Course Review
AMW Faves List
Favorite Par 3 – #6 – though not as good as it once was, this is still a cheeky little par 3
Favorite Par 4 – #5 – a stunning back drop upon approach
Favorite Par 5 – #14 – strong, challenging, fair, and fun; a lovely par 5
Favorite Hole Design – #1 – a great opening hole with a lot of potential with possible despair!
Easiest Hole – #8 – great chance to take it one down on this easy par 3
Hardest Hole – #18 – though not by the card, the uphill lie plus incredibly slim final green, this is a great finishing hole.
Favorite Extra Sighting – can you find the remnants of the tram tracks on hole 6?
Favorite Après Golf – pizza at the Flying Goat
Where to Stay – Davenport Hotels (Historic or Grand).
Where to Eat –Luna, Manito Tap House, Flying Goat, Mizuna, Iron Goat, Wild Sage, Clinkerdagger’s, Wooden City, Rüt (Vegan), Rockwood Bakery.
PLAN AHEAD
Course Details
Address: 3225 N. Columbia Circle, Spokane, WA 99205
Telephone: +1 (509) 327-5269
Website: downrivergolfcourse.com
Director of Golf: Steve Conner
Architect: David Finlay
Year Open: 1916
Greens Fees: ⛳️
Yardage: Blue – 6207; White – 5996; Gold – 5565; Red – 4971
What You Need to Know
The Course Uncovered
Discover the story behind the course—from its history and design to the experience of playing it today. Tap the + to expand each section, journey through time, and explore the course one hole at a time.
Down the river and through the pine,
History speaks like a bold fine wine.
Flowing waters amidst a park and hill,
The grounds on whole give a joyful fill.
Views to the beautiful Spokane River,
It will take many arrows in your quiver.
To meet the needs of postage stamp greens,
As this older course is mean and lean!
Long before it became a park, long before fairways were imagined or footsteps traced familiar paths, the land along the Spokane River moved to an ancient rhythm. Salmon surged upstream through cool, rushing waters, their silver bodies catching sunlight as they carved a path against the current. Wind whispered through towering pines, carrying the scent of resin and earth, while basalt canyon walls held the quiet echoes of centuries past. The Spokane Tribe and other Indigenous peoples lived in intimate balance with this landscape fishing the river’s bounty, following natural corridors, gathering plants and medicines, and forming a connection to a place that provided both sustenance and spirit. Life here was measured by seasons, by cycles of migration and growth, by the pulse of the river itself.
When settlers arrived in the 1800s, that rhythm began to shift. Timber was harvested, minerals pulled from the earth, and the roar of Spokane Falls became the heartbeat of a growing town. Spokane transformed into a hub of trade and industry, fueled by the promise of lumber, mining, and the expanding reach of the railroad. By the late 19th century, rail lines stretched outward, linking the Rocky Mountains to the Cascade Range, and establishing Spokane as one of the most important rail centers in the American West. The city became a crossroads of commerce and ambition, a place where opportunity and risk moved together like the river itself.
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Let’s Play the Course…
Hole 1
Start your round with a smile. This welcoming par 5 offers the perfect opportunity to settle in, swing freely, and set a positive tone for the day. From the elevated tee, a generous fairway stretches out below, inviting confidence from the very first swing. This is one of those wonderful moments when you can grip it and rip it; trust your driver, find your rhythm, and let the course reward a committed swing.
From there, the fairway gently works its way to the left, and with the hole playing relatively short, your second shot may offer a real opportunity to reach the green. The approach is friendly and receptive, making a well-judged bump-and-run another smart option if you finish just short.
Birdie is very much in play, but there is no need to get ahead of yourself. Take a deep breath, trust your swing, and enjoy the opportunity in front of you. One shot at a time, one positive thought at a time. There may be no better way to begin the round than walking off the first hole feeling confident, relaxed, and ready for what lies ahead.
Hole 2
A gentle exhale arrives at the 2nd hole, a short par 3 that offers the perfect opportunity to reset, refocus, and settle into your round. There are no tricks here, no water to carry, no hidden trouble waiting to steal your attention. Just a straightforward, welcoming green resting quietly beneath the trees.
The assignment is beautifully simple; find the green. Favor the center, choose your club with confidence, and trust the swing you brought with you today. This is not a hole that asks for brilliance or perfection. It simply asks for clarity, commitment, and a little discipline.
Take a breath, quiet the mind, and make a smooth, confident swing. A clean strike here can lead to a comfortable par, and perhaps even a look at birdie, but more importantly, it allows you to establish your rhythm.
Enjoy the simplicity of this hole. See the shot. Trust the swing. Accept the result. Sometimes the best golf comes when we stop trying to create something extraordinary and simply allow a good swing to happen.
Hole 3
What a day at Downriver.
Through more than a century of change, both the park and the course have remained steadfast, anchored to this place, yet quietly evolving with the passage of time. Generations have walked these paths and played these holes. They have celebrated birdies, laughed over missed putts, settled friendly wagers, and simply enjoyed an afternoon beneath the Spokane sky. Stories have been shared, traditions passed from one generation to the next, and countless memories have become quietly woven into the landscape.
And through it all, the Spokane River has remained a constant, powerful, enduring, and always moving forward. Perhaps that is what makes Downriver so special. More than a century later, so much has changed, yet very little has changed in the ways that truly matter. The pines still sway overhead. The fairways still wind through the trees. Golfers still arrive with hope on the first tee and stories to tell when they walk off the 18th. And the river still leads the way.
There is comfort in places like this, places