Circling Raven Golf Club Opens 22nd Season Near Worley

Circling Raven Golf Club swung into its 22nd season April 3, giving the region the only golf course ranked No. 1 in Idaho simultaneously by Golf, Golfweek and Golf Digest. For Director of Golf Don Rasmussen, PGA, the triple ranking is the starting point, not the destination. "Being top-rated by objective experts is the tip of the iceberg and a humbling distinction," Rasmussen said. "Exceptional customer service, great course conditions, memorable holes, and a beautiful setting are underlying factors that players count on when choosing Circling Raven."

This season's physical upgrades are the most concrete evidence of that standard. A new cart path covers a portion of the Gene Bates-designed, 7,189-yard championship course, while revitalized wooden bridges were rebuilt under engineer oversight. On the 25-acre practice facility, wildlife silhouettes now carry lasered yardage markers, transforming warm-up sessions into precision-calibrated range work. The Twisted Earth bar and grill debuted an expanded menu, and the pro shop completed a full merchandise overhaul.

New programming extends the additions onto the course itself. Women's Boot Camps pair on-range instruction with nine holes of structured play, a format designed to close the gap between practice and scoring. The $599 Raven Card remains the sharpest value proposition for regulars: one free round Monday through Thursday, $40 off all 18-hole and 9-hole green fees, and access to Raven Hour, an all-you-can-play window priced at $75 for the final three hours before sunset. No comparable daily-fee course in North Idaho offers a sunset unlimited-play option at that price point.

Pricing follows a two-tier structure. Shoulder Season rates, in effect from opening day through May 17, run $30 to $40 below the Peak Season schedule, which takes effect May 18 and runs through October 4. Replay and junior rates come in at $85 during the shoulder window and $115 at peak. Both tiers include cart with GPS and full practice facility access.

The April opening carries broader weight along Highway 95. The Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe enterprise that operates Circling Raven, employs between 850 and 1,100 workers depending on the season, with the golf ramp-up representing a meaningful share of spring hiring. Visitors who book stay-and-play packages fill hotel rooms and casino floors alongside their tee times, generating hospitality spending that flows to vendors in Worley, Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls. Since the casino resort opened in 1993, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe has contributed more than $33.3 million to education in the region.

Tee times are bookable online up to 45 days in advance. Hotel guests can access earlier booking windows by calling the clubhouse at 208-686-8823. The 620-acre course, situated on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation about 25 miles south of Coeur d'Alene, remains open through early October, with aerification scheduled September 14 through 16.