Destination: Spokane and Idaho

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1 AUGUST 2011 Special Section SPECIAL SECTION: SPOKANE AND IDAHO Deer Park gets sold; Liberty Lake looks new Deer Park Golf Course gets sold to the city in an auction deal; Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane gets a completely new look. See Page 2 for more. Idaho Golf Trail: Plenty to like around the state There are a variety of courses to be found on the Idaho Golf Trail from the north part of the state to the south, including Coeur d Alene Resort (right). For more, see Page 3. Destination: Spokane and Idaho Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle have always been known for great golf - from public to private to resort. With courses like Palouse Ridge in Pullman (upper left), Indian Canyon in Spokane (upper right), Circling Raven in Worley, Idaho (left) and Liberty Lake near Spokane (near left), the area boasts a variety to courses to try. The area is accessible by car, plane and even train. And when you get to Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle, you will see some stunning and spectacular golf. There is plenty to see and even more to do if you love the outdoors in the area. For more please see inside this special section of Inside Golf Newspaper. Golf and travel: Pair to choose from There are several choices, when it comes to traveling around the Pacific Northwest, to play golf and stay for a few days. In the state of Washington, there are a couple on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains that offer golf and more. Desert Canyon (right) and Wine Valley (far right) are a couple of places that offer superb golf and more. In fact, Desert Canyon was recently sold, giving the resort a solid future. See inside for more.

2 Page 2 SPOKANE AND IDAHO Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 INSIDE THIS EDITION Deer Park gets some new owners; Liberty Lake re-model is a big hit The Tour Take a trip around the Spokane and the Idaho Panhandle this month in Inside Golf. There no shortage of quality golf in the area. Page 4. Three more to try Just north of Spokane are three more courses to tee it up at, including Dominion Meadows (below) in Colville, Deer Park and Chewelah. For more see Page 4. Bob Marlatt Publisher Steve Turcotte Editor-Advertising Kathy Marlatt Operations Manager Mailing Address P.O.Box 1890 Port Townsend, WA Phone (360) Fax: (360) Address InsideGolf@cablespeed.com When the Deer Park Golf Course went on the auction block, head professional Craig Schuh wasn t sure about job security. But when the city of Deer Park bought the course with the only bid, Schuh did the only things he could think of to do: He offered to run the course with a lease through the city. So far, so good. The 51-year-old Schuh, who hired on as the PGA head professional at Deer Park Golf Club when it first opened in 1996, remains in that position after agreeing to a 10-year lease of the course. His duties, however, have changed. I m doing pretty much the same thing I ve been doing for the last 15 years, said Schuh. I m just doing it, now, with my own money and that can be pretty stressful, not just for me but for the other 30 or so people who were working here when the course was sold. When Deer Park Golf Club s former ownership group, Warren Development, announced it was putting the golf course, adjoining RV park and housing development up for auction, Schuh figured his life might change. But he was hoping to stay on as the head professional under the new owner or owners so he wouldn t have to uproot his family. It turned out he got the chance to do just that. The RV park and housing development were both grabbed up by local investors, and the golf course was purchased by the city of Deer Park, which then went to work arranging a suitable lease with Schuh, who ended up buying all of the course s existing maintenance equipment and golf carts. Under his lease agreement, Schuh is responsible for all aspects of the golf course including its rate structures and the hiring and supervision of the maintenance and pro shop crews. He also oversees the operation of Divots Grill & Sports Bar in the clubhouse, which is still owned by the city, but from which Schuh receives all revenues. In putting together his staff, which could grow to more than 30 during the peak summer season, Schuh was quick to hire back course superintendent Jim Jensen, who has been at Deer Park since it first opened. He knows what he s doing, Schuh said of Jensen, so the condition of the course shouldn t change at all. And we re hoping to make it even better. After a year and half of being shut down, Liberty Lake Golf Course just outside of Spokane is open for business. And what a transformation the course has undergone. You might not even recognize the place, especially the front nine. The front nine was altered dramatically during the $6 million renovation, which the design team of Rick Phelps and Kevin Atkinson so imaginatively mapped out prior to the closing of the course and the start of construction work in September There were changes to the back nine, but nothing like the front nine. As part of the makeover, the once relatively flat terrain on which the course sits was mounded to create a more modern and refined look. All of the old greens were leveled to make room for 18 new bent-grass putting surfaces that average nearly 7,000 square feet in area almost 2,000 more than the ones they replaced. The new greens are huge and also feature an assortment of humps, bumps and other contours that will challenge the short games of golfers at all levels. And then there s the water lots of water that was added, along with 28 sand traps and about 30 new trees. The new water can be found on the front nine. The course features at least four sets of tee boxes on each hole and stretches to a formidable 6,607 yards from the tips, which is 234 yards longer that the old layout. The driving range was re-landscaped to mirror the mounded terrain of the course, and the inside of the clubhouse was also remodeled. About the only thing the folks from Phelps/ Atkinson didn t alter was par, which remains at an old-school 70. For information call Deer Park Golf Course Liberty Lake Golf Course Inside Golf Newspaper is a trademark of Northwest Publications, Inc. and is published on the first of each month.

