Idaho’s Priest Lake Golf Course and Hills Resort Offers Aplenty

When we featured Idaho’s Priest Lake Golf Course on our March cover earlier this year, I secretly began planning for a spring road trip to both play the course and stay at the charming and picturesque nearby Hills Resort. Yes, a trip to North Idaho was in the cards and when the opportunity made itself available in mid-May, I jumped at the chance to explore and play somewhere new. Yes, I was a bit like a kid at a candy store with an unabashed sugar rush!

If you are from the Northwest there is a very good chance that you are familiar with Priest Lake (The largest lake Trout caught in the United States was caught at Priest Lake, and weighed 57 lbs. 8 oz), its location, history, and legacy of the Hill family in Idaho. If not, Priest Lake is located in the northernmost part of the Idaho Panhandle with the northern end of the lake extending close to the Canadian border. As an expat-Kiwi, I’ll acknowledge that my familiarity with the area was modest, so I took much interest in learning more about the story behind the Resort and the development of the Priest Lake Golf Course. 

Patriarch George Hill founded Hills Resort located at the southern end of 18 mile long Priest Lake in Luby Bay in 1946. After returning to Spokane from naval service, he quickly realized that the city was not for him and spent every summer at his parent’s lake home at Priest Lake. His love for Priest Lake encouraged him to purchase a small fishing resort in 1946 and married Lois Montecucco, also a Spokane native, and together Hill’s Resort became a reality. Today, the resort is truly a family affair with second generation Teri, Craig, Scott, and Lois all pitching in to help run the resort, which is open year-round for lodging. According to the Hill family, New Year’s Eve is their busiest night of the year; in fact, the area has become an ideal location for conferences and retreats.  

Upon arriving at the not-so-small Priest Lake after a short road trip via Spokane, WA, my immediate impression, as we rolled into the car park, was first, “wow” and then, second, how incredibly charming the lake side Resort was including its collection of rustic style cabins and chalet-style units befitting the rugged outdoor wilderness. Each cabin was situated either breathtakingly close to the lake shore (lake front suite with fireplace) or only a stone’s throw from the main Lodge where we were introduced to the much-vaunted restaurant offering stunning lake views. Local fare included their specialties such as Huckleberry Pancakes made with locally picked wild huckleberries or the barbequed baby back ribs cooked on their open-view mesquite grill, but if mushrooms are your thing, the locally picked fresh wild Morel mushrooms are a must-have. Just remember to bring your alpine-sized appetite as the breakfast portions literally kept me hunger-free through the entire 18 hole round later that morning. 

