Kalispel Golf and Country Club
Overview
Originally founded in 1898 as Spokane Country Club, the course hosted the inaugural U.S. Women’s Open in 1946, won by World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Berg. In 2015, the Kalispel Tribe purchased the course now known as Kalispel Golf & Country Club. While the course is private, stay and play options are available to the public.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The Kalispel Golf & Country club is a solid Parklands course located near Spokane, Washington designed in 1898 by Robert Johnstone and Jim Barnes. As most older courses, it is short from the back tees at only 6,663 yards but still sports a solid 72.3 slope and 134 rating. Winding through hilly, wooded terrain, Kalispel G & CC is an enjoyable round of golf without any gimmicks or affectations. Kalispel G & CC offers a wide variety of holes with 4 uphill (3, 5, 8, 18) and 7 downhill (1, 2, 4, 9, 13, 16, 17) which can significantly affect club selection. There is a nice mix of doglegs with 3 lefts (2, 6, 14) and 5 rights (1, 4, 10, 12, 16) which encourage specific shot-shapes for shorter approaches. Due to the overall length of the course, there are few long holes, the par 4 11th, par 4 4th, and par 5 12th and 16th. Several short par 4s offer the opportunity for big hitters to try to drive the green but well-guarded greens and hazards will punish poor attempts. There is a bit of a quirky stretch from 7 through 13 with alternating par 3s and par 5s but the holes are sufficiently unique to not become repetitive. While a short course by today’s standards, Kalispel is by no means an easy course. Relatively tight driving lanes, specifically the chute on #14, prevent bombers from simply overwhelming the course and instead requires well thought out tee shots to specific areas for the best angles to the small to medium sized greens. The greens are quick but not particularly fast and possess a fair amount of slope to enhance the difficulty. Well-placed fairway bunkers will capture players tempted to cut off doglegs. Kalispel is a very scenic, hilly course that provides some amazing views. Local wildlife is abundant and not at all shy. The course just flows along the wooded terrain with beautiful native areas. The par 5 16th is a particular impressive hole playing all downhill with a blind tee shot. It challenges players to go over some tall trees and then tempts the good tee shot with a relatively short second to a very well-guarded green. Truly a very good risk-reward hole where a bogey or worse is just as likely as a birdie or par. The course is in very good condition with firm fairways offering very nice, cushioned lies begging for well-struck irons. The greens are medium paced but roll very true and hold well-struck approaches. The bunkers are consistently in good condition and reward properly executed shots. I very much enjoyed Kalispel Golf & Country Club. It is a very fun course with plenty of variety and challenge. It will not win any “best of” awards but it is a solid test of golf that will be enjoyed through many rounds. While not a part of the evaluation process, the convivial social atmosphere was very attractive with a huge emphasis on couples and ladies’ golf. Kalispel seems like it would be a fun place to be a member on top of a good course to play."
Read More2025
Review
“The Kalispel Golf & Country club is a solid Parklands course located near Spokane, Washington designed in 1898 by Robert Johnstone and Jim Barnes. As most older courses, it is short from the back tees at only 6,663 yards but still sports a solid 72.3 slope and 134 rating. Winding through hilly, wooded terrain, Kalispel G & CC is an enjoyable round of golf without any gimmicks or affectations. Kalispel G & CC offers a wide variety of holes with 4 uphill (3, 5, 8, 18) and 7 downhill (1, 2, 4, 9, 13, 16, 17) which can significantly affect club selection. There is a nice mix of doglegs with 3 lefts (2, 6, 14) and 5 rights (1, 4, 10, 12, 16) which encourage specific shot-shapes for shorter approaches. Due to the overall length of the course, there are few long holes, the par 4 11th, par 4 4th, and par 5 12th and 16th. Several short par 4s offer the opportunity for big hitters to try to drive the green but well-guarded greens and hazards will punish poor attempts. There is a bit of a quirky stretch from 7 through 13 with alternating par 3s and par 5s but the holes are sufficiently unique to not become repetitive. While a short course by today’s standards, Kalispel is by no means an easy course. Relatively tight driving lanes, specifically the chute on #14, prevent bombers from simply overwhelming the course and instead requires well thought out tee shots to specific areas for the best angles to the small to medium sized greens. The greens are quick but not particularly fast and possess a fair amount of slope to enhance the difficulty. Well-placed fairway bunkers will capture players tempted to cut off doglegs. Kalispel is a very scenic, hilly course that provides some amazing views. Local wildlife is abundant and not at all shy. The course just flows along the wooded terrain with beautiful native areas. The par 5 16th is a particular impressive hole playing all downhill with a blind tee shot. It challenges players to go over some tall trees and then tempts the good tee shot with a relatively short second to a very well-guarded green. Truly a very good risk-reward hole where a bogey or worse is just as likely as a birdie or par. The course is in very good condition with firm fairways offering very nice, cushioned lies begging for well-struck irons. The greens are medium paced but roll very true and hold well-struck approaches. The bunkers are consistently in good condition and reward properly executed shots. I very much enjoyed Kalispel Golf & Country Club. It is a very fun course with plenty of variety and challenge. It will not win any “best of” awards but it is a solid test of golf that will be enjoyed through many rounds. While not a part of the evaluation process, the convivial social atmosphere was very attractive with a huge emphasis on couples and ladies’ golf. Kalispel seems like it would be a fun place to be a member on top of a good course to play."
Read More2025
Review
“There is a refreshing variety of holes that make good use of the sloping terrain. Only hole 16 takes one careening down through the elevation contours in one fell swoop — but yet it feels natural. The greens range from small to medium-large and there is even a reverse punchbowl green on the front side. Finally, holes 7-13 alternate between pars 3 and 5 but one is so caught up in the terrain that it doesn’t feel forced."
Read More2023
Review
“A true hidden gem. The course is short, but plays longer due to the fact you can’t just bomb driver. Great layout, great conditioning, smooth greens with lots of movement."
Read More2022
Review
“Course has been renovated after being purchased by the Kalispel tribe and is a fun, challenging layout."
Read More2018
