Superintendent Kal Zaranec Joins Elite Ranks of CGCS Professionals

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel is proud to announce that Kal Zaranec, Superintendent at its award-winning Circling Raven Golf Club, has earned his Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) accreditation from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. 

To achieve this designation, superintendents must qualify as an applicant by satisfying specific education and experience requirements. They must then successfully complete a rigorous examination and submit to a peer evaluation of the golf course facility. 

“Circling Raven Golf Club is fortunate to have one of the approximately 1,000 Certified Golf Course Superintendents,” said J. Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “Attaining certification demonstrates Mr. Zaranec’s desire for personal advancement and a wish to provide [Circling Raven] with the best playing conditions possible. His willingness to be judged by the standards of fellow professionals and to assume a position of leadership in the game of golf should be commended.”

Related – The Ins and Outs of Getting Certified: Why CGCS Still Matters in 2026

Zaranec became the head superintendent at Circling Raven in 2022. Prior to his promotion he was first assistant. This is the second major industry education program he has completed since taking the helm on all things agronomic at the golf club. He graduated from the EXCEL Leadership Program presented by Nufarm and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) in 2024. Zaranec was one of six graduates recognized for completing the 3-year program.

“The program is designed to challenge you, identify your weaknesses, and provide a clear path for continued growth and development. That process has made me a better Golf Course Superintendent and a stronger leader,” Zaranec said. “I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the leadership team at Circling Raven Golf Club and the Coeur d’Alene Casino for their support and for allowing me the time and opportunity to pursue and achieve this designation.  It’s great to have a leadership team that values continuing education and professional growth.”

Circling Raven Director of Golf Don Rasmussen, PGA, views Zaranec as a crucial component of the operation – both on and off the course.

“Kal’s leadership has become one of the cornerstones of Circling Raven’s success. His commitment to excellence, transparent communication, proactive planning, and genuine care for both the golf course and his team consistently produce outstanding results. He exemplifies the values of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and our casino resort hotel operation through his integrity, collaboration, and unwavering dedication to providing our guests with an exceptional golf experience every day.”

Opened in 2003, Circling Raven’s many accolades garnered include Best Public Course in Idaho, Top 20 U.S. Casino Course, and Top 100 Resort Course. It hosted the LPGA’s Epson Tour for three years (2021-23) through which top women golf professionals from around the world unanimously praised the course conditions and its design (by golf course architect Gene Bates).

For more information, visit www.cdacasino.com/golf or call 800-523-2464.

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, the source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $37.5 million to education in the region since it opened. The property features 300 rooms and suites, eight distinct food and beverage venues, entertainment events (concerts, MMA fight nights, etc.), and hands-on tours and experiences through the casino’s Cultural Tourism Program. Three $1-million-dollar winners have found their luck in the 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high-stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa voted 1st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 championship layout. LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino and Circling Raven, visit www.cdacasino.com.