In real estate, the cliché regarding a formula for success is “Location. Location. Location.” For golf courses it is “Weather. Weather. Weather.”
Bad weather means fewer golfers. And while bad weather is never good for golf courses, experiencing it during the early spring or fall “shoulder seasons” is particularly challenging as those are times when, with warm, dry conditions, courses can surpass budget forecasts if Mother Nature obliges.
Golf operators in the Inland Northwest were hammered by incredibly slow spring business this season due to nasty weather, making Circling Raven’s rebound and overall performance extremely impressive.
The acclaimed golf club will finish up nearly 10% year over year, thanks in part to increased tournament play and merchandise sales. It accomplished this while managing a robust slate of programs for juniors, couples, and Advantage and Player Development Card Members, and hosting a professional women’s golf tournament, providing stellar customer service, and garnering best-in-kind awards across multiple categories.
“It wasn’t easy, but that makes it all the more gratifying,” said David VonBrethorst, Circling Raven head golf professional. “It took the staff pulling together to overcome the early setback with hard, smart work. It was a true team effort.”
The golf club, an amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s casino resort, staged its second Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4, to rave reviews in late August. More than 100 of the world’s best women players – many of whom lavished praise on the course for its design, idyllic setting, and pristine turf conditions – competed for shares of the $200,000 prize purse and a leg up in their season-long quest to earn membership to the LPGA for next season (based on season-long, cumulative prize winnings).
“As always, our goal is to be a first-class golf club and amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel,” said Laura Penney, CEO, Coeur d’Alene Tribe member and an avid golfer. “To accomplish this despite inflation, poor spring weather, and the ongoing staffing challenge that all businesses are facing since the pandemic, is testament to our hard-working team and a superb golf operation and course.”
Related: Circling Raven Golf Club Appoints New Director of Golf and Head Superintendent
There’s good news for area golfers – Circling Raven won’t close until Oct. 30, barring unforeseen weather circumstances, and new, value-infused rates commence this week. To wit:
Oct. 6-16
- Single 18-hole rounds Monday through Thursday start at $89, $99 Friday through Sunday
- Stay-and-play packages start at $262 Monday-Thursday, $303 Friday through Sunday
Oct. 17-30
- Single 18-hole rounds on Monday-Sunday start at $55
- Stay-and-play packages start at $209 Monday-Thursday, $235 Friday through Sunday
Visit www.cdacasino.com/golf for more information on golf and other resort options.
About Circling Raven Golf Club and Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel
Owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Circling Raven is in the scenic Idaho panhandle approximately 55 minutes from Spokane International Airport (GEG). Measuring 7,189 yards from the rear tees, the 18-hole layout sprawls magnificently through 620 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and Palouse grasses. Its gleaming white sand bunkers are large and strategically placed and its hole variety ingenious. The course will host the Circling Raven Championship in August, a Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event.
Other Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel amenities and activities include the full-service Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced Sock-wock-en); 300 hotel rooms; bars, restaurants, lounges, and eateries; cultural immersion options; and more. The casino completed a $15 million renovation of its gaming floor and Events Center in 2019. Circling Raven has garnered numerous best-in-kind honors since opening, including being rated a Top 100 Resort Course, Best in State, and a Top U.S. Casino Course. Its golf shop has won national and regional awards for its excellence and its variety of products, displays, and performance.
