Monday, December 22, 2008

Beauty, Serenity of Circling Raven Golf Club Enhanced

U.S. Highway 95 Route Now Connects Resort from Opposite Side, Well Away from Circling Raven.

(WORLEY, Idaho) – When a course like the one at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel’s Circling Raven Golf Club wins as many awards as it has – 35 since opening five years ago (see the partial list below) – it reinforces the resounding quality found there. While many would be hard-pressed to envision how the Circling Raven experience could be made better, that’s precisely what has happened thanks to U.S. Highway 95 having been rerouted.

The road used to pass along the 18th fairway and across the land of the Coeur d’Alene tribe, which owns and operates Circling Raven (http://www.circlingraven.com/, 800-523-2464). The new highway and interchange now provide access to the casino resort hotel and golf club from the resort’s west side. The old highway has been deeded over to the CDA Tribe.

Renowned for its peaceful, pristine setting, the proximity of the old highway next to the last Circling Raven fairway was considered a minor item for an otherwise unanimously acclaimed course. It was akin to a rock group’s CD cover being placed next to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” in the Louvre Museum – you wouldn’t like to see it there but the masterpiece remains the masterpiece.

With the bypass in place Circling Raven is unspoiled from start to finish.

“Now that the road is gone it’s clear how much more tranquil the 18th hole is and in line with the rest of the course and resort,” says Circling Raven Director of Golf Tom Davidson. “This is particularly gratifying as we continue to implement a comprehensive ‘green program’ here at the resort. The Coeur d’Alenes place great emphasis on caring for their land, and this helps ensure its legacy will be preserved for generations to come.”

A convenient, scenic drive from Spokane (WA), the casino resort and golf club are nestled on a reservation covering 345,000 acres of mountains, lakes, old-growth forest and farmland. The resort spans the western edge of the northern Rocky Mountains.

Designed by golf course architect Gene Bates, Circling Raven was created amid a unique blend of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. With yardages ranging from 7,189 yards to 4,708 – thanks to multiple teeing areas on each hole – the par 72 championship layout meanders through 620 acres, only 100 representing cultivated ground. Wildlife is abundant, including elk, deer, moose and an occasional black bear.

The clubhouse is 6,500 square feet, including the Twisted Earth Grill and full service bar. Both men’s and women’s locker rooms include showers and lockers. The new Stensgar Events Pavilion is adjacent to the golf clubhouse and is an excellent, full-service venue for meetings and events – from wedding receptions to golf tournament dinners and festivities.

The practice facility covers 25 acres; separated into areas for wedges, sand play and all clubs in the bag.

Recent honors bestowed upon Circling Raven include:
* Top 100 Courses You Can Play 2008-09 – GOLF Magazine
* No. 1 Tribal Golf Course in America - Native American Casino Magazine
* Resort Merchandiser of the Year – PGA of America Northwest Section 2008
* Top-40 Casino Courses in the U.S. (No. 4) – Golf Digest
* Top U.S. Resort Courses – Golfweek Magazine 2008
* America's Top Golf Courses - Zagat Survey 2007-08 rankings
* No. 9 in the “Signature 36: Top Resort Courses in the West” – Fairways + Greens Magazine 2007

The resort adjacent to the course includes 202 hotel rooms, casino, multi-purpose events center, restaurants, indoor pool, gift shop and other amenities.

The Coeur d’Alene Casino offers 1,800 machines for play in smoking and non-smoking areas, off-track betting for horse and dog races, high-stakes bingo, entertainment and many other amenities. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week every day of the year. The resort is regularly voted the most popular casino in the Inland Northwest.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

No comments: