GOLF Magazine honours Circling Raven

Thirty-three - That’s the number of awards as of today that Coeur d’Alene Tribe-owned and -operated Circling Raven Golf Club has garnered since opening in August 2003. The latest honour comes from GOLF Magazine, which named Circling Raven to the national publication’s “Best Courses Near You” list.

The September 2008 issue marks the first time that GOLF – one of the nation’s two largest circulation golf publications (6 million readers per issue) – has ranked the best courses in each state. This is the second of two accolades GOLF bestowed on Circling Raven in the September issue. The other was naming it to the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” list, a compilation of the best public-access courses in the nation (out of roughly 14,000).

GOLF uses a course rankings panel which includes editorial staff, professional TOUR golfers, and a network well-traveled golf industry participants to determine its best-in-kind lists. Joining Circling Raven as the best courses in Idaho according to GOLF are Sun Valley Resort’s Trail Creek Golf Course, Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort, and The Coeur d’Alene Resort Course. The CDA Resort Course is located 30 minutes from Circling Raven and combines with it to offer a value-laden stay-and-play package, as well as what is widely considered one of North America’s best resort course tandems.

“We continue to be flattered by these honors,” said Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort CEO David Lasarte-Meeks. “The Coeur d’Alenes intended to honor our land and our age-old tribal traditions with Circling Raven. These awards reinforce the commitment the tribe has made and the example it sets.”

Circling Raven is an amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel 45 minutes east of Spokane Airport (GEG). It was designed by Gene Bates.

Since opening in August 2003 Circling Raven has accumulated 33 “best-of” and “best-in-kind” awards, including being named the No. 1 Tribal Casino Course in America by Native American Casino Magazine, a Top-40 Casino Course by Golf Digest (rated No. 4 nationally), and one of the country’s best resort courses by Golfweek Magazine.

The Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel and Circling Raven 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.

Circling Raven was created amid a unique blend of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. At 7,189 yards, 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.

For more information about Circling Raven Golf Club or Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel, log on to Circlingraven.com.