3 Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 SPOKANE AND IDAHO Page 3 Idaho Golf Trail The Idaho Golf Trail features some of the top golf courses from north to south in state Now in its eighth year of play, the Idaho Golf Trail entices golfers to sample the best in Idaho golf. There are more than 100 golf courses statewide, and the golf trail features plenty of courses that you might have read about in national golf publications because of their quality, challenge and experience. The courses on the Idaho Golf Trail range from very good to worth-crossing-a-continent to play, said one golf connoisseur. The golf trail made up of 15 courses is organized into four loops the Northern Loop, Central Loop, Southern Loop and Eastern Loop. Because of the broad distances between the different regions of Idaho (many mountain ranges stand in the way of direct travel north-to-south), it s best to focus on one region at a time. Almost all of the courses on the Idaho Golf Trail are embraced by a resort, so it s possible to arrange accommodations and recreation activities as part of your stay. A golfer could play the Sun Valley course in the morning, fly fish for rainbow trout on the Wood River in the afternoon, and then take in an ice show at Sun Valley Lodge. Sun Valley, Banbury Golf Club, and Falcon Crest Golf Club comprise the Southern Loop of the trail. One could start out in the Boise area and hit Banbury and Falcon Crest, and then scoot up to Sun Valley (2.5 hours away) to finish off the southern loop. In Central Idaho, all four courses are in close proximity near McCall and New Meadows. The meticulously groomed Whitetail Club is a stone s throw from Payette Lake. Jug Mountain Ranch, nestled in the woods, is a gem and Meadow Creek, a pine forest layout, is about 30 minutes from Whitetail and McCall. Tamarack Resort Osprey Meadows is the fourth course in the rotation. In Northern Idaho, all four courses on the trail are located close together, near Coeur d Alene, Idaho, just 30 minutes from the Spokane, Wash., International Airport. The 18-hole course at the Coeur d Alene Resort offers a tantalizing chance to hit a clean iron onto a floating island green on Lake Coeur d Alene. You can play hide and go seek at Circling Raven, south of Coeur d Alene, where all of the nearby holes are hidden by wetlands and lush vegetation. Stone Ridge, near Spirit Lake, features multiple water hazards and sand trips. The University of Idaho course completes the group. The Eastern Loop consists of Teton Springs, Pinecrest and Teton Reserve. After completing the experience of playing all 14 courses on the Idaho Golf Trail, players may be just as impressed with the surrounding mountain and lake scenery as the golf experience itself. Players would travel along five scenic byways, four river corridors and three major lakes to experience the trail. For more information on the Idaho Golf Trail, see The Coeur d Alene Resort is part of the Idaho Golf Trail s Northern Loop. Whitetail Golf Club is part of the Idaho Golf Trail and has opened to the public.

