Good skiing par for this course
Mark Twain is credited with saying, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” This time of the year, the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Club offers conditions more suitable to Nordic skiing and snowshoeing than golfing. So leave your clubs at home and strap on a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes for a good workout. The only thing to spoil a good snow outing on the course is a warm front.
Starting from the parking lot, hole No. 1 begins just past the little rock-faced building and heads south. The hill from the first tee launches skiers onto a nice straight run down the fairway. A right turn at the end of the green and you will cross over hole No. 2 and be on the course’s longest fairway. Hole No. 3 ends in a nice downhill, then quickly turns into what golfers have nicknamed “cardiac hill,” providing a nice little heart-pumping workout. Watch out for sledders enjoying this hill on weekends. A herringbone technique of increasing the angles between the skis and the inside edges works well to make the climb.
Heading north, hole No. 4 offers another nice downhill followed by a short uphill run. Skiers can zip up this grade with a diagonal stride. No. 5 takes skiers back to the south. Be aware of the “rough” at the bottom of the hill just before the green. This little canyon is commonly plagued with “snow divots” from sledding and can cause spills to fast-moving skiers.
Six is short and steep and is best to avoid except for experienced daredevils. Holes 7, 8 and 9 are nice straight runs without hills.
No. 10 parallels the driving range and provides the best downhill run on the course. With a good push at the top, skiers can glide about halfway down the fairway in good conditions on the wide and fairly gentle grade.
Cross Vista Drive and ski across the par-three hole No. 11 to hole 12. The second-longest hole offers a gentle run to the west. Hole 13 is another long run ¨C watch out for the extra friendly golden retriever who enjoys jumping over his short fence to greet people on his golf course.
The remaining holes are all fairly level and bordered by trees. No. 18 ends back at the parking lot and the clubhouse.
Access: From Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 95, go west on I-90 to exit 11. Turn right on Ramsey Road, then left at the traffic light onto Appleway. Go 4/10 of a mile and turn left on South Fairway. The entrance to the golf course is on the right.
Length: Approximately 3 1/2 miles.
Elevation: Mostly level, with an average of 2,180 feet.
Use: Light.
Trail condition: Depends on snowfall and if someone breaks the trail before you.
Difficulty: Easy.
Restrictions: No motorized vehicles. Please keep off the greens and respect the golf course fixtures and equipment.
Special features: There are sledding hills on the driving range and on hole No. 3.
Preparation: A course map of the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club is available on the Web site, www.cdapublicgolf.com.
Gear: Nordic skis and boots or snowshoes. The Ski Shack in Hayden has Nordic ski packages beginning at $240 and snowshoes starting at $150. Rentals are also available.
Note: the Panhandle Nordic Club organizes ski trips and hiking events. Club meetings are at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday in the winter months in the basement of the Fernan ranger office. New members and guests are welcome. Contact Jim McMillen at (208) 667-0222 or visit the club’s Web site, www.panhandlenordicclub.com for more information.