Top honors for Idaho golf course

Circling Raven Golf Club, Idaho, has been named the nation’s best Indian casino golf course in the nation by Native American Casino Magazine. This is the second consecutive time Circling Raven has garnered the top spot in this list published by the national industry publication.

Being named No. 1 in this category is extremely high praise for Circling Raven given the many other acclaimed resort courses against which it was compared. They include some of the best-known designs in American golf, including Barona Creek (Lakeside, Calif.), Turning Stone (Verona, N.Y.) and Dancing Rabbit (Philadelphia, Miss.).

Designed by golf course architect Gene Bates, Circling Raven is featured in the publication’s August issue which unveils the Top 20 tribal golf course list for 2008.

Editor Melanie Dellas said, among other things, the formula for ranking courses was based on the beauty and quality of the course, design and accolades garnered.

“Circling Raven is a magnificent course that definitely deserves top honors,” said Dellas.

There are about 70 tribal golf courses in the U.S. Tribal casino resort golf is the industry’s hottest niche and includes many of the nation’s most highly regarded courses.

“Circling Raven and Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel are extremely honored by this distinction, particularly considering the quality of Tribal casino courses nationally,” said David Lasarte-Meeks, CEO of the CDA Casino Resort & Hotel. “Many of our people have worked extremely hard for the past several years to ensure Circling Raven lives up to our standards and vision. We are gratified by this recognition and inspired to continue to uphold Circling Raven’s growing reputation as one of the finest golf clubs anywhere.”

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