Idaho

Part of what makes golf somewhat unattractive to the common man is what some would perceive as an elitist attitude towards the average player. We at HTF would normally agree with that sentiment. That was, however, before we ventured to a place you’d never expect to find and a place you’d be terribly remiss to pass over. It’s called Coeur D’Alene Resort.

The magnificent Coeur D'Alene Golf Resort

For easterners like us, Coeur D’Alene Idaho is well out of our (normal) scope. Of course, that “scope” was well before we decided to embark on this little journey of 10,000 km (8500 miles for our American friends - and we do mean “friends”).

It’s almost an anomaly to find this kind of oasis in this kind of place. Coeur D’Alene is in the middle of everything but not in the center of anything. You really need to know about this place before you venture. there.

We’re actually immersed into the entire experience full force, staying for two nights at the immaculate Coeur D’Alene Resort which may be the closest we will ever get to living like royalty. Twelve stories up, with a view we think may include British Columbia and some of Japan.

12 floors up, the HTF Idaho Control Center

For us, arrival at the golf course meant a short ten minute boat ride across the lake to the golf course where our clubs have been patiently waiting for us for two days (they fed them I’m hoping). next comes being assigned/given/presented with our very own caddy who, on this day, was named Brandon.

unknown golfer with our boy Brandon

The best part of having a caddy - we’ve discovered - is having someone to blame our collection of bad shots on. Brandon made a lot of bad calls and bad reads. (Before he got involved I think we were both something like 12 under par.) We actually kept Brandon entertained all day since I think we put balls in places on the course he’d never visited in his three years working at the course (you’re welcome).

What we quickly started to realize is that this course takes nothing for granted. Sure, it’s pristine - that was expected - but what sets this place apart and what makes it well worth the visit, is their attention to detail. There’s the floating green..

Shiny, Flying J, Andy, Drama and the infamous 14th hole

.. the fax machine on the ninth where your caddy places a food order to the clubhouse..

we called her Faxxy

.. the customized bag tags you get at the completion of the round; the tee dispensers on the carts; the ball and club washers on the custom carts (with tilt steering and heated seats); and the lakeside driving range where you shoot your balls into the lake (with floating driving range balls no less).

What you have to appreciate in all of this splendor is that none of these accoutrements come with a haughty attitude. Couer D’Alene is as welcoming to the average player (and we’re VERY average) as it is to the elite golfer (I’m simply assuming this since it’s like asking me the weather conditions on Mercury). As with everything we’ve encountered so far, it’s people that have made the difference, adding charisma, charm and character to a geographical and topographical wonder.

Drama talks to Brandon about the shot he's about to flub

Thanks to Bob, Andy, Brandon, Captain Mark and everyone else who made this journey into a worthwhile destination.

Thanks to two hard days driving we had a fairly easy day today getting to Idaho in just under four hours. While Illionis and Iowa were cornfields and South Dakota and Wyoming introduced us to big sky and farm land that would rival plots on the moon, Montana is huge valleys and high hills

Montana (I don't know the guy in front of us)

and Idaho

The van was whining worse than Drama so we stopped

is like sneaking through a house using trap doors and hidden passages. It actually reminds me of my drive through West Virginia with more turns than a daytime drama.

At the end of it all we found Couer D’Alene, a pristine lakeside town (and resort) already far exceeding our expectations in pretty much every way possible. Check out this room-with-a-view:

12th floor, corner

We had a chance to introduce ourselves and check out the golf course in the early afternoon (arriving early allows for all the set-up and background shots we can use later). Cool thing is that you have to take a boat over to the course (HAVE to) which was a great chance to chat up the people and a great opportunity to meet our driver Captain Mark who, we’re hearing is both an extreme skier and mountain bike animal.

Shiny, Captain Mark and Drama

Here’s a couple of shots from the course we need to (sigh) cover tomorrow. I thought Indianans would be hard to beat for hospitality but the Idahoans are giving them a great run already.

arrival on the dock (the samba band was on break)

The 14th tee. I'm actually going to throw my ball across the gap

Now we go eat, some place called something something Macaroni or Tony something something.

Oh and PS, Hi to my dog Toto. If you’ve learned to read since I’ve been away and have some sort of skills using a mouse, I miss you. Miss you lots, actually. I owe you about 58 miles of walks.