Painted Hills a shining gem
Spokane prides itself on its golf courses.
We brag about how inexpensive it is to play some of the most beautiful courses in the country.
So it’s surprising to realize that there is only one course in all of Spokane Valley, while Liberty Lake boasts three.
Good thing that one course is gem.
Nestled along Dishman-Mica Road, Painted Hills Golf Course is a full-service destination. It boasts an expansive driving range, a challenging par-3 course (Chester Creek), and a 3,244 yard, par-36 course that features two par-3 holes, two par 5s and five par 4s. Many golfers looking to play 18 holes will play the course twice: once from the white tees and once from the blues for a total course length of 6,532 yards.
“We get everything from low- to high-handicappers, from beginners to advanced players,” explained Brent Decker, who runs the pro shop. “We have a really good men’s club and a good ladies’ club as well.
“We see a lot of beginning and intermediate golfers, and now that we’re into the summer season, we see a lot of junior golfers as well.”
Course superintendent Ron Ridl agrees.
“We appeal to everyone — from the intermediate to the pro,” he said.
Where Painted Hills shines is in its openness to practice — one reason why three high schools, University, Freeman and Valley Christian, call the course home.
The driving range, for example, was the first lighted range in Spokane. During the summer months golfers can practice on the range until 10 p.m. The 340-yard range accommodates up to 30 golfers at a time and provides a variety of yardage markers for zeroing-in distances.
The par-3 Chester Creek course is excellent for working on the short game, requiring a myriad of wedge shots for success.
And the course features two practice greens. The first is situated behind the first tee, where golfers warming up can practice their putting stroke. The second is tucked nicely between the driving range and the ninth green — an excellent vantage point for watching balls land in the pond that makes the finishing hole a challenge. This practice green is designed for golfers looking to work on chipping and bunker shots as well as putting.
“That’s kind of the whole idea,” Ridl said. “We want to maintain the challenge and allow golfers to work on all aspects of their game.”
For the past several years the course has gone without a resident pro.
“We still have lessons available,” Ridl said. “We just use independent contractors now instead of having just the one pro. It works better for us that way and still lets us provide those services.”
Since opening in 1989, Painted Hills has enjoyed a strong men’s club and now boasts an even larger ladies’ club.
The cost to join either club is $45.
“The first $25 of that fee goes toward getting your name entered on the computer so you can get your handicap,” Decker said. “The other $20 goes into the club for tournaments and other events.”
Getting onto the course is generally easy.
“Tuesdays and Wednesdays can be slow days,” Decker said. “We see a lot of senior golfers on those days — golfers who like to play without being rushed. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays we can be kind of full, but we can always work someone onto the course. We play mostly pairs and threesomes. We don’t send out a lot of foursomes unless they specifically want to play together.
“With so many courses to play around here, you really don’t need to make a tee-time unless you want to play on a weekend. I tell singles to just come out any time, we’ll get them on.”
Painted Hills fast facts
Size: Sitting on 86 acres, it’s a 3,244 yard, par-36 course.
Play: There are two par 3s, two par 5s, and five par 4s.
Water: The course includes four water hazards in the form of three artificial ponds and a natural stream that crosses in front of the first tee.
Getting on the course: Reservations are recommended on the weekends.
Men’s and ladies’ clubs: Cost is $45 to join, $25 going toward getting entered into the computer, which is the first step in determining your individual handicap.