Fore said. “Personally, I notice that not many people know exactly how far their ball travels in the air. They might know with run-out, but not how far they fly it. Knowing your air distance is the biggest thing on 14.”
Area visitors seeking a diversity of play should schedule a dichotomy double-dip with a round at Circling Raven Golf Club. Located in Worley, an easy 25-minute drive south from Coeur d’Alene, the aptly renowned grounds chart as the state’s top public course and, via one respected outlet’s “100 Greatest Publics,” made the list for a seven-year run. In addition, per CDA Resort Golf Course, Circling Raven proves an annual Idaho “Best in State.”
Inverse to the skillfully lain plot of The CDA Resort Golf Course, the Raven flies in full Idaho abundance across its 620-acre spread of land ancestral to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Wide landing areas are cut by awesome terrain, both native and natural, offering big bounty, full breathe exhales across a round narrated by tall grass outlines and myriad bridges.
Forced carries prove a consistent thread at Circling Raven, just as the nearly 7,200-yard card will offer sticks all they can handle. And, for pre/post-round engagement, the on-site Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel will offer an easy segue for any bet-setting not concluded on course.
Bonus Travel Tip No. 1: Coeur d’Alene travelers seeking some leisurely time on the water should check out Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises, which offers a full menu of drink/dine/chill options and ample ease-of-access for those staying mere steps away at The CDA Resort.
Bonus Travel Tip No. 2: Visitors strolling the city’s downtown strip of Sherman Avenue will find around 125 curated shops, bars, restaurants and curiosity storefronts. No shortage of choices, to be sure, but know that golfers revel in the post-round options at Crafted Tap House + Kitchen. Sporting 50 taps from beers around the globe, the fare will usurp gastropub expectations for most, and … yeah, be sure to catch the Friday night “Turtle Races” if you’re game for some unique reptile action.
Bonus Travel Tip No. 3: Players seeking a modestly priced re-tee should check out the public-access Coeur d’Alene Golf Course. Dating to 1953, locals rave about the grounds, which present mature tree-lining and come with a tee tag of just $60.
SPOTLIGHT: CDA National Reserve
Membership has its (mountain) privileges.
Akin to the region’s influx of resort, activity and golf guests across the past five years, Northern Idaho’s triad of high-end clubs has seen its own rise in open-aired, mountain time membership engagement.
Among the clubs, CDA National Reserve is proving the most game for adventure.
With its stellar, Tom Weiskopf-designed golf grounds as member centerpiece, CDA National’s broad menu of amenities offers a sportsman’s playground for those ready to turn aspirational into actual across the club’s 1-K acre spread.
“This is a hidden gem up here,” said Dave Stockton, Jr., club ambassador and real estate sales at CDA National. “Along with Weiskopf having an amazing piece of property to sculpt his vision, our owner’s vision is to have this be the top club in the Pacific Northwest. In our 1,000 acres, we’ve got everything here under one umbrella.”
Such complementary visions find CDA days ready for an array of Lake leisure, ammo action, equine adventure and an exceptional golf routing (with no tee times).
“We’re the new kid on the block; we haven’t been around for decades like the other two clubs up here, which are full and very busy with tee times,” continued Stocketon. “We have members here who are members at the other clubs, and it’s funny that in our peak times of July and August, those folks are spending a lot more time here.”
Time on the Weiskopf design is a day well spent. With its front side meandering through woods and some taut tree framing, the grounds’ back nine proves getable from the box across sweeping landing areas.
While aggressive greenside bunkering is sure to keep scores in check, the design and agronomy are narrated with some gentle camber and balls perched on bluegrass fairways. Charting as Idaho’s fourth-ranked course, the grounds are wisely kept playable in lieu of sporting its genuine potential for championship teeth.
“You could play a Tour event on this course,” added Stockton, a veteran of 355 PGA TOUR events. “Turn two par 5s into par 4s, give ‘em a few weeks to grow the rough, bring in the fairways a touch, firm up everything, and this course will no doubt hold its own.”
In lieu of wreaking havoc, the grounds instead sport the tenets of engagement and privacy.
“You could play this course daily and get a new experience; none of the holes look the same as the hole previous,” said Gabriel Dorosh, director of golf at CDA National Reserve. “And, even if we had 100 golfers out there for the day, you probably won’t see anybody because the holes and design offer that separation.”
Beyond the fairways, the club grounds offer access to 5,000 adjacent acres of wilderness and wave play. The Lakehouse sets dockside on the quiet end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, while CDA National’s Reserve Lodge offers outdoorsmanship amenities not found at the area’s other two clubs; with a full range for expert-led pistol and sport clay shooting, members find further sport via archery and axe throwing. Those looking to explore the terrain via hoof enjoy woods and vistas by way of Caribou Creek Farm’s on-site guided trail rides, offering saddled family-style journeys for all levels of rider from the region’s most experienced guides.