Many golf trips require you to commit to a specific type of terrain or landscape, but not northern Idaho. Within a half-hour’s drive from Coeur d’Alene, you can play a prairie links course with one of the longest holes around, a layout carved from tribal land where the wildlife sightings might outnumber your foursome, and a lakefront resort track with a floating hole that must be seen to be believed. That’s three distinct course experiences packed into the state’s Panhandle, with a golf season running from April through October. Pack your clubs and shoes and get ready to tee off in northern Idaho.
Day 1: The Links Golf Club | Post Falls
Fly into Spokane International Airport (GEG), the closest major airport to the region and about 40 minutes from your first stop: The Links Golf Club. Give yourself a buffer by booking an afternoon tee time, and avoid a detour by eating at the on-site restaurant before you tee off.
From the first tee, the scale of this place is impossible to miss. Built on the flat, open Rathdrum Prairie with no trees or water to get in the way, the course plays like true Scottish links golf: wide fairways, deep bunkers, thick rough and wind that can be relentless. A few years ago, the club set out to become one of the longest public golf courses in the country and succeeded, stretching to 8,291 yards from the tips—earning it the Number 2 spot nationally. The ninth hole lives up to its reputation—a rare par-6, playing over 800 yards and among the longest holes in the U.S.
After the round, a quick 20-minute drive takes you to Coeur d’Alene. Plan on dinner at Crafted Tap House + Kitchen, a casual spot with a rotating beer list and a menu perfect for unwinding after a day of travel and play. Walk off your meal by catching the sunset along the world’s longest floating boardwalk—a 3,300-foot path that routes around the marina.
Day 2: Circling Raven Golf Club | Worley
Ease into the morning with breakfast at The Coral Café, then drive roughly 30 minutes to Worley.
Circling Raven is owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and is named after a former tribal leader. Spanning 7,189 yards across 620 acres of rolling Palouse hills, wetlands, and pine woodlands untouched by development, it’s consistently named among the state’s top public golf courses by Golf Digest, Golfweek and GOLF Magazine. Elk, deer and the occasional moose are common sights, and carts are required. The 8th hole—a short par-4 that demands an accurate tee shot over native grass to a fairway sloping sharply toward the marsh—earns its place among the signature holes. Afterward, claim a spot on the patio for drinks and food at the on-site Twisted Earth Grill. Note: Peak-season tee times can fill up quickly, so book in advance of your trip.
Back in Coeur d’Alene, spend the afternoon stretching your legs on Tubbs Hill, an easy 2.2-mile lakeside trail near downtown that offers splendid views of the water and the surrounding landscape. Then treat yourself to a laid-back meal at TreeHouse CDA (the Branch Bites are a must-order) or enjoy refined dishes and drinks with panoramic lake views at Beverly’s.
Day 3: Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course | Coeur d’Alene
Start the day with coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Vault Coffee, then head to the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.
The resort course plays 6,803 yards at par 71, laid out across four distinct landscapes: lakeshore, a forested ridge, rolling woodlands and Fernan Creek. Its main attraction is the famous 14th hole—a par-3 that has you tee off over water, then board a boat that ferries you out to the world’s first and only floating, movable green (its position and distance change daily). The lake stays in view from nearly every hole, and a forecaddie walks your group through the round (carts are required). Even the practice range incorporates the lake, built over the water and using floating golf balls. Plan on roughly four and a half hours for the round—the pace is part of the experience.
If you have time before heading to the airport, take a moment to reflect on your best shots over drinks and a bite—plus one last view of the lake—at The Floating Green Restaurant.
Extend Your Northern Idaho Golf Trip
Have an extra day or two? Here are three more courses within a little over an hour’s drive that are worth your time.
Galena Ridge Golf Course, Kellogg (~50 minutes from Coeur d’Alene)
Part of Silver Mountain Resort, Galena Ridge was planned as an 18-hole mountain course, but only the front nine was built. Today, it plays as a steep, cart-only nine-hole round of 3,600 yards with a par of 35, threading through wooded draws and offering sweeping views of the Silver Valley below. Don’t let the short yardage fool you. The elevation changes make it challenging, throwing off your distance reads and making you question club selection on several holes.
StoneRidge Golf Club | Blanchard (~55 minutes from Coeur d’Alene)
Tucked into the hills below Mt. Spokane, StoneRidge features terrain dotted with lakes and ponds, with trees spaced far enough apart that you never feel closed in. It plays 6,684 yards at par 71 and is a little friendlier than the more demanding courses earlier in the trip. The par-3 8th hole is the exception: a long downhill shot squeezed between a pond and a bunker, frequently cited as one of the toughest holes. A rare 19th “gambler’s hole” finishes the round, helping settle any bets.
The Idaho Club | Sandpoint (~1 hour, 15 minutes from Coeur d’Alene)
Set against Moose Mountain and the Lower Pack River near Lake Pend Oreille, The Idaho Club is Idaho’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature design. It plays 7,089 yards at par 71, with water in play on 16 of the 18 holes and long, forced carries over marshland. Its 4th hole is a deceptive, uphill par-3. Come up a little short on your drive, and the ball tumbles down a bank into the water below. Note: The course is semi-private, with limited public tee times available. Advanced booking is recommended.
Where to Stay
With three additional courses, you have three more reasons to stay an extra day. Speaking of staying, using Coeur d’Alene as your base camp puts every course on this trip within easy reach, making it the perfect place to post up. Find lodging options for your group.
Curious about tee times? Learn more how and when to book at golf courses around Idaho with this guide.
Published on August 25, 2026