The Oldest Golf Course in Idaho: Hayden Lake Country Club (Est. 1907)
- Northwest Links
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
If you’re on the hunt for Idaho’s oldest golf course, set your sights on Hayden Lake Country Club. Tucked beside the crystal-clear waters of Hayden Lake, just north of Coeur d’Alene, this legendary track holds the title as the state’s first golf course - originally established in 1907 and expanded to a full 18 holes by 1912.
This isn’t just an old course - it’s a cornerstone of Pacific Northwest golf history. A place where presidents once vacationed, where generations have teed it up, and where the game still unfolds in a setting that feels frozen in time.
Lakeside Golf With a Story to Tell
The story of Hayden Lake Country Club starts in the early 1900s when the area was known more for steamboats and summer retreats than sand traps. The course grew out of the grounds surrounding the famed Bozanta Tavern, a grand resort destination that once hosted the likes of President Taft.
As the game of golf spread westward, Hayden Lake was quick to catch on. Locals and guests carved out a nine-hole course along the lake, using borrowed clubs and sand-greens. By 1912, it had become Idaho’s first full 18-hole course - making Hayden Lake Country Club the birthplace of serious golf in the Gem State.
And over a century later? It still feels like something out of a golden era.
Why Play Hayden Lake Country Club?
There’s something special about walking fairways that have seen over 100 years of swings. Hayden Lake is a private club, but those lucky enough to snag a tee time through an event or guest invitation will find a course that balances tradition and pure North Idaho beauty.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
Classic design: Tree-lined fairways, subtle doglegs, and well-placed bunkers challenge shotmaking without ever feeling tricked up.
Unbeatable setting: The front nine winds through mature pines, while the back nine hugs the lake’s edge, with views that stop you mid-swing.
Old-school vibes: From the understated clubhouse to the timeless layout, it feels like golf from another era—in the best way.
Signature hole: The par-4 16th is a postcard-perfect dogleg around the lake. Risk the corner with a bold drive, and you might be rewarded with a short wedge into a green just feet from the shoreline.
A Century of Northwest Golf Tradition
Hayden Lake Country Club may be private, but its influence extends far beyond its gates. It’s played host to:
Generations of prominent Northwest golfers
Countless amateur events and club championships
Historic gatherings that helped shape the regional golf scene
It’s not just a golf course—it’s a piece of Idaho’s sporting identity. And in a region where the game often shares space with wilderness and water, Hayden Lake set the template early.
Hayden Lake Country Club Fast Facts
Location: Hayden Lake, Idaho (just north of Coeur d’Alene)
Established: 1907 (full 18 holes by 1912)
Claim to Fame: Oldest golf course in Idaho
Style: Parkland layout with lakeside holes and towering pines
Planning a Trip to Northern Idaho?
If you’re visiting the Coeur d’Alene area—whether for the famed floating green at CDA Resort or just some summer mountain air—know that you’re walking on golfing ground shaped by Hayden Lake.
The region is packed with options:
Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course: Famous for its floating island green and lake views
Circling Raven Golf Club: A tribal-owned gem with wide fairways and big sky scenery
Avondale Golf Club: A more casual public option just down the road from Hayden Lake
Final Thoughts: The Heart of Idaho Golf Lives Here
In every state, there's that one course where the story begins. For Idaho, it’s Hayden Lake Country Club.
It’s quiet, it’s scenic, it’s old in the best way - and it’s still shaping golf in the Northwest more than a century later. Whether you get to play it or just admire its legacy from afar, HLCC is proof that timeless golf doesn’t need to be flashy.
Comments