Circling Raven

[Jim Johnson]

My wife and I are heading into the southern interior of British Columbia for a few days in early August, and I'm debating about swinging down into Idaho for a day to check out the Circling Raven Golf Course.

I wonder if anyone's played it, and if so, your thoughts on the course?

BTW, I shoot in the mid-80's, my wife anywhere around 100.

JJ

[Bill Weber]

IMO it was an ok resort course reminiscent of Florida golf with the wetlands etc. I'd take your trip down there if you could include a round at Black Rock. Black Rock could have been my candidate for sleeper course.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Bill - Florida course??  There is almost no water on Raven and there is more relief to the property than can be found maybe anywhere in the entire state of Florida!  In summer the surroundings are arid and windswept - they often have to contend with nearby brushfires - not things I usually associate with Florida!

JJ - north Idaho has no great courses but some nice ones all the same.  Circling Raven is worth a visit if you are passing by.  Your wife would probably like Coeur d'Alene Resort as the views out over the lake are quite beautiful.  Also consider Avondale G&T (Hayden), Hidden Lakes (Sandpoint) and Whitetail further south in McCall.

Black Rock is the best but unless you know a member you can't get anywhere near it.  Spokane CC is also private and well worth playing and one you have a much better chance of getting on.

The new course across from Black Rock (will give Rock a run for it's money) is the new Fazio layout called Gozzer Ranch, which is slated to open next spring.  Hurdzan/Fry are also beginning a new project on the east side of the lake near Wolf Lodge Bay.  Within a few years there will be four golf courses looking down on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

JC

[David Neveux]

I played CR last summer and although it's nothing special, I enjoyed it very much.  My buddy and I wanted to play Cour d'lene course, but were unable to do so because they didn't have any forecaddie's available which are required.  CR is definitely worth a round if your in the area.  I cannot remember the numbers of the holes, but there were a few that I thought were very good.  

[Craig Sweet]

Circling Raven is a fun course. Not too difficult, and nothing outragously special.

The Resort course is a big waste of money, in my opinion.  Every fairway is banked to roll the ball back into the middle. It is well manicured, but that is about all you can say for it.

Possibly the most interesting course in that area, other than Black Rock, is the muni in Cour d'lene...

[Sean Leary]

Craig,

Have you played CdA since they lengthened it?  I haven't, just curious about the changes.  I would think that the increased length of 4 and the new green on 5 would greatly improve those holes.

[Craig Sweet]

Sean...I haven't.

[Jordan Wall]

Coeur D'Alene is one you should play.

It's worth the expense.

My coach just got back from CR and said it was fantastic, btw.  Maybe play both??
CA is really friendly and not too hard a course.

[Jim Johnson]

Jordan,

Unfortunately, we won't have time to play both.

I'm not sure that I want to go to the expense of playing CdA...some serious coinage there.

Just want to hear more about Circling Raven, if anybody else has played there.

Thanks,

JJ

[Sean Leary]

Coeur D'Alene is one you should play.

It's worth the expense.

My coach just got back from CR and said it was fantastic, btw.  Maybe play both??
CA is really friendly and not too hard a course.

Jordan,

Have you played it?  It's an OK place to play with a spouse or girlfriend, nice conditions, but other than that, it is kind of blah.

[Craig Sweet]

JJ...Circling Raven is about 40 minutes south of CDA. The course varies between open meadows and in tall pines.

#4...interesting hole with two options off the tee.

#15 and 17 were nice..tight with tall pines.

The casino is ok...pro shop is excellent.

[Craig Sweet]

By the way...Circling Raven is less than 1/2 the cost of a round at the Resort and the course is every bit as good.

No gimmicky floating green, but they have the casino!  

[Jonathan Cummings]

I wrote an article for LINKS last year on CdA Resort.  I've played it 20 times over the years starting from one week after it opened.  It is expensive but well worth playing.  The redesign attempts to address the cramped 4-6 series (does as good a job as possible) and adds length in other areas.  It is an excellent golf course to take your golfing wife to, but I agree don't go there expecting to be challenged by cutting edge golf course architecture.  But that said, I still recommend it to all.  It is a round that you will long remember as you will the price!

JC      

[Jim Johnson]

Gentle nudge.

[Brian Cenci]

I played Circling Raven last year (late summer), actually on a trip and it was unplanned that we ended up playing this course.

I actually really liked this course..#8 being my favorite hole.  There wasn't any really memorable holes or things like that, just an overall well layed out and designed course.  I thought the course wasn't very hard either.  Overall I'd say it's a borderline top 100 public golf course...course was in great shape too.

-Brian