Yes, after spending 20 minutes leisurely exploring the secluded sandy beach, I had little choice but to promptly vanquish any work-related thoughts, turn off the cell phone and simply enjoy the moment. Throw in some alpine golf and you’ve got the makings of a very memorable trip. That being said, with an 8 A.M. tee time scheduled the next day at the Priest Lake Golf Course, I took it upon myself to review the course, its history and quickly learned that its beginnings were formed out of a farmer’s meadow that was for sale on Highway 57 in the 1960s. The first nine holes were built from this meadow with the owners planning to eventually create a legitimate 18-hole golf course, that which became a reality in 2003. Generally considered more diverse, the back nine is characterized by undulating fairways, dramatic rock outcrops, a lush forest, and natural wetlands. Priest Lake Golf Course offers golfers an 18-hole, par 72 course over 6500 yards (not long) with a course and slope rating of 70.8 and 128 from the blue tees and 67.3 and 119 from the ladies tees. Priest Lake offers golfers of all abilities an opportunity to play a “Real McCoy” alpine golf course that is nestled amongst some of most beautiful natural settings I have played. Yes, Priest Lake reminds me a little of the John Steidel-designed Sun Country Golf Course in Cle Elum ,WA. Tight, tree lined fairways, blind approach shots into elevated greens, dog legs left and right, and natural scenery that is as close to pristine as you can get. Now, while the greens at Priest Lake failed to light the stimpmeter on fire, the greens did roll true and are the result of sound course management and experience. Given Priest Lake’s elevation of 2000+feet above sea level, Mother Nature can and will, on occasion, cool overnight temps to below freezing, which can result in frost damage to the greens and compromised putting surfaces. A little growth is a good thing and it didn’t take long before we became accustomed to the speed of the alpine putting surfaces. While Priest Lake does offer a number of holes that should pique your curiosity or provide ample challenge to the point where your composure dissolves in an instant, there were a few that are worth noting and are both equally delightful and diverse. On the front nine, my favorite was hole #7, a 268 yard straight away par-4 earmarked by a forced water carry, which is a natural pond guarded by tall Douglas Firs on both sides of a narrowing fairway that rises in elevation. Those with the game can go for the green, but if you are slightly off with the tee shot, you can expect to hear your ball bouncing off timber. I elected for accuracy (yes, conservative) and used a six iron off the tee ensuring my ball carried into the safe landing area leaving a manageable uphill pitching wedge (albeit blind) into an elevated green. Just make sure you get it there on your second or be prepared to watch your ball roll back down the slope towards your feet. Yep, fun hole!  My pick on the back nine would have to go to the par-5 503 yard hole #14. While not long by any means, to ensure a good score requires you to swim between the flags. How so? As you look down the fairway, your attention is not only captured by the incredible vista that unfolds before you, but also the narrowing and slightly rising upslope towards an apex or crest that is bordered by two rock outcrops guarding proceedings from above. You probably won’t reach this point off the tee unless you’re blessed with the genes of Aquiros or Johnson (Dustin)! A hybrid or fairway metal should work off the tee to ensure you stay clear of the tall trees on the left side, a constant companion and reminder to hit the middle of the fairway and the natural wetlands that border much of the hole on the right side. Hit it there and you’ll need to drop another pill. Your second shot will need to factor the narrowing and rising fairway towards the crest, but provided you stay straight your ball will enjoy the additional roll provided by the down slope towards the waiting and relatively straightforward green. Just remember that the flag is not visible until you reach the crest of the upslope after hitting your second, so you just have to make a good swing!      

Course services include a driving range, putting greens, pro-shop, lessons, and the bar and grill that offers wraps, sandwiches, salads, and a libation or two to satisfy your hunger. Managed by long time resident Chris McDirmid and Director of Golf Bruce Perisho (more recently associated with Palouse Ridge), Priest Lake is in good hands, well managed, and offers very good value for your golfing money. Come early Spring or the Fall, you can play Priest Lake for $1 per hole of $18 for the round! Combine the nearby Hills Resort and you have a stay and play package that is second to none. Easily said? I don’t think so. With family in tow, including my 4-year-old twin boys, Hills Resort is as charming and idyllic a setting there is and caters for both families and individuals. Does that mean that the hard-core golfer will be playing into Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the family dog in tow? Not at all! If you want to play golf or pursue other recreational activities at Priest Lake, boating, swimming, hiking, biking, or chasing bears are both easily arranged and accommodated, though Priest Lake is not open year round.  If you are looking for your winter golf fix, I’d suggest you use a pink ball and attach your clubs to the back of a snowmobile! The reality is that you can expect anywhere from 39 to 173 inches of snowfall in the area, which means the golf course becomes a groomed area for classic Nordic style skiing; in fact, there is a 7 mile groomed loop trail that connects the resort to the golf course. 

Priest Lake Golf Course offers quality golf in an absolute beautiful setting. I would not be surprised if the course is added to the Idaho Golf Trail at some point in the near future. It certainly deserves its place in the mix!   [On a personal note, my gratitude and sincere thanks to GM Chris McDirmid who graciously (and courageously) took it upon herself to provide supervision to my children while my wife and I had the pleasure of playing the course. Cheers Chris!]

For more information about Hills Resort and Priest Lakes Golf Course, please visit www.hillsresort.com or www.priestlakegolfcourse.com.