The 10 Best Golf Courses Near Spokane (2026 Guide)

The best golf courses near Spokane are Circling Raven in Worley, Idaho, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course and Palouse Ridge in Pullman. For value close to downtown, play Indian Canyon, a city course that has hosted three USGA championships.

The list at a glance

| # | Course | Location | Access | Distance | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Circling Raven Golf Club | Worley, ID | Public (resort) | about 35 mi | The region's top public test | | 2 | The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course | Coeur d'Alene, ID | Resort | about 35 mi | The floating green and a forecaddie | | 3 | Palouse Ridge Golf Club | Pullman, WA | Public | about 75 mi | Links-style golf on a day trip | | 4 | Indian Canyon Golf Course | Spokane, WA | Municipal | about 5 mi | History on a hilly canyon site | | 5 | The Idaho Club | Sandpoint, ID | Semi-private | about 90 min | A Nicklaus design for a weekend | | 6 | MeadowWood Golf Course | Liberty Lake, WA | Municipal | about 20 mi | Open, links-style county golf | | 7 | The Creek at Qualchan | Spokane, WA | Municipal | about 5 mi | Target golf with water in play | | 8 | Liberty Lake Golf Course | Liberty Lake, WA | Municipal | about 20 mi | Large greens and practice areas | | 9 | Downriver Golf Course | Spokane, WA | Municipal | about 5 mi | Spokane's oldest course | | 10 | Esmeralda Golf Course | Spokane, WA | Municipal | about 5 mi | Flat, early-season golf |

How we chose

Every course in the top 10 takes public tee times, confirmed on the course or operator website. We ranked them on published rankings, design history and the visitor experience, mixing resort and municipal golf. Facts were checked in October 2026; private clubs are listed separately.

1. Circling Raven Golf Club

Location: Worley, ID · Access: Public (resort) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Gene Bates (2003) · From downtown: about 35 miles

Circling Raven is the top-ranked public course near Spokane. Golf Digest's Best in State list for 2025-26 ranks it No. 6 in Idaho. GOLF Magazine's 2024-25 Idaho list puts it No. 4, the only public course in that top five.

The course belongs to the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort. It reaches 7,189 yards with a 144 slope from the back tees, so choose your tee carefully.

Around the greens: On a course this demanding, favor the side of the green that leaves a simple chip from short grass, and commit to a landing spot.

2. The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID · Access: Resort (public tee times) · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Designer: Scott Miller (1991) · From downtown: about 35 miles

This is the home of the floating 14th green, an island moved around Lake Coeur d'Alene by an underwater cable system. The hole plays from about 90 to 220 yards depending on the day and tee. Golf Digest's 2025-26 Best in State list ranks the course No. 7 in Idaho.

Every group gets a forecaddie, which makes it a strong special-occasion pick. Bentgrass covers the tees, fairways and greens.

Around the greens: Bentgrass around the greens gives you options; choose the lowest-risk shot, often a putter or bump-and-run, that reaches your landing zone.

3. Palouse Ridge Golf Club

Location: Pullman, WA · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: John Harbottle III (2008) · From downtown: about 75 miles

Palouse Ridge is Washington State University's course in Pullman, and WSU has scheduled the 2027 Pac-12 Championships there. Golf Digest's 2025-26 Best in State list ranks it No. 12 in Washington. WSU reports that Travel + Leisure Golf named it the world's ninth-best new course of 2008.

It stretches past 7,300 yards, and Harbottle built it with a links touch. It is a full-day trip, best for players who like open, strategic golf.

Around the greens: Ground-game architecture and some large greens make a bump-and-run that lands short of the surface the percentage play.

4. Indian Canyon Golf Course

Location: Spokane, WA · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Designer: H. Chandler Egan (designed 1930) · From downtown: about 5 miles

Indian Canyon is a city course with real championship history. It hosted the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 1941 and 1984 and the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in 1989.

The course has a 240-foot vertical drop. At 6,255 yards it plays longer than it looks.

Around the greens: Undulating greens on sloped ground mean few flat chips; read the slope first (see uphill and downhill chipping).

5. The Idaho Club

Location: Sandpoint, ID · Access: Semi-private (public tee times) · Designer: Jack Nicklaus (Signature course) · From downtown: about 90 minutes by car (the club's figure for Sandpoint)

The Idaho Club is Idaho's only Jack Nicklaus Signature course, and its website books public tee times alongside member times. Golf Digest's 2025-26 Best in State list ranks it No. 8 in Idaho. It is the longest drive on this list, so pair it with a night in Sandpoint.

Holes run below Moose Mountain and past wetlands along the Lower Pack River. It suits golfers planning a North Idaho weekend.

Around the greens: With wetlands in play, short-siding yourself is costly; miss to the wide side so your chip can release.

6. MeadowWood Golf Course

Location: Liberty Lake, WA · Access: Municipal (Spokane County) · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: Robert Muir Graves (1988) · From downtown: about 20 miles

MeadowWood is Spokane County's links-style course, designed by Robert Muir Graves and opened in 1988.

It suits golfers staying in Spokane Valley and mid-handicappers who want a fair, steady round.

Around the greens: The open, links-style ground rewards a low chip that lands early and runs, especially from a tight lie.