4 Page 4 SPOKANE AND IDAHO Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 Take a look at Spokane s golf courses Golfers from around the Northwest have long known about the high quality of golf in and around Spokane. Not only are the courses superb but the prices are below any of the other metropolitan areas in the region. With the addition of courses like Circling Raven, StoneRidge and Priest Lake, the reputation is growing in national awareness in the Spokane area. The City of Spokane owns four popular courses in Indian Canyon, The Creek at Qualchan, Downriver and Esmeralda. They are all popular and for less than $30, all are affordable. Any place else, those courses would be over $50 or even higher in some cases. Spokane County, the other municipal course owner, has Hangman Valley, MeadowWood and Liberty Lake, that are excellent courses that can be played for under $35. In fact, Liberty Lake underwent a year and a half re-model and looks new with a re-designed front nine and new tees, greens bunkers and a new irrigation system. Here s a quick look at the Spokane courses and what you face when you tee it up in the Inland Empire: Indian Canyon: At 6,255 yards might appear, on paper at least, to be The Creek at Qualchan is owned by the city of Spokane and features a layout that gets your attention right from the first tee box. an easy course, but with tight fairways, major elevation changes and bunkerguarded greens, it s anything but easy. Indian Canyon continues to be one of the top courses in the Northwest. The Creek at Qualchan: This course gets your attention right out of the gate with it s elevation changes, tight dog-legs and greens that can be protected by water, numerous bunkers are sculpted into the sides of steep hills. Esmeralda: A popular course for the locals, it plays to 6,250 yards. Over 65,000 rounds are played each year at the course they call Essie. Downriver: One of the most popular in-town courses. Downriver s fairways are dwarfed by century-old pine trees that makes playing amongst them seem almost surreal. Hangman Valley: Course got its name from the infamous 1858 Battle of Steptoe when U.S. Soldiers captured Native Americans and hanged 13 chiefs. The course opened in 1969 and features some great par-5 holes. Like so many of the other courses in the area, elevation changes and tall trees play a significant part in this challenging course. Deer Park, Dominion Meadows and Chewelah offer fun golf If you have played all the courses you want in the Spokane area, take a look to the north and you will see a trio to try. Chewelah Golf Course, Deer Park Golf Course and Dominion Meadows in Colville are all located north of Spokane and all are good alternatives when you are heading north of Spokane in search of even more golf to play. Here s a look at all of the courses: Chewelah, which sits an hour north of Spokane, opened a new nine holes for play eight years ago. Spokane architect Keith Hellstrom designed the first 18 holes while the new nine was penned by Jim Kraus. In addition, a new clubhouse was built and opened in Not bad for a town which has just 2,000 residents and needed volunteer labor and materials to get the original nine holes opened more than 25 years ago. The course was owned by the U.S. Department of Natural Resources before being sold to club members in There s plenty to like, including the narrow, tree-lined fairways and well conditioned greens. The course has made some changes in the past few months that have proven popular so far. The right side of the 10th hole, a par-4, has been cleared out of trees and brush allowing the fairway to be widened from 20 yards to 60 yards. Some tee boxes have been leveled, especially some ladies tee boxes. Deer Park is one of the newest courses in the area, having opened for play in Located less than a halfhour north of Spokane, Deer Park features an RV park next the golf course. The course plays to nearly 6,700 yards and with the terrain being relatively flat, golfers enjoy the option to walk. The course was designed by Hellstrom, who made sure that sand and water came into play. The RV resort has been upgraded and director of golf Craig Schuh says that people enjoy the chance to park the RV s and stay while taking in some golf at Deer Park. The city bought the course at an auction earlier this year and Schuh is now the man running the show with a lease through the city. Dominion Meadows used to be called Colville Elks and opened in Nine holes have been recently added. The old nine plays through trees while the new nine offers a more links-style setting. The course plays to 6,743 yards from the back tees and offers plenty of sand, water and wetlands along the way. The course is owned and operated by the Elks Club. Chewelah Golf Course

