The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course: Course Review and Playing Guide
Par: 71 | Yardage: 6,803 (tips) | Designer: Scott Miller (1991) | Type: Resort (guests and public) | Green Fee: $200–$250 | Walking: Cart included with forecaddie
The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course occupies a narrow corridor of land along the eastern shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene in the Idaho panhandle. Scott Miller designed the course in 1991 as a companion to the resort that Duane Hagadone built on the lake's northern shore, and the result is a layout that uses the lake, the surrounding evergreen forests, and the Bitterroot Mountain backdrop to create a setting that is visually striking in a manner distinct from anything else in American resort golf. The course is known primarily for its floating green on the 14th hole, an engineering novelty that moves on a cable system to vary the playing distance from day to day. That feature generates attention and has defined the course's public identity since opening day. Whether the floating green constitutes architecture or spectacle is a question the course answers by offering 17 other holes that function on conventional ground and collectively build a case for the design's substance.
The Design Story
Miller was tasked with routing a golf course through terrain that was heavily wooded, moderately hilly, and bordered on multiple holes by the lake itself. The property does not possess the width or the openness typical of mountain resort courses. Instead, the holes move through evergreen corridors that frame views of the lake and mountains in carefully composed sequences. The design aesthetic is more garden than wilderness. The conditioning is meticulous, the landscaping is deliberate, and the presentation of each hole suggests that nothing has been left uncontrolled.
This approach has drawn criticism from architecture purists who prefer courses that reveal their terrain in a less curated fashion. The criticism has some merit. The Coeur d'Alene Resort course is a designed experience in the fullest sense, from the mahogany forecaddie boats that transport players to the floating green to the manicured flower beds that border several tees. The question is whether that curation diminishes the golf. On balance, it does not. The holes themselves present genuine strategic questions, the green complexes are well-contoured, and the routing makes intelligent use of elevation change within its constrained acreage.
How the Course Plays
The course measures just under 6,803 yards from the back tees, shorter than most modern resort designs. The par of 71 reflects the inclusion of three par 3s and two par 5s on each nine, a configuration that creates a varied rhythm. The shorter total yardage is offset by tight fairways, well-positioned hazards, and greens that are more complex than the course's groomed appearance might suggest.
The opening holes move through forest with the lake visible through gaps in the tree line. The 3rd and 4th provide the first direct engagement with the water, and the lake remains a presence through the middle portion of the round. The front nine rewards accuracy over distance, and the golfer who keeps the ball in play will consistently find reasonable approach angles.
The back nine begins with a transition through higher ground before descending toward the lake for the celebrated 14th. The hole plays as a par 3 ranging from 95 to 175 yards depending on where the floating green has been positioned for the day. A forecaddie accompanies the group on a mahogany boat to the green, and the experience is theatrical in a way that no other hole in American golf replicates. The green itself is a legitimate putting surface, not a gimmick, and the shot required to hit it varies meaningfully based on the day's distance and the wind coming off the lake. Whether a golfer finds this charming or excessive depends on temperament, but the engineering achievement is genuine.
The holes following the 14th are among the strongest on the course. The 15th is a par 4 that plays along the lakeshore with water tight to the right side, and the 17th is a par 3 that plays across a cove with mountains framing the green. The finishing holes return to higher ground and conclude at a green positioned near the resort, completing a routing that balances spectacle with substantive golf through its final stretch.
What the Green Fee Purchases
The green fee of $200 to $250 includes a cart, a forecaddie, and access to the resort's practice facilities. The forecaddie model is integral to the experience. Every group is accompanied by a forecaddie who provides yardage, reads greens, and manages the boat transport to the floating green. The service level is consistent and professional, and it contributes to a pace of play that is well-managed despite the course's attractions drawing attention at multiple points during the round.
The course does not host PGA Tour events, and its competitive pedigree is limited compared to other courses at this price point. What it offers instead is an experience that is unique in American golf. No other course combines lakeside mountain scenery, meticulous resort conditioning, and an engineering feature like the floating green into a single round. For golfers who value the total experience of a round rather than strict architectural merit, the green fee purchases something that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
The Coeur d'Alene complete golf guide covers additional playing options in the region, including Circling Raven, which offers a contrasting and more expansive style of mountain golf.
Practical Considerations
Spokane International Airport, approximately 30 miles west of Coeur d'Alene, is the primary arrival point. The drive east on I-90 takes roughly 35 minutes and follows the Spokane River valley into the lake region. The resort itself sits on the lake's northern shore in the town of Coeur d'Alene, and the transition from airport to resort is efficient.
The golf season runs from April through October, with peak conditions from June through September. Summer temperatures in the Idaho panhandle are warm but rarely extreme, and the lake moderates the climate. Afternoon breezes off the water can affect play, particularly on the exposed lakeside holes. Morning tee times tend to provide calmer conditions.
The resort is a self-contained destination with lodging, dining, spa, and lake activities that make it suitable for groups that include non-golfers. The Coeur d'Alene destination guide covers the full range of options. The golf course is the primary draw, but the lake and the surrounding landscape provide a setting that sustains a multi-day visit beyond the time spent on the course.