7. The Creek at Qualchan

Location: Spokane, WA · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 72) · From downtown: about 5 miles

Qualchan is a city course that plays as target golf. A creek winds through the property, and five ponds add water. It measures 6,559 yards from the back tees.

You hit to defined targets here rather than running the ball in. It suits players who like strategy and don't mind water.

Around the greens: Well-protected greens mean many chips must carry rough or sand; use a lofted club and land it just on.

8. Liberty Lake Golf Course

Location: Liberty Lake, WA · Access: Municipal (Spokane County) · Holes: 18 (par 70) · From downtown: about 20 miles

Liberty Lake was redesigned in 2008 and reopened in 2010 after a major renovation. It has white sand bunkers, large greens and separate chipping and putting areas.

The driving range was closed for construction early in 2026, so check its status before you go. Pair it with MeadowWood, also in Liberty Lake, for a two-course day.

Around the greens: Large greens make distance control the main test; spend ten minutes in the chipping area learning how far the ball releases.

9. Downriver Golf Course

Location: Spokane, WA · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Established: 1916 · From downtown: about 5 miles

Downriver is Spokane's oldest course, established in 1916. It sits beside the Spokane River and Riverside State Park.

At 6,130 yards it suits a relaxed morning or a group with mixed abilities.

Around the greens: A shorter course means more short approaches, so it is a good place to groove your stock chip and adjust only for visible slope.

10. Esmeralda Golf Course

Location: Spokane, WA · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 70) · Established: 1956 · From downtown: about 5 miles

Esmeralda is Spokane's most-played municipal course. Its flat fairways are lined with more than 2,000 trees. It measures 6,331 yards.

In 2026 it was one of the first two city courses to open, on March 2. It suits beginners, seniors and casual groups.

Around the greens: Flat approaches make roll-out predictable, so build a repeatable chip here (see where to land a chip shot).

Private clubs worth knowing

• Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club (Harrison, ID): Tom Fazio design, No. 1 in Idaho on Golf Digest's 2025-26 list. Member invitation required.
• The Golf Club at Black Rock (Coeur d'Alene, ID): Jim Engh design, No. 2 in Idaho on the same list. Member invitation required.
• CDA National (Coeur d'Alene, ID): Formerly The Club at Rock Creek, No. 4 in Idaho on that list. Member invitation required.
• Manito Golf and Country Club (Spokane, WA): A.V. Macan design that hosted the 1944 PGA Championship. Member invitation required.
• Kalispel Golf and Country Club (Spokane, WA): Founded in 1898 as Spokane Country Club. Members and Northern Quest Stay & Play guests only; no public tee times.

Tips for playing golf near Spokane

• Season: City courses opened between March 2 and March 12 in 2026. Circling Raven opened April 3 and closed for fall aerification September 14 to 16.
• Booking: In 2026, city courses took tee times up to 7 days ahead and county courses up to 12 days ahead. Book weekend mornings as soon as the window opens.
• Carts and walking: The Coeur d'Alene Resort includes a forecaddie with every round. If you prefer to walk elsewhere, ask about cart policy when you book.
• Cross the state line: Two of the top three are in Idaho. For more, see the best golf courses in Idaho and the best golf courses in Washington.
• Arrive early: On a new course, use our 15-minute pre-round routine to check green speed first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best public golf course near Spokane?

Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley, Idaho, about 35 miles from downtown, is the strongest public course near Spokane. Golf Digest ranks it No. 6 in Idaho for 2025-26, and GOLF Magazine ranks it No. 4 for 2024-25. The Coeur d'Alene Resort and Palouse Ridge follow.

What is the best municipal golf course in Spokane?

Indian Canyon is the best-known city course. H. Chandler Egan designed it in 1930, and it has hosted three USGA public links championships. For flatter, easier golf, Esmeralda is the city's most-played course. Spokane County also runs MeadowWood, Liberty Lake and Latah Creek.

Can the public play The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course?

Yes. The resort books tee times online and by phone, and Golf Digest lists the course as public. Each round includes a forecaddie for the group, plus the floating 14th green.

When is golf season near Spokane?

Spokane's city courses opened in early March in 2026, and county courses followed in mid-March. Circling Raven opened a little later, on April 3. Summer is peak season, and Circling Raven closed for aerification in mid-September.

How do I handle unfamiliar green speeds on a new course?

Ask the pro shop for the day's Stimpmeter reading, then roll a few chips on the practice green to confirm it. Faster greens need a shorter landing spot, slower greens a longer one. Our green speed guide explains how to adjust.

Find your landing zone on every green

From bentgrass resort greens on Lake Coeur d'Alene to busy city courses in Spokane, the greens on this list roll at very different speeds. Green speed changes where every chip should land, and it changes from course to course. ELZS (Essential Landing Zone Systems) turns three inputs, your distance to the hole, your club and the green speed, into the number of paces to land the ball so it rolls out to the hole. It was built by former teaching pro Chaz H. Smith and comes as an app for iOS and Android and as a waterproof pocket chartbook. Before your next round, ask the pro shop how fast the greens are running, then look up your landing zone and chip with a plan.

Download ELZS for iPhone · Get ELZS on Android · Learn how landing zones work