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Daryl David

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Western summer sojourn
« on: January 29, 2008, 04:36:40 PM »
I am planning a long western driving trip through Montana, Idaho and Western Canada this summer. The main purpose besides getting back to my roots, will be to size up recent golf courses and developments as there has been lots new going on in the last few years.  I have visited most of the classics like Banff, so am focusing on newer sites.  

At this point in planning, my only for sure stop is at Mr. Doak's Rock Creek near Deer Lodge. That may well make the whole trip worthwhile.  Friends I know there tell me it truly special.

I would appreciate any insight into these other potential stops.

-Black Rock (CDA)
-Idaho Club (Sandpoint)
-Spanish Peaks (Big Sky)
-Ironhorse (Whitefish)
-Tobiano (BC)
-Sagebrush (BC)

Any I am missing from a design standpoint that are new (last 10 years or so) that would be must stops?  Thanks in advance for ideas.

Daryl
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Kalen Braley

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2008, 04:43:39 PM »
Daryl,

If you will be taking in Black Rock, you should also make your way down the road to Circling Raven in Worley.  Its fairly new and for sure worth a look if you are in the area.

As it sounds like access is not a problem for you, you may want to look into Gozzer Ranch just outside CDA as well.

Kalen
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Daryl David

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2008, 04:47:46 PM »
Kalen,

You are right.  I forgot to include Gozzer and I have been putting off playing Circling Raven so I need to get it in.  Have you ever stayed there at the Casino hotel?  Looks like it might be fun.
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Kalen Braley

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2008, 05:05:05 PM »
Quote from: Daryl David on January 29, 2008, 04:47:46 PM
Kalen,

You are right.  I forgot to include Gozzer and I have been putting off playing Circling Raven so I need to get it in.  Have you ever stayed there at the Casino hotel?  Looks like it might be fun.

Daryl,

I haven't stayed at the Casino, but it looks like a decent place.  When I lived in the Spokane area I was always close enough to home to drive on back for the comfort of my own bed.  ;)
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Steve_ Shaffer

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2008, 05:54:08 PM »
Why not stop at Chambers Bay?


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Sean Leary

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2008, 06:05:29 PM »
DD,

sent you an email.
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Jim Johnson

Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2008, 08:26:39 PM »
Daryl,
My wife and I stayed at the Circling Raven resort a couple years ago for a night, and played the course the next a.m....first tee-time of the day. You'd like the course, we did. You should be able to search it on this site. The casino and hotel were decent.

We were hoping to play Tobiano last summer, but the dates didn't work out for us.

Graham Cooke has a new course not far from Tobiano called Talking Rock. Might be worth a shot.
http://www.talkingrock.ca

Enjoy your trip!

JJ
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Pete_Pittock

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2008, 10:06:56 PM »
Copper Point in Windermere BC. Their website is http://www.copperpointgolf.com/  If you get up to Edmonton Rod Whitman's Blackhawk.
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Craig Sweet

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2008, 12:10:50 AM »
Canyon River in Missoula...and The Ranch Club in Missoula....two fine tracks that no one talks about...in fact, there's some decent golf in Montana, but people only want to talk about Doak's and Old Works....
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Jason McNamara

Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2008, 12:47:29 AM »
Craig, what of the Kalispell area courses?  Is it worth it to go from Butte to Banff via US-95, then return via US-93?

Thanks.
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cary lichtenstein

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2008, 01:30:10 AM »
We loved Black Rock, could never understand why it din't make the GD top 100. Weiskopf is designing a 2nd course there.
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Gary Gruber

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2008, 02:33:58 AM »
I agree, Circling Raven is definately worth the trip and having stayed at the Casino I can recommend that too.

Have fun.
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Daryl David

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2008, 11:24:22 AM »
Thanks all for the feedback!  I will check out the Missoula area tracks Craig mentioned as I will likely spend a night or two there.  

No one mentions Stock Farm much anymore.  It was the hottest thing in Montana 7 years ago or so.  Any recent buzz?
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Craig Sweet

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2008, 11:30:52 AM »
Stock Farm is fine...along with Canyon and The Ranch...gives us three good courses in the Missoula area.....Up in the Flathead there's some ok golf...the Whitefish CC is fun...

I'd head north from Butte on I-15....right up to Canada...and come back via hwy 93....
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We are no longer a country of laws.

Daryl David

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2008, 01:40:58 PM »
Thanks Bob,

Thanks! Good Canadian summary.  I am really interested in seeing McBroom's work. From photos, it looks very interesting and I have not yet seen any of his efforts.  

As far as Sagebrush goes, I was just hoping to get a look see.  They are beginning to market real estate and I would be interesting in seeing what they are offering.
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Bob Jenkins

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2008, 01:58:51 PM »

Daryl,

Thomas McBroom is also working with Annika Sorenstam on the Red Mountain course in Rossland, B.C. although I understand that is in the very early stages. Rossland is an interesting town in the west Kootenays. Very hilly terrain.

He also did a reno of Fraserview, a public course owned by the City of Vancouver and although I have not been there since the renos, I understand he did a great job.
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David Druzisky

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2008, 03:00:18 PM »
Sounds good to me.  There are some others a little to the south of your current east - west route if so inclined.
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Kyle Henderson

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #17 on: January 30, 2008, 03:03:24 PM »
Sorry to be OT, but isn't Montana in the north? I'm always amused to learn that the "west" includes everything but the easternmost 1/4 of the country.
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Kalen Braley

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2008, 03:14:38 PM »
Kyle,

Being a cali boy myself, I once thought this as well.  The reality is the rest of the country views anything in Colorado or west of that, "out west"...and I'd have to agree with them.

The only extra distinction Montana gets is being in the "Pacific NorthWest"   ;)
« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 03:48:51 PM by Kalen Braley »
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Garland Bayley

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2008, 03:31:54 PM »
Kalen,

CA is not the West. CA is called the freak show.
;)
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Daryl David

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2008, 05:30:39 PM »
You can't rely the average American's command of geography. When my father told some eastern Navy buddies he was from Idaho, one asked if that was west of Oregon.  

There are still folks in Minnesota that call the area their state resides in as the Northwest.  It seems the moniker "Pacific Northwest" was created to set it apart from the "Northwest" which included Minnesota back in the day.
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W.H. Cosgrove

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Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #21 on: January 30, 2008, 05:49:27 PM »
Leave Montana out of the pacific NW we only claim Washington, Idaho and Oregon.  Montana can be the Northwest if they want! or just 'Big Sky Country' ;)
« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 05:50:14 PM by W.H. Cosgrove »
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Mike Mosely

Re:Western summer sojourn
« Reply #22 on: January 30, 2008, 07:53:11 PM »
I'd second the rec of Black Rock and Circling Raven.  But also play the resort course at Coeur D'Alene too...its fun and not as expensive as you'd think.  Sure, its not Doak or Dye, Mackenzie or raynor, but it's something everyone should try once.  Plus the air is like wine.
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