Neighborhood of the week: Rock Creek Golf Club
What do you call the perfect mix of contemporary mountain architecture, lush North Idaho scenery, incredible lake and distance views, expansive amenities, and a championship golf course?
The answer is the Rock Creek Golf Club of Idaho.
The property once known as Black Rock North has undergone an amazing transformation, taking advantage of the existing infrastructure to create a stunning members-only golf club.
Picture 1,100 acres of rolling hillsides with breathtaking views. Add manicured greens and fairways, a clubhouse with full bar and restaurant, and a pro shop. Toss in a pool, tennis, basketball and bocci courts, and fishing.
But that's just the golf club, which only occupies a small portion of the property. General Manager Dan Voshall will tell you about the biking and hiking trails, dog park, cross-country skiing, camping - and 321 homes that are part of the master plan for Rock Creek.
"We're enhancing the project to make it fit the style of what a high-end golf course is supposed to be," Voshall said.
The current clubhouse is a temporary facility while they await construction of the new one. With upgraded fixtures, bar, lighting, bathrooms, day locker and changing room, you'd hardly recognize the old Black Rock kids camp. Zip lines have been removed, and the former climbing wall is now the wine cellar for both the restaurant and the members.
The new owner, Bill Foley, has a keen interest in food and wine, owning wineries in California, New Zealand, and Washington, along with a number of other properties, so you'll find the wine theme running throughout the property. It's in the Adirondack-style chairs built from wine barrels that grace the patio and driving range. It's in the rustic "comfort stations" complete with restrooms, snacks and cold drinks scattered throughout the course. If Voshall has his way, as a former executive chef, grape vines will grace the property as well.
Rock Creek Golf Club opened at the end of 2012, and the clubhouse opened in the fall of 2013. They have since added landscaping, built the front entrance, added the bocci ball and basketball courts, and the kids fishing camp (where adults are also welcome).
The challenging championship course was designed by Tom Weiskopf, renowned as both a player and an architect. One of the premier golfers of the 1970s, Weiskopf has been designing golf courses since 1985, creating some of the most acclaimed courses in the U.S., Scotland, South Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean. The 7,300 yard par 72 course offers multiple tees on each hole, making it fun and playable for any level of golfer.
"We want to make it enjoyable for everyone," Voshall said.
Rock Creek is currently in the development and planning stages. The master plan is for homes in the $450,000 range, with the target being $700-800,000 and up, according to the product. Sizes will range between 1,400 and 3,500 square feet depending on whether the home is a mini-cabin, cabin, condo, or single-family dwelling.
Memberships are currently $25,000, with $6,000 annual dues. Those prices will increase as soon as the development of Phase I begins. Members are guaranteed 75 percent of the going rate of their membership if they decide to re-sell, and their sales have priority over any new club memberships.
There are no hidden fees or assessments at Rock Creek: shoe shine, bag storage, and use of the locker room are all included in your membership. There is a $20 charge for the use of a golf cart. The HOA fees have yet to be established.
The vision for homes in Rock Creek is what the developer is calling contemporary mountain architecture, mixing contemporary rooflines with classic wood and stone textures that speak of the mountains, and large unpaned windows to take advantage of the lake and vista views.
"The entrance shows the style of architecture that we're trying to produce," Voshall said.
Although there is no private lake access, there is a public boat launch at Shooters Bar & Grill and with a few minutes' notice, the Rock Creek staff will pick you up.
People have a favorite side of the lake, Voshall said. Some prefer to live on the east side since they like to boat across the lake and don't mind the long drive into town. Others prefer the west side, where they are closer to town (Rock Creek is only 25 minutes to downtown Coeur d'Alene).
The club had 50 members at the start of the year; they have had a nice sales pace so far this year, Voshall said, and have gained 12 new members. But there's room for more.
The concept for the golf course is a novel one, protecting the natural beauty of the land. The front eight holes have been somewhat developed, although they've retained a large portion of the natural terrain. The back 10 holes are 100 percent natural.
"It was a sin to do any developing back there," Voshall said.
But the golf course only occupies a small portion of the 1,100 acres. Another small portion will support the 321 homes in a series of neighborhoods. The rest of the land will promote a healthy outdoors lifestyle with a wide variety of amenities including bike and hiking trails, camping, sledding, cross-country skiing, a dog park, and much more.
"We've tried to leave as much of the natural beauty as possible," Voshall said. "It's a different way of looking at developing a property. It's pretty special."
The developers want to take advantage of all that North Idaho offers year-round, rather than focusing on creating a club that is only useful five months of the year. "We need to embrace winter," Voshall said.
The homes in Rock Creek will be set off the golf course. That way, you won't feel like you're hitting at houses when you're on the course. "You won't be driving past someone's patio," Voshall said. And they'll be clustered in small neighborhoods, with common architectural products in each. Phase I is ready to sell with other phases following, depending on the sales pace. There are 321 lots available for your developer-built home, with a few offered for custom-built homes.
Everything changed in 2008, Voshall pointed out. People have less time, so what little free time they do have, they need to spend it with the family. The days of Dad golfing for hours each week while Mom and the kids stayed home are over. At Rock Creek, Mom can golf while Dad and the kids fish, swim, bike, or play ball, then the whole family can enjoy dinner on the patio together.
When asked if Rock Creek is concerned about competing with other similar golf clubs in the area, Voshall said no. He believes that more people will learn about Coeur d'Alene if there are more successful golf courses in the area. "Our goal is to put Coeur d'Alene on the map."
One of the members agreed. "Most folks don't know this place is here," he said. "It's a beaut."
If you're ready to experience the natural beauty of Rock Creek Golf Club for yourself, call Bud Bolan at (208) 659-4575 or Dan Voshall at (830) 998-5500 for a personal tour.
"We really want to keep it natural," Voshall said. "If you can maintain the natural beauty of what was given to you, that's the mark of success."
If you have a neighborhood that you would like to be featured in this series, please contact Beth Hanggeli at bhanggeli@cdapress.com or (208) 664-0248.