(Worley, Idaho)  — Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel is proud to announce that Kal Zaranec, Superintendent at its award-winning Circling Raven Golf Course, has graduated from the prestigious EXCEL Leadership Program presented by Nufarm and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Zaranec was one of six graduates recognized for completing the three-year program during a session, held April 15-17 in Raleigh and Pinehurst, North Carolina.

During the session, the EXCEL Leadership Program recognized Zaranec for completing the three-year mentorship and networking opportunity. Nineteen EXCEL Program participants in all learned and observed first-hand the preparation and requirements for hosting the USGA’s U.S. Open, which returns to Pinehurst No. 2 June 10-16.

The group also visited Nufarm’s new formulation development lab in Morrisville, NC, to learn about the extensive process of innovating new golf course solutions. EXCEL stands for “Educating” golf industry leaders of tomorrow; cross-training opportunities so they can share what they have learned (“X”); “Creating” community leaders who serve more than take; “Encouraging” future leaders through advisory boards and councils; and developing “Leaders” who will mentor others.

“Even being considered and accepted into the program three years ago was a huge achievement,” Zaranec said. “Now, graduating after three years of leadership training, networking, and visits to some of the top golf courses and sports fields in the country, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with the EXCEL Leadership Program and the opportunities that were presented.”

The program focuses on leadership in three main areas: “being a leader at home, being a leader at work, and being a leader in the community. I have become more involved with our local GCSAA Chapter, and also joined a volunteer Ski Patrol last winter.” Thanks in part to his EXCEL experience, Zaranic concluded, “We have built a stronger team at Circling Raven, not just within golf maintenance, but with golf operations and other departments we work with.”

“Kal and his team work tirelessly to ensure that they responsibly create and maintain excellent course conditions and beautiful resort grounds,” added Circling Raven Director of Golf Christopher Runyan, PGA. “Not only did he gain industry insights and learn cutting edge innovations, but the program’s management-best-practices focus complements his professional growth.”  

Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary season in 2024, Circling Raven holds widespread critical esteem including Best Public Course in Idaho, Top 20 U.S. Casino Course, Top American Resort Courses, and Best North Idaho Course. It hosted the LPGA’s Epson Tour for three years (2021-23) through which top women golf professionals from around the world unanimously praised the course conditions and its design, the masterpiece of golf course architect Gene Bates, ASGCA. Bates’ ingenious holes and course routing at Circling Raven are extolled for their natural contours that move brilliantly through 620 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and tumbling Palouse terrain.

For more information, visit www.cdacasino.com/golf or call 800-523-2464.

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, the source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $33.5 million to education in the region since it opened. Additionally, millions more have gone in support of a wide range of public projects, emergency relief, charities, and programs in the Pacific Northwest. Named Tribal Destination of the Year in 2019 by AIANTA, the property features 300 rooms and suites, seven distinct food and beverage venues and entertainment including live music and comedy as well as hands-on tours and experiences through the casino’s Cultural Tourism Program. Three $1-million-dollar winners have found their luck in the 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high-stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa voted 1st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course acclaimed as a “Top 100” course by every major golf publication in the U.S. LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino and Circling Raven, visit www.cdacasino.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gary Trask, gary@danshepherdpr.com, 978-228-0314

Yvette Matt, ymatt@cdacasino.com, 208-500-9989

The post CIRCLING RAVEN SUPERINTENDENT COMPLETES LEADERSHIP PROGRAM appeared first on The Golf Wire.

The annual competition celebrates outstanding businesses and services in the region. Readers and area residents nominate and vote on candidates in numerous categories ranging from dining, recreation, and retail to orthopedic care, entertainment, and health and fitness. Historically, as many as 15,000 votes are cast each year.

Owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the casino offers 300 guest rooms and 14 suites, 1,200 video gaming machines and high stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations, a variety of casual and fine dining experiences, and of course Circling Raven Golf Club.  The 18-hole, par-72 course has earned acclaim as a top course and golf resort nationally by every major U.S. golf publication (and as the No. 1 public course in Idaho).

The Gene Bates design is celebrating its 20^th anniversary season in 2024. It hosted the Circling Raven Championship, an Epson Tour “Road to the LPGA” event, through last season. Competitors in the premier event – top women professionals from around the globe – competed for hundreds of thousands of dollars and afterward lavished praise on the first-class course and its stellar conditions.

