Cda Resort Tops ‘Em All

A friend hit me with an intriguing question the other day.

“What makes a great golf course?” he asked.

He figured it was a simple question, especially when posed to someone who plays and writes about golf as much as I do.

I thought it was a simple question, too - until I tried to answer.

Then my mind suffered an adjective overload.

“It has to be breathtakingly scenic,” I said. “And challenging … and fair … and playable … and affordable … and accessible … and … ”

Then I thought, “Wait a minute. No golf course in the world meets all of those criteria.”

Augusta National isn’t accessible. Pebble Beach isn’t affordable. St. Andrews isn’t breathtakingly beautiful. The TPC at Sawgrass isn’t fair.

Even locally, great golf is difficult to define.

The Coeur d’Alene Golf Course was recently named one of only 20 gold medal resort courses in the world by Golf Magazine.

The fairways there are so plush that taking a divot seems like a sacrilege. The greens are as smooth as the backside of a beagle’s ear, the lake views are stunning, and the service in both the pro shop and restaurant is exceptional. But for the walk-up, peak-season greens fee of $200-plus, I could play Indian Canyon Golf Course - a longtime resident of Golf Digest’s list of the top 75 affordable public courses in the country - 12 times.

So which is better?

Flip a ball marker. Great golf courses, like beauty, must be defined on an individual basis. And wallet sizes vary as much as personal preference.

Personally, I prefer the Resort course - provided I’m getting a “Good Neighbor” break on greens fees. But I could be happy playing the Canyon for the rest of my life, as well. Or any of several other quality public courses in our region, for that matter.

In fact, that same friend later asked me to name my 10 favorite courses in the area.

I told him I would have to think about it for a while. I did. And here is the list I came up with - exclusive of price:

1. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course

At a mere 6,309 yards with fairways lined by mounds that steer nearly every misguided drive back to safety, there are some who contend this Scott Miller-designed layout is too easy. OK. So where’s the downside?

This is simply the best of the best and one of three or four “must play” courses in the area.

2. Indian Canyon Golf Course

The view from the clubhouse is worth the modest price of the greens fee. And when this grand old lady of Spokane golf, which opened for play in 1935, is in peak condition, it offers a golfing experience to cherish.

The elevation changes are dramatic, the tree-lined fairways are challenging and every hole has its own unique character.

Maybe the city should add “Resort” to its official title.

3. MeadowWood Golf Course

The newest of the three county-owned courses, this sprawling, links-style layout is getting better with age. The greens are massive and the sand traps abundant, but the wide fairways give golfers of all skill levels a chance to score.

The three finishing holes are terrific, and it’s only six blocks from my house.

4. The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course

Most golfers develop either a love or a hate relationship with this city course that opened in 1993. Granted, architect William Robinson tossed in a couple funky holes, but not enough to sour me on a track that is as challenging as any in the region.

I love the drive, but not the walk, from the first tee box. And I can’t think of a better three-hole stretch than Nos. 10, 11 and 12. Unfortunately, they lead to No. 13.

5. Hidden Lakes Golf Resort

We’re stretching the limits of the region here, but this gem of a course nestled in the pines just east of Sandpoint deserves to be mentioned - and high on the list.

Water hazards, many of then hidden, and the potential for spotting moose, deer, coyotes and even an occasional bobcat roaming the woods that line each fairway add character to a course that has matured dramatically in recent years. It stands ready to challenge the area’s best.

6. Hangman Valley Golf Course

This county-owned layout, which stretches to more than 6,900 yards from the back tees, is tough and visually stunning. The four par-3s are as demanding as any in the region, and the par-5 10th remains one of my favorite holes.

Mother Nature has taken its share of shots at the course, but it has held up nicely. Critics say the greens are too often left a little “fuzzy.” I can’t disagree, but the last couple of times I played it, that wasn’t the case.

7. Avondale Golf Club

The massive $2 million renovation that this semiprivate course underwent in the mid-1990s was a hit. The addition of bunkers and ponds and the mounding that was done along several fairways turned a mediocre track into a winner.

The greens fees are a bit steeper than those at the municipal courses in Spokane, but an occasional change of scenery and new challenges are worth a few extra dollars.

8. The Fairways at West Terrace

OK, so you might have to walk through a few puddles of unidentifiable liquid (unidentifiable, in this case, is a good thing) during the early spring. But this course still ranks as my most underrated in the region. The greens aren’t as slick as they used to be, but they still putt fast and true. And the ball sits up in the fairways as nicely as it does on any course I play on a regular basis. The hardpan rough is ugly and, in some areas, unplayable. But anyone capable of hitting fairways and greens isn’t going to notice.

9. Deer Park Golf Club

This might surprise those who have made the trek north to play this Keith Hellstrom-designed layout, which opened just four years ago. And, yes, I might be betting quite a bit on the come.

But from what I’ve experienced in my two trips around the course, I have to rank it in the top 10 - with a bullet.

10. Esmeralda Golf Course

Anyone still referring to this Hillyard-area layout as “Easy Essie,” hasn’t ridden her since the trees grew up. Granted, there are a couple of weak holes, but Nos. 7 and 16 rank among the most challenging par-4s in the region.

If you haven’t been there lately, give it a go. The course is in great shape, but tee times can be hard to acquire, considering that it hosts close to 70,000 rounds each year.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

PUBLIC LINKS

Caruso qualifies for Amateur

Pete Caruso finished with a two-round total of 138 at Downriver Golf Club and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links tournament next month at Herron Lakes GC in Portland.

Kyle Kelly and Shawn Pattison finished two back with Kelly winning a playoff for second place.

The national tournament will be played July 10-16.