Circling Raven

Discerning golfers care about great playing conditions, wonderful course designs, inspiring settings, attentive service and the satisfaction derived from money well spent at places that move them. As Inland Northwest golfers have learned since August 2003 when it opened, Circling Raven Golf Club checks all those boxes and then some.

An amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel — owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe — the course winds through 620 acres of Palouse terrain. That’s a vast amount of land compared to most courses globally — roughly five times larger than the average number of acres used for golf layouts worldwide — and it ensures that the land unfurls naturally. As the Creator intended.

While both the front and the back nines are filled with ingenious holes, the back nine’s holes have earned a special place of reverence among golf aficionados for their pristine surroundings. Woodlands, wetlands and the heaving Palouse terrain are on glorious display with each hole being an oasis unto itself — a veritable golf heaven on Earth.

It’s an ideal, serene place to play the deeply satisfying game amid pristine beauty in the nearperfect environment. Named for a seminal chief who guided the tribe through some of its most difficult times, Circling Raven has garnered many honors since opening. Some of the award categories include Best Casino Course, America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, 100 Best Resort Courses, Pro Shop Merchandiser of the Year and No. 1 Course in Idaho.

Constantly re-tuning the operation and golf course is something the tribe and golf club do annually. Adding or amending services and programs that best appeal to players is a core competency. Social events, Advantage Cards for frequent players, competitions and instruction are just some examples. The Circling Raven staff is ideally configured to deliver first-class experiences and has been honored with accolades including PGA of America’s National Patriot Award winner and as a Top 10 best-in-state golf instructor.

The Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4 is an Epson “Road to the LPGA” Tour event held at the property each of the past two Augusts. It will occur again this summer and features a field of approximately 132 women professional players striving to earn their LPGA memberships while competing for shares of the $225,000 prize purse. These are not just any pro women golfers — the field includes several of the world’s best rising stars, hailing from various continents and dozens of states.

While the golf is scintillating at Circling

Raven, a Gene Bates course design, many Circling Raven guests visit Twisted Earth, the golf club’s popular bar and grill, before and/or after a game on the acclaimed layout. Twisted Earth was Circling Raven’s son, and like the golf course honoring the chief, the eatery has done its namesake proud as well with its scrumptious food and drink options.

Adjacent to Twisted Earth is the clubhouse merchandise shop. A vast array of high-quality goods let players shop for virtually anything they desire — from apparel and footwear to equipment and accessories. The shop is so well curated and managed that the club’s Director of Golf has twice been named national “Merchandiser of the Year” in the Resorts Category by the PGA of America.

Stay-and-play packages are a great way to experience both the golf club and the casino resort hotel. And spring season rates are value-laden in the extreme — a great way to explore the amenity-rich resort for its other amenities, including its enormous and soothing spa, restaurants, expansive casino and Native American cultural tourism activities. 