Golf Trips & Itineraries: The Perfect 3-Day Northern Idaho Golf Trip (Coeur d’Alene & Beyond)

Northwest Links
Aug 20
3 min read

Looking for your next Idaho golf trip? Coeur d’Alene is one of the best-kept secrets in Northwest golf — a destination where stunning lake views, small-town charm, and championship-caliber courses all come together. Within an hour’s drive, you can play three of the best golf courses in Idaho: the wilderness escape of Circling Raven Golf Club, the iconic Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course with its floating green, and the mountain beauty of The Idaho Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature design.

If you’ve got a long weekend to spare, here’s our ideal Coeur d’Alene golf itinerary — packed with 72+ holes of unforgettable golf, plus food and activities that make the trip complete.

Thursday Night – Arrival in Coeur d’Alene

Kick things off in downtown Coeur d’Alene, one of the most charming lake towns in the Northwest.

Where to stay: The Coeur d’Alene Resort if you want the full luxury lakefront experience, or downtown hotels and airbnbs for easier access to restaurants and nightlife.
What to do: Walk the world’s longest floating boardwalk and soak in your first sunset over Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Where to eat:
- Crafted Tap House – upbeat gastropub with a huge beer list.
- Dockside – relaxed dining with panoramic lake views.

Friday – Circling Raven (36 Holes of Wilderness Golf)

If you only play one Idaho course twice, make it Circling Raven Golf Club. Located 45 minutes south of Coeur d’Alene at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort, this Gene Bates design sprawls across 620 acres of Palouse hills, wetlands, and pine forest.

Morning round: Your first 18 introduces you to Circling Raven’s variety — wide fairways through open hills, tighter holes carved through trees, and dramatic wetlands that frame several greens. No houses. No distractions. Just pure golf.
Lunch: Recharge at the Twisted Earth Grill in the casino — great food, easy atmosphere.
Afternoon round: Take advantage of Circling Raven’s unbeatable replay rate and go back out. The course feels like an entirely new experience the second time around.

Why we love it: Circling Raven is wild, raw, and unlike anything else in the Northwest. It’s the definition of a bucket-list Idaho golf course — and the perfect way to start your trip.

Evening back in CDA: Dinner at Fire Pizza or The Bluebird, then head over to Crafted Tap House where every Friday night at 10pm turtle races are held between six legendary turtles, pick the winning turtle and get $1 beers!

Saturday – Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course (The Icon)

Today’s the splurge. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is one of the most famous courses in the country, and for good reason.

What makes it special: Immaculate conditioning, lakefront holes, and the legendary floating island green on the par-3 14th. From the floating driving range to service that feels straight out of Pebble Beach, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Afternoon: Expect to spend most of the day here — the course isn’t long, but it’s strategic, scenic, and Instagram-worthy on every hole.
Evening dining:
- Beverly’s – fine dining inside the resort with a nationally recognized wine list.
- Cedars Floating Restaurant – a true Coeur d’Alene classic, floating right on the lake.

Why Saturday? This is the heart of the trip — one round, big memories, and photos you’ll be bragging about for years.

Sunday – The Idaho Club (Mountain Golf, Nicklaus Style)

Cap off the trip with a drive to Sandpoint (about 45 minutes from CDA) for The Idaho Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course.

What to expect: A tighter, more technical layout with tree-lined fairways, forced carries, and elevation changes. It’s strategic, beautiful, and rewards patience.
Scenery: Nestled in the mountains near Lake Pend Oreille, The Idaho Club offers a completely different vibe than Circling Raven or CDA Resort — more intimate, more rugged, and pure Idaho.
Lunch in Sandpoint: Try MickDuff’s Brewing for local beer and hearty eats, or grab lakeside food before hitting the road.