The Resort Golf Course in top five

COEUR d'ALENE - Conde Nast Traveler has again named an amenity of The Coeur d'Alene Resort among the tops in its category.

The June issue ranks The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course in the top five among western golf resorts. It also ranks fourth for golf staff and services among courses from Florida to Hawaii in the magazine's Readers' Poll of the top 80 U.S. courses and hotels.

"What is the most impressive to me is they recognize everything in the whole hotel," said Andy Mackimmie, head golf pro at the course.

The Resort course earned the top score among western courses in course design and access and staff services, with 98.7 of a possible 100 points. The top-placed Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., with 54 holes, scored 94.7 in both categories.

"It is a credit to our people," Mackimmie said. "Any new hires go through very extensive guest services training. That is what we hang our hat on."

The maintenance team is also an important part of the ranking, he said.

"It is one thing to have everything laid out for you (in the design), it is another thing to keep it immaculate."

The Resort is getting regular recognition for its services from a variety of publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, which earlier this year rated the spa among the tops in North America, Hawaii, Central America and the Caribbean.

Also among the top five golf resorts were Wynn Las Vegas, with 18 holes, Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colo., with 144 holes, and the 18-hole Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.