“We are thrilled to receive these honors as they affirm through our guests and visitors that we continue providing gratifying experiences,” said Laura Penney, MBA, CEO, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. “You don’t win best-of honors in your 31st year of operation for the casino – and 20^th year at the golf club – without investing the resources required to sustain excellence. That’s a tribute to our entire team – from the tribal council to the front-line staff.”

Visit www.cdacasino.com or call 800-523-2464 for more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel and its amenities.

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $33.3 million to education in the region since it opened. Additionally, millions more have gone in support of a wide range of public projects, emergency relief, charities and programs in the Pacific Northwest. Named Tribal Destination of the Year in 2019 by AIANTA and winning the silver Distinguished Dozen award from Courier in 2019 and 2020, the property features 300 rooms and suites, seven distinct food and beverage venues and entertainment including live music and comedy as well as hands-on tours and experiences through the casino’s Cultural Tourism Program. Three million-dollar winners have found their luck on 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa voted 1^st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com (2012), 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course acclaimed as a “Top 100” course by every major golf publication in the U.S. The Gene Bates designed course is home to the Circling Raven Championship, an Epson Tour “Road to the LPGA” event, held annually in August. LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino, visit www.cdacasino.com.

Media Contact:

Gary Trask, gary@danshepherdpr.com, 978-228-0314

Dan Shepherd, 703-403-5317, dan@danshepherdpr.com

Yvette Matt, Marketing Manager, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, 208-500-9989  

The post COEUR D’ALENE CASINO RESORT HOTEL GARNERS “BEST CASINO” AND “BEST GOLF COURSE” HONORS IN NORTHERN IDAHO appeared first on The Golf Wire.

The Gene Bates-designed layout climbed to No. 104 in this year’s list, which was recently unveiled. Underscoring the top-echelon quality of this accolade one need look no farther than other list members, an array of iconic and rising-star venues ranging from Pinehurst and Pebble Beach to Sand Valley.

Owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe (and named for a seminal tribal chief), Circling Raven gloriously unfurls over more than 600 acres of ancestral homelands – nearly five times more acreage than the average course globally.

“Circling Raven is an amenity of our Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, and we built it to provide guests and visitors to our property with a first-class leisure option, as with our spa, restaurants, and casino,” said Laura Penney, CEO. “It was imperative that we created something that simultaneously paid homage to tribal ancestors and honored the land while providing exceptional experiences for players.”

The only other nearby resort course included in the list is at Coeur d’Alene Resort, which finished No. 150 (it was ranked 147 last year).

A key ingredient in Circling Raven’s tasty mix includes the pristine terrain on which it winds through. The stunningly beautiful landscape includes no surrounding development. Golfers report being inspired and revitalized by the invigorating setting and experience.

Superb playing conditions are equally vital. That Circling Raven has achieved them – and consistently maintains first-class tees, fairways, and greens – was often and emphatically stated by several women professionals who competed in the Circling Raven Championship, an Epson “Road to the LPGA” Tour event played here each of the past three seasons.

Bates’ inspired vision for the property yielded an array of diverse yet complementary holes that are as memorable as they are scintillating.

Golfweek course raters clearly value the Tribe’s mission and its admirable execution at Circling Raven. Not only is it honored as a top U.S. resort course, but it rates No. 19 in the “Top 40 U.S. Casino Courses” and as the No. 1 public course in Idaho.

Golfweek’s travel editor reported the following about Circling Raven after a site visit:

“The earth seems to stretch out in all directions, with miles of yellow grasses stretching to the Coeur d’Alene Mountains, part of the Bitterroot Range of the Rockies. It’s a visual treat, crossing ridges between greens and tees to see the next hole framed in one of three distinct environments: woodlands, wetlands and Palouse – a geologic term involving wind-blown hills, moguls and fertile sandy soil.”

Located approximately 55 minutes from Spokane International Airport (GEG), Circling Raven measures 7,189 yards from the rear tees. A nationally honored retail shop and the excellent Twisted Earth Grill at the award-winning clubhouse provides superb food and beverages to slake the appetite of thirsty, hungry players.

