The first settlers to meet the Schitsu umsh Indians of northern Idaho were early 19th century French fur traders who impressed by the tribe s acumen dubbed them Coeur d Alene or heart of the awl The tribe is still enterprising having turned a small bingo operation into a resort destination Circling Raven Golf Club a Gene Bates design opened last August occupies wilderness so grand that one prospective architect thought the land should be a state park Like Lewis and Clark who passed 100 miles south of here golfers have the place to themselves save for the occasional elk or moose Circling Raven s par 3s average almost 220 yards The 13th is 253 yards across a gully with wetlands right and pines lurking in back The 386 yard 8th is short but doesn t lack a wow factor playing downhill to a green framed by birches poplars and pines The Coeur d Alene resort and its floating green are a half hour and 100 north of Circling Raven excerpt from the article Top Ten You Can Play GOLF MAGAZINE February 2004