5 August Issue Inside Golf SPOKANE AND IDAHO Page 5 Spokane: MeadowWood is one tough golfing challenge MeadowWood: Designed by the legendary golf architect Robert Muir Graves, who made his mark in golf course design by producing difficult, but fair, courses. This is one of the top challenges in the area and was awarded four stars by Golf Digest magazine. It sits across the street from Liberty Lake Golf Course. Liberty Lake: The course received a face-lift a few years ago but recently underwent a major rebuild. Liberty Lake was closed for more than a year and a major redesign brought in a new look for the course, including ponds, bunkers, tees and more. A new set of tees was added to virtually every hole and new trees were brought in. Fescue was planted on the front side. A new irrigation system was also added and will keep the course in terrific shape year round. Wandermere: The course opened the first 9 holes in 1931 and boasts one of the largest memberships in the region. While the overall design is dated some holes have been updated. Sundance: Located away from the downtown Spokane area, Sundance is a perfect place for beginners. It measures 5,900 yards and presents a flat terrain. Fairways at West Terrace: Located in Cheney, winds are usually the biggest challenge at this course, which measures 6,390 yards. A goal post is located in the middle of the driving range, providing an interesting target when practicing. Trail Head at Liberty Lake: Executive-length golf course near MeadowWood and Liberty Lake golf course. A relatively flat course that measures just over 2,000 yards with multiple tees. Painted Hills: Bought by the McElhinny family in 2006, the Painted Hills Golf Course was built in 1989 originally as a nine-hole championship golf course. Since then Chester Creek Par 3 has been added to the property. Pineacres: One of the most popular places for golfers in the Spokane area to practice. The course is short, at 970 yards and is a par 27. Manito Country Club: Manito is one of the oldest courses in the Pacific Northwest, having opened for play in The course has hosted some of the biggest events in the Pacific Northwest and hosted the 1945 PGA Championship. Spokane Country Club: Opened in 1911, the course is the third-oldest in the Pacific Northwest after Tacoma Country and Golf Club and Waverly Country Club. Course hosted the first-ever U.S. Women s Open in Indian Canyon (top) and MeadowWood are two quality choices in Spokane to try. Palouse Ridge: Award-winning course weaves through WSU For decades, Pullman had a nine-hole golf course, which was probably better than no golf at all. For an 18-hole test, golfers played the University of Idaho course in Moscow. The strongest tracks were found up north, most recently at highly acclaimed Circling Raven in Worley, Idaho and the Coeur d Alene Resort in nearby Coeur d Alene, Idaho. Now Washington State, in a development similar to its basketball team, has gone from weak to great with the new Palouse Ridge Golf Course, a championship layout that weaves through rolling hills east of campus which opened two years ago and is an award winner. Palouse Ridge is being favorably compared to Circling Raven. The course will severely test low-handicappers but will also be hacker friendly. It plays 7,335 yards from the back, or crimson tees; 6,738 yards from the blue tees; and 6,216 yards from the gray tees. The women s tees range from 5,591 to 5,113 yards. How good is Palouse Ridge? So good that it was ranked among the best new courses for 2008 by all major golf publications. When he first surveyed the 315-acre site, that includes the property from the old nine-hole course, Harbottle was pessimistic. It was so steep and hilly that it looked like jobs he d had in Japan, jobs that were difficult. On second impression, the more he walked around, it didn t seem so bad. And now he s pleased with how it all turned out. Galena Ridge: New course in Kellogg, Idaho set in mountains The brand new Galena Ridge Golf Course at Silver Mountain Resort made its debut in June 2010 in Kellogg, Idaho. Tucked into the hills above Kellogg, Galena Ridge is a mountain course masterpiece. The course was created by John Thronson to provide golfers of all abilities stunning mountain views with an enjoyable golf experience. Several of the first nine holes drop well over 120 feet from tee to green, including a 506-yard par-4 that drops 235 feet. The first nine is open for play. When the entire 18 holes are finished, the course will have elevation changes in excess of 450 feet, meandering over 350 acres of golf course. After nearly four years of development and construction, 9 of the planned 18 holes were ready for play in June The course is open to the public and walkins are welcome. The design work for the remaining holes is nearing completion and construction is expected to commence within the next two years. The formal opening of our new golf course is an important milestone in our resort development, said Jeff Colburn, Silver Mountain Resort general manager. Just five years ago, the Silver Mountain base consisted of a gondola upload station adjacent to a parking lot. For more information or to schedule a tee time, please call (208) A virtual tour of Galena Ridge Golf Course is available at silvermt.com.