For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, visit cdacasino.com, or call 800-532-2464.

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $33.5 million to education in the region since it opened. Additionally, millions more have gone in support of a wide range of public projects, emergency relief, charities, and programs in the Pacific Northwest. Named Tribal Destination of the Year in 2019 by AIANTA and winning the silver Distinguished Dozen award from Courier in 2019 and 2020, the property features 300 rooms and suites, seven distinct food and beverage venues and entertainment including live music and comedy as well as hands-on tours and experiences through the casino’s Cultural Tourism Program. Three million-dollar winners have found their luck on 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa voted 1st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course acclaimed as a “Top 100” course by every major golf publication in the U.S. LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino and Circling Raven, visit www.cdacasino.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gary Trask, gary@danshepherdpr.com, 978-228-0314

Dan Shepherd, dan@danshepherd.com 703-403-5317

Yvette Matt, ymatt@cdacasino.com, 208-500-9989

The post CIRCLING RAVEN GARNERS ELITE DISTINCTION NATIONALLY FROM GOLFWEEK AND USA TODAY appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Circling Raven Golf Club, Spa Ssakwa’q’n, Activity Options Illuminate Cultural Inspiration

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel announces it was named “Tribal Destination of the Year” for its proactive work promoting cultural tourism. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe accepted its honor on Wednesday, September 18, during the 21^st annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC), at Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Okla.

The AITC brings together nationally and internationally recognized expert speakers, tribal leaders, and the tourism industry to share thought leadership and best practices across Indian Country. Coeur d’Alene Tribe earned acclaim for its resort cultural tourism activities, a collection of creative, authentic experiences that provide enriching experiences that pay homage to tribal tradition and history.

Coeur d’Alene Casino’s Cultural Tourism Program educates and shares the culture of Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It orchestrates tours and workshops as resort activities that provide insightful, hands-on experiences into the Coeur d’Alene Tribe as a people. Examples include:

• Bison Ranch Tour – Coeur d’Alene tribal member guided tour of working bison ranch
• Tribal Homelands Guided Hike – Traverse Heyburn State Park, including breathtaking views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding lush forest
• Last Battle Tour – full-day tour of the Steptoe Battle site with local historians and tribal member guides
• Kayaking and Canoeing Tours – tribal member guided tours filled with wildlife, nature and history
• Lifeways Workshop – “Make your own” Pendleton Moccasins, Beaded Pouch, Folded Cedar Bark Necklace and Plateau Baskets – with Leann Campbell, Coeur d’Alene Tribal artist
• Native American Sip ‘N Paint – artist guided paint workshop

Circling Raven Golf Club, Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced SOCK-wah-kin), and the resort’s exterior and interior design all pay homage to tribal heritage. Circling Raven was named for the tribal leader who helped guide the Tribe through some of its most controversial times. “Sitkwe” – water – provides Ssakwa’q’n with its root meaning and conjures images of the many alpine lakes throughout the Palouse region, refreshing waters that invite sanctuary for personal contemplation.

“The Coeur d’Alene Casino’s Cultural Tourism Program mission is to educate and celebrate the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe’s traditions, values and history,” said Coeur d’Alene Casino CEO Francis SiJohn. “Being recognized nationally for our culture tourism activities is a humbling honor that shows we’re accomplishing our mission well.”

This is the latest honor for Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort pertaining to tourism. It was recently recognized by the National Tour Association as a “Distinguished Dozen” Silver Medal winner for its casino/gaming property. Award criteria included tour product, level of customer service, value to customers, and dedication to relationship building.

For more information about events and entertainment at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel please visit cdacasino.com. 

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $33.3 million to education in the region since opening.  Additionally, millions more have supported a wide range of public projects, emergency relief, charities and programs in the Pacific Northwest. The property features 300 rooms and suites, seven distinct restaurants and lounges, 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering more than 1,400 video gaming machines, high stakes bingo and off-track betting, a 15,000 square foot luxury spa voted 1^st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com, and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course acclaimed as a “Top 100” course by every major golf publication in the U.S.  LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter.  For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino, visit www.cdacasino.com.

The post Tribal Destination of the Year appeared first on The Golf Wire.