COURSE PROFILE INTERVIEW: Circling Raven Golf Club

What You Need To Know: Circling Raven Golf Club

An Insightful Interview With Christopher A Runyan, PGA, Director of Golf Operations, Circling Raven Golf Club

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Christopher A Runyan, PGA who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Nestled among wetlands, woodlands and Palouse grasses, Circling Raven offers a beautiful and at times challenging landscape for golf enthusiasts. Circling Raven Golf Club's 18-hole course sprawls out over a majestic 620 acres. The golf course was designed by Gene Bates to both challenge and entertain golfers.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
It has the same sprawling meadow look as Erin Hills, and the opening hole felt like the par 5 version of the first at Prairie Dunes in Kansas. In both cases, these comparisons? They're a good thing.
My favorite rounds are often ones that traverse multiple landscapes. I often tell people the reason I like Bandon Trails so much is because its land is more unique than the other Bandon Courses. Instead of just ocean links-land you start in the dunes, work your way through meadows, and up into coastal forests before coming back again.
But you don't really get a sense for what the course is truly going to give you until after you duck in a tunnel off the first green and head to the second hole.
Circling Raven gives you a similar experience. You start out in sprawling meadow farmland, while weaving in and out of forests, and finishing with some wetlands on the back nine. These different types of terrain lend itself well to unique and memorable holes - which Circling Raven is full of.
Circling Raven is the antithesis of the more well-known Coeur d'Alene Resort with the floating green.
While that course feels very tight at times, and sits on a relatively small piece of lakefront property, Circling Raven is big.
It resides on over 600 acres, and it feels like it. Some golf courses just have a presence, and from the moment you stand on the first tee Circling Raven gives you that feeling of a big, bold course.
Being out here feels like a high-end private club. It had some Ballyneal vibes, where you're out there and the only thing that matters is golf.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
You can play Circling Raven with a draw or a fade; you just better know how to aim and know your distances.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
Several updates are planned for the near future, but nothing scheduled at this time.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
#1 Public Course in Idaho, Golfweek Magazine, 2023
#1 Golf Course in Idaho, GolfPass Members, 2023
#1 Voted the Best Idaho Course, Golf Advisor's Golfer's Choice, 2022
#1 Golf Course in Idaho That You Can Play, Golfweek Magazine, 2022
America's Greatest Courses, Golf Digest, 2022

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
No. 15, par 4. It's just a beautiful straightaway hole that has so many elements of what makes Circling Raven unique-forest lining the fairway on both sides, a bit of open meadow behind the green, distant mountain views, and plenty of challenge. It's nicknamed "Stealing Horses," but it also steals your heart and sets up a great finish to every round.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
I personally love No. 2, Par 4. Classic risk-reward hole; the longer you hit your drive, the shorter your approach shot is. This is important because the green is elevated and requires a ball spinning to hold the green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Bogie Sandwich at the clubhouse's Twisted Earth Grill.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
We have 300 rooms available to the traveling Golfer. Just visit www.cdacasino.com/hotel/rooms-and-suites-casino

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Men: Rich Beem, 62

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7189
Slope: 144
Rating: 74.1

More Information
Circling Raven Golf Club Worley, Idaho, 83814 1-800-523-2464 ext. 7262
www.cdacasino.com/