6 Page 6 SPOKANE AND IDAHO Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 Idaho s Panhandle Resort and public golf courses are all over the place when playing in the area Idaho s Panhandle is becoming home to more than just great scenery and outdoor experiences the area is also the home to some of the state s best golf courses. Just a short drive east of Spokane, sits a variety of golf courses that will test your golf game and provide you with several different styles of courses. From the semiprivate Avondale Golf Club to the public Coeur d Alene Golf Club, you have choices to make. Circling Raven is Worley, is located less than an hour drive from Coeur d Alene. Avondale: The course opened in 1968 with nine holes. It is semiprivate and still open for public play. Seven years ago, the course underwent a $2 million remodel project and was actually closed for nearly a year. Circling Raven: The newest course in the area opened for play five years ago in Worley, Idaho about a halfhour south of Coeur d Alene. The course is owned by the Coeur d Alene Indian Tribe and was part of a $30 million expansion project by the tribe that includes new hotel rooms and more. The course plays to 7,189 yards from the tips and is spread out over 400 acres. Adjacent to the course is the Coeur d Alene Casino Resort Hotel. Coeur d Alene Golf Club: Long Coeur d Alene Resort before the resort came along, the Coeur d Alene Golf Club was a fixture on the landscape. The course opened in 1957 and is popular with the locals. Not a bad place for the visitors, too. Coeur d Alene Resort: Worldfamous resort opened for play in 1991 and has been ranked among the top resorts in the world. Course is known for Priest Lake Golf Course in northern Idaho has a new look after some re-modeling.

7 August Issue Inside Golf SPOKANE and Idaho Page 7 Idaho s Panhandle: Variety is the word many things, but two things continually stand out: The condition of the course and the Floating Green. The condition of the course is considered among the best in the country, and the Floating Green is always an attraction. The par-3 green can be floated anywhere from 100 to 185 yards from land and golfers ride a boat to the green. A major re-modeling project added length to the course a few years ago. While the Floating Green gets most of the attention, there are several other outstanding holes at this resort course. The Idaho Club: The resort, located in Sandpoint, underwent some dramatic changes four years ago and is now a Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Three new holes were introduced. New holes replaced existing holes on the first, 17th and 18th hole. In addition, the 10th hole became a dogleg par-4 with water near the green. There is lodging available on site and plenty of other outdoor activities, which makes sense since Lake Pend Oreille is nearby with a variety of opportunities for boating, fishing and more. The original rustic clubhouse burned down in December of Highlands: Course opened 20 years ago and features some terrific scenic views. The 16th hole is a standout and is memorable. The hole is a 322-yard par-4 and is considered the signature hole of the course. The fairway is lined with trees and rises to a ridge. At the top of the ridge you can see all kinds of trouble on the way to the green, things like The Idaho Club, formerly called Hidden Lakes, has taken on a new look after a re-model project was designed by Jack Nicklaus. bunkers, water, mounds and trees. The course removed the country club part of its name to avoid confusion a few years ago. StoneRidge: When the owners of StoneRidge Golf Course, located about a half-hour from Coeur d Alene in the town of Blanchard, decided to make some changes to the golf course, they didn t want a quick fix. Instead, they shut down the golf course for more than a year to come up with the kind of changes they wanted. Nine re-opened seven years ago and the second nine shortly after. There are new tee boxes, new greens, new sand traps, new ponds, new cart paths... just about everything is new. The $3 million project gave the course the kind of face-lift the owners, Bridge Partners, hoped for. And the golfers in the NW have liked what they have seen. Priest Lake: Course located on the upper Idaho Panhandle has a new look after opening a new nine in 2002 and re-doing the original nine in The entire course is now re-opened. Outdoor enthusiasts will like the place even more since it sits near Priest Lake, complete with all of the water sports you would expect. Twin Lakes: Course is located in a residential community in Rathdrum, Idaho, about an hour s drive from Spokane. It plays to 6,277 yards with is a completely different look on the front and back nines. The club is semiprivate as homeowners own the course. It is open to the public and green fees are $30 weekdays and weekends.

