Kalispel Golf and Country Club

Detailed description of Kalispel Golf and Country Club

Kalispel Golf and Country Club, previously named Spokane Country Club, is a Private, 18 hole golf course located in Spokane , Washington.

History ___________________________________

Spokane Country Club first opened for play in 1898 with nine holes near what is now the South Perry Business District. 

Within a few years the club and course moved further up the South Hill to what is now Hart Field and hired Cutter to design and build a clubhouse. It burned in 1908 and the club hunted for a new location.

In 1910, the club purchased land along the Little Spokane River north of the city, and moved for the third and last time. Another fire, in 1946, razed the clubhouse.

Members including Bing Crosby donated money to build a new clubhouse that still stands today.

The road to bankruptcy _____________________________

The Spokane Country Club sold at auction in 2015 to settle its multi-million dollar bankruptcy case as dozens of members quit and business slows in the aftermath of a gender discrimination verdict.

The discrimination lawsuit alleged a gender-based code at the club that denied women the best tee times and barred them from certain areas of the restaurant.

Legal findings in the case determined that the club, which is organized as a private nonprofit organization exempt from paying taxes, is a public accommodation because of the relative ease of gaining membership, golf supply sales to the public, and its allowance of nonmembers to use club facilities for events. Thus, the club was subject to state laws banning discrimination.

A Spokane jury hit the club with a $579,000 verdict in 2013, and a later ruling ordering the club to pay $773,000 in attorney fees and costs with interest accruing.

The club also suffered a financial setback with: 32 members leaving (As of April 2015) putting a $320,000 dent in its balance sheet as the club redeemed the $10,000-per-member shares. Another 59 put their names on the “exit list."

Auction block __________________________________________

Although the private golf club has among the finest 18-hole courses in the Northwest, its legal woes and membership issues mirror resulted in bankruptcy and the club was put up for auction.

The club’s property, buildings and equipment were valued at $9.8 million, according to the club’s audited financial statements in 2013. 

The Kalispel Tribe's bid of $3 million purchased the members-only Spokane Country Club. They will fold the golf course and amenities into its Northern Quest Resort and Casino operations.

Current Status _________________________________________

The course name was changed to Kalispel Golf and Country Club. The course is now Semi-private, meaning that there are some public play opportunities.

This course's fairways are narrow and its greens are medium in size and speed.  This is a relatively flat course, but there is some slight mounding that might cause some uneven lies.  Water hazards come into play on seven holes. In addition to water hazards, the course has 54 strategically located bunkers. This course, which was rednovated by Robert Muir Graves in 1988.