Idaho is now a land bursting with both wineries and golf courses, providing golfing oenophiles an opportunity to blend both passions for a unique “playcation.”
      Say, for example, you choose to begin your tour in the northern Idaho panhandle. Hidden Lakes Golf Resort, a few short miles from Sandpoint on the shores of Lake Pend d’Oreille amidst the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, is one of the most majestic golf courses in the Northwest. The course meanders from one small, hidden lake to another (on sixteen of the eighteen holes, water comes into play, so bring plenty of balls). Moose, deer, osprey, and bald eagles are often spotted amid the lush stands of cedar, birch, and evergreens.
      Off the course, there is no dearth of luxury. The 17,000-plus-square-foot, rock and rough-hewn log Hidden Lakes clubhouse is a welcome retreat, with its walk-in rock fireplaces, soaring vaulted ceilings, and wide deck overlooking the Pack River. The restaurant specializes in wild game and the popular lounge offers weekend music, dancing, and other live entertainment. Log and native rock Presidential Homes serve as lavish guest lodgings, with gourmet kitchens, floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, hot tubs, and decks opening right onto the golf course and river.
      After a good game of golf, head for Sandpoint to sample some wine. Saunter along the concourse of the Cedar Street Bridge, a tamarack and timber structure fashioned after the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The concourse offers shopping galore, including the original retail clothing outlet for Coldwater Creek.
      Nearby is Idaho’s Wine Press Northwest Winery of the Year winner, the Pend d’Oreille Winery. Here visitors can watch wine being pressed and bottled, as well as savor some of the winery’s prize-winning labels in a cozy bar featuring live local music.
      Pend d’Oreille (pronounced Pond-or-ay, translated “earring” after the ear ornaments French settlers observed on native inhabitants) first became well known for its gold medal 1995 Merlot (rose petal aromas with raspberry, vanilla, and smoke flavors). Since then, the medals have been pouring in for the winery’s Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon. Another specialty is the Huckleberry Blush, a pink Reisling honed from local huckleberries.
      Little more than an hour south of Sandpoint, along a spectacular scenic route, lie the beautiful city and lake of Coeur d’Alene. A custom-designed, mahogany water taxi will whisk you across the lake to the elegant Coeur d’Alene Resort and Golf Course, ranked annually as one of the best golf resorts in America. There, your own personal forecaddie will give advice on clubs and even measure each hole with a handy laser gun. Pampering is the key word here, from the first complimentary neck message on the practice range to the sumptuous basket lunch hand-delivered to the green, and the gift of a custom-engraved bag tag at the end of the game.
      Famed for its park-like atmosphere, complete with floating green and manicured lawns lush with thousands of red geraniums and wildflowers, Coeur d’Alene is a course challenging enough for pros, but still playable for families. Guests stay at an 18-story, copper-roofed tower hotel in spacious, modern rooms that overlook the lake. The resort has four gourmet restaurants, a rejuvenating European spa, and stylish boutiques to keep you spoiled and happy. And—wine tasting is only a short boat ride away.
      Coeur d’Alene Cellars is the newest winery in the Idaho panhandle region. The owners mingle with guests, proudly serving up their handcrafted, award-winning Viogniers and Syrahs from the vineyards of Washington’s Columbia Valley. The 2003 Viognier blends melon, apricot, and subtle oak flavors in a creamy texture. The 2002 Syrah evokes huckleberry, coffee, chocolate and spice, with soft, oaky undertones. Tastings and winery tours are available by appointment.
      While in Coeur d’Alene, don’t forget to visit the casinos and the world’s longest boardwalk. There’s also fishing, boating, hiking, rafting, and the Circling Raven—another gorgeous golf course, only 30 minutes away.
      To experience a really wide array of golf courses and wineries, head to the southwestern corner of the state. Here, in the heart of Idaho’s wine country, you could spend a week and not hit the same course or winery twice. Begin in Eagle, not far from Boise, at the new Winery at Eagle Knoll, which sits adjacent to the Riverbirch golf course and within seven miles of BanBury and Eagle Hills. The 3,100-square-foot tasting room offers eleven varieties of wine, including the peachy 2002 Muscat Canelli and an earthy 2002 Syrah. In the tasting room, meats and cheeses smoked in the winery’s own smokehouse are available. Wrap all this up and take it outside to the picnic grounds, situated near a waterfall and stream. On some days, live music featuring such well-known groups as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band may be heard from the concert stage. Tastings and winery tours are available seven days a week.
      Bordering Eagle Knoll vineyard is the newest Treasure Valley golf course— Riverbirch. Its mainly flat track opens with wide fairways and medium-sized greens, water and other natural hazards. Its large practice facility, multiple tee boxes, and minimal sand make this course great for all levels of ability.
      A few short miles away lies the Eagle Hills Golf Course. With the Boise Mountains as a striking backdrop, the 18-hole championship course is enhanced by rolling hills, natural wetlands, and winding creeks. Hole number 11 has been deemed one of the most beautiful par threes anywhere, and number 4 is known as one of the most difficult holes in the state. Eagle Hills features the Club House Grill for casual dining as well as the more elegant Cedars, accented with stone fireplaces and glass chandeliers.
      BanBury, nearby, has been rated one of Idaho’s top golf courses. Set on the banks of the Boise River, this beautifully designed, Scottish-style 71 par layout blends golf with the river’s native wildlife habitat. This is a challenging course—not for beginners—with water on 14 of the 18 holes. BanBury, the recent host of the 2005 U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship, features a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse and pro shop. Just one mile from BanBury, the Hilton Garden Inn sits serenely on the banks of the Boise River, offering deluxe accommodations for golfers and wine aficionados alike.
      Of course, there are many other vineyards and golf courses to sample in the Boise area. Caldwell is home to the Ste. Chapelle, Weston, Koenig, and Hells Canyon wineries, which are surrounded by such golf courses as Purple Sage and Fairview.
      Ste. Chapelle is Idaho’s oldest and largest winery, with tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. High atop Winery Hill overlooking the winding Snake River, the tasting room has the airy feel of its namesake, the beautiful La Sainte Chapelle in Paris, with high, cathedral-style windows; vaulted, wooden-beamed ceilings; and a stained-glass grapevine window. Long noted for its gold-medal Ice Wine Riesling, the winery’s Cabernets and Syrahs have lately been reaping praises. Wine picnics and live concerts abound here, complemented by the great view of the vineyards and river below.
      A few minutes away on your wine tour, sample the wines of the Koenig Distillery and Winery as well as the Hell’s Canyon Winery, which boasts a Chardonnay named best in the world by one leading London publication.
      Sixty miles east of Boise in Glenns Ferry, the impressive Carmela vineyard and golf course overlooks the wide Snake River. The winery’s unique 9-hole golf course wends it way through the 48-acre vineyard, making it a very quick trip from golfing to wine tasting. Inside the stone chateau-style winery is a golf pro shop, a tasting room, a gift shop, and a restaurant with a view of the river. Carmela hosts live music every Thursday night, and there is a cozy cabin right on the property where guests can stay.
      Carmela has won awards for its crisp Johannisberg Riesling, as well as its full-bodied Cabernet. The winery is adjacent to the historic Three Island State Park and Interpretive Center, host of a popular three-day festival held every August. The festival features a reenactment of the pioneer crossing of the Snake River along the Oregon Trail.
      Good greens and good grapes—with so many excellent options in our home state, it’s time to take a tour with golf clubs and wine glasses in hand.
     
Crystal Thurston is a freelance writer from Hailey, Idaho.