8 Page 8 3 SPOKANE AREA 1. Chewelah Golf Club 18 holes, 6,486 yards Chewelah, Public 2. Deer Park Golf Club 18 holes, 6,690 yards Deer Park, Public 3. Dominion Meadows 18 holes, 6,743 Colville, Public 4. Creek at Qualchan 18 holes, 6,596 yards 5. Downriver Golf Course 18 holes, 6,130 yards 6. Esmeralda Golf Course 18 holes, 6,249 yards 7. Hangman Valley 18 holes, 6,901 yards 8. Indian Canyon 18 holes, 6,255 yards 9. Liberty Lake Golf Course 18 holes, 6,398 yards Liberty Lake, Public 10. Manito Country Club 18 holes, 6,378 yards Spokane, Private 1 Washington State Courses in or close to Spokane City limits Creek at Qualchan Downriver Esmeralda Hangman Valley Indian Canyon Liberty Lake Manito CC MeadowWood Painted Hills Spokane CC Sundance Trail Head Courses in and around Spokane Courses in Spokane and Idaho s Panhandle Painted Hills Golf Club 9 holes, 3,239 yards 13. Spokane Country Club 18 holes, 6,679 yards Spokane, Private 14. Sundance Golf Course 18 holes, 5,960 yards 15. Trail Head at Liberty Lake 9 holes, 2,072 yards Liberty Lake, Public 16. Wandermere Golf Course 18 holes, 6,108 yards 17. Fairways at West Terrace 18 holes, 6,398 yards Cheney, Public 18. Palouse Ridge 18 holes, 7,300 yards Pullman, Public IDAHO PANHANDLE 19. The Idaho Club 18 holes, 6,655 yards Sandpoint, Public 20. StoneRidge Golf Club 18 holes, 6,522 yards Blanchard, Public 21. Twin Lakes Golf Club 18 holes, 6,277 yards Rathdrum, Public SPOKANE AND IDAHO August Issue Inside Page Golf Idaho State 23. The Highlands Golf Club 18 holes, 6,369 yards Post Falls, Public 24. Avondale Golf Club 18 holes, 6,573 yards Hayden Lake, Public 25. Coeur d Alene Golf Club 18 holes, 6,295 yards Coeur d Alene, Public 26. Coeur d Alene Resort 18 holes, 6,804 yards Coeur d Alene, Public 27. Club at Black Rock 18 holes, 7,130 yards Coeur d Alene, Private 28. Gozzer Ranch 18 holes, 7,143 yards Harrison, Private 29. Kellogg Country Club 9 holes, 3,042 yards Pinehurst, Public 30. Galena Ridge 9 holes, 3617 yards (will be 18) Kellogg, Public 31. Circling Raven 18 holes, 7,189 yards Worley, Public 32. Priest Lake 18 holes, 5,697 Priest Lake, Public Whitetail Club & Resort 18 holes, 7,140 McCall, Public Alta Lake and Rock Island GC: Two courses you might want to play in Central Wash. Alta Lake in Pateros, Wash. is a place all it s own...nowhere else will you feel more at home. Only three hours from Seattle, Alta Lake is where golfers come to play all the golf they want. For many, Alta Lake is a tradition that spans decades and is passed down from generation to generation. Alta Lake Golf Resort began in 1974 as a nine-hole course with giant greens and a tiny motel tucked away on the side of a mountain. This same little hidden treasure is what the Barth family fell in love with when we came to visit 10 years later. Twenty-five years have passed since the Barths arrived and much has changed. Alta Lake now boasts 18 unique and challenging holes as well as a 30-room motel. Alta Lake Golf Resort was founded on family and this continues to be the driving force. Don Barth and the Barth family bought the course have made plenty of improvements through the years. Barth has owned Alta Lake since 1984 and added a 30-room motel - making the place even more popular. People have to make reservations a year in advance to make sure they get the room they want, said Barth. People come here and just fall in love with the place. The sister course at Rock Island is located just outside East Wenatchee and boasts 18 brand new or revamped holes. Watch out for its signature hole, #13. It s a dogleg with a huge water hazard. Ask about joint memberships and dual-course deals. Rock Island is now the real deal, measuring over 7,200 yards from the tips. The original nine opened in 1973, but flooded, forcing a new nine to be built in And the new holes have been opened this year, giving Rock Island 18 holes to play. And the price is right. It costs just $27 on weekends and $24 on weekdays. It s a big, big track now, said Barth. People will get their money s worth. And it s a great walking course. Also, Desert Canyon is now part of the Barth-owned facilities as well after Barth and two partners Randy and Lynn Anderson bought the resort this summer. 11. MeadowWood Golf Course 18 holes, 6,874 yards 22. Prairie Falls Golf Course 9 holes, 3,500 yards Post Falls, Public Rock Island Golf Course

