PONDEROSA SPRINGS

This nifty little layout, located on the southeastern edge of Coeur d’Alene, was purchased by Richard and Gloria Lynch in 1989 and has enjoyed a sustained run of rising popularity, especially among the locals.

The course is managed and maintained by the Lynch family and offers a nice assortment of par-3 holes ranging in length from 91 to 160 yards. The Lynch’s also operate the batting cages that sit directly behind the clubhouse, which houses a full-service bar and plenty of room to host private parties.

A decent-sized pond, with fountain, waits to gobble up over-cooked shots to both the first and eighth greens, and a couple of hidden streams that flow from the pond and wind throughout the course present additional challenges.

The greens are small, a bit bumpy and not severely tilted, although the second features a two-tiered putting surface with a top level that isn’t much bigger than a dining room table. And, in most cases, they are surrounded by wide swathes of fringe, which puts a premium on short chip shots.

Wildlife abounds on the course, and it’s not unheard of to have a mother deer and spotted fawn venture out of the nearby woods to munch on the grass near the practice green.

Rounds, according to the Lynch’s daughter, Mona, who runs the pro shop and clubhouse, normally take about 90 minutes to complete, but can run upwards of two hours when the course is crowded with beginners.

Rates are $10, with seniors 55 and older and juniors 17 getting discounts Monday through Friday. A second nine holes is just $5, and 10-play passes are available for $75.

“That’s a big savings,” Mona Lynch noted of the 10-play pass, “and it helps us a lot, because we get a lot of working-class golfers here – guys who can’t afford to golf the big, more expensive courses.”

The batting cages at Ponderosa Springs are open from 8 a.m. until dusk each day during the summer.