9 Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 GOLF AND TRAVEL Page 9 Desert Canyon Central Washington course gets sold to owner of Rock Island and Alta Lake courses Desert Canyon Golf resort in Orondo, Wash. now has a new life thanks to Don Barth. Barth, who owns Rock Island Golf Club south of Wenatchee and Alta Lake Resort in Pateros, Wash. has purchased Desert Canyon giving the Central Washington resort a bright future. Desert Canyon Resort opened in 1993 amid rave reviews. The course was in just about every top 10 list and the Jack Frei design was a place that people on the west side of the Cascade Mountains ventured to play on a regular basis. But through the years, the course ran into financial troubles. Some of those troubles seemed fixed when the owners of Homestead Farms bought Desert Canyon in Homestead Golf (the owners of Homestead Farms Golf Club) built a new hotel and added condo units along the golf course to make it a complete destination getaway. But Homestead Golf suffered through some financial problems and looked to sell Desert Canyon. A deal was put together with Barth and his partners Randy and Lynn Anderson. The price was not announced. Mark Rhodes, the head professional at Desert Canyon, is excited about the change of ownership and the possible changes in the works. Rhodes said some of the first plans call for an elimination of the cross-fairway waste areas on two of the holes on the Desert Nine (front nine) and convert them to grass. The sixth hole, the award-winning par-5, is expected to have its fairway widened giving golfers a better chance to keep the ball in the fairway. Desert Canyon is a true desert golfing experience, located on a bluff above the Columbia River. In fact, the view from the par-5 sixth green gives a look far down the valley and the Columbia River. The course has five sets of tees and has plays to 7,000 yards. There is also a putting course, which takes on the look of the championship course. It s a good way to either get ready for a round or something right after. On-site Accommodations allow golfers to enjoy the desert in spring, summer, fall and winter! The Desert Canyon Golf Resort offers luxury suites with living rooms, spacious bedrooms, and full kitchens completely supplied with all you need to make the lodge your home for a night or an extended stay. All accommodations are beautifully furnished with the finest amenities including a flat screen television in the living room and bedroom of every suite. Come relax in the peace and quiet of the desert. One, two and four bedroom units are available. For more information on Desert Canyon and what it has to offer, call the course at or see Desert Canyon Golf Resort in Orondo, Wash. is under new ownership after a recent sale.

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11 Inside Golf - August Issue 2011 GOLF AND TRAVEL Page 11 Destination: Wine Valley Golf Club Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla has quickly moved to the top of the mustplay list for all golfers. Now ranked number two in Golfweek s Best Courses You Can Play in Washington State and recently added to Golfweek s Top 100 Modern Courses - quite a feat for such a young course. But the honors don t stop there. Wine Valley Golf Club is hosting, for the second year in a row, the Northwest Open in August and has hosted the WSGA Men s/men s Senior Best-Ball this year and the WAGA Mid-Amateur last year. And we are very excited about being awarded the Pacific Northwest Amateur for 2012, says John Thorsnes, Wine Valley s Director of Golf. When asked why Wine Valley has gotten so far in the golf world so quickly, John responds, I believe it is a combination of things ~ a great layout, perfect course conditions, fun to play for all levels of golfers, great value for your money and in a cool town with great wine. Here at Inside Golf, we believe that all of this is true because we have heard it from many who have experienced Wine Valley Golf Club. Wine Valley Golf Club has achieved the very difficult ~ make the course a challenge for the low handicappers but also make it fun for the golfers playing from the forward tees. We know Wine Valley has done it in spades by just seeing all the smiles when golfers finish their rounds. Thorsnes says that the town of Walla Walla has contributed to the success of Wine Valley Golf Club. Located in the southeastern corner of the state, it has become one of the premier wine destinations in the United States. And now you can pair fine wine touring and tasting with fine public-access golf. The quaint college town has a lot to offer, including all kinds of events and festivals, great restaurants and bars, art galleries and shops and, best of all, old-fashioned hospitality. As a matter of fact, Walla Walla has just been announced Friendliest Small Town in America by Rand McNally. There is a nice choice of accommodations, from the Holiday Express to wonderful Bed and Breakfasts to the beautifully restored Marcus Whitman in downtown Walla Walla. Wine Valley Golf Club offers a variety of Stay and Play packages. To learn more, visit WineValleyGolfClub.com or call the Wine Valley Golf Shop at or golfinfo@winevalleygolfclub.com. Now ranked number two in Golfweek s Best Courses You Can Play in Washington State and recently added to Golfweek s Top 100 Modern Courses - quite a feat for such a young course. Wine Valley started receiving awards when it opened for public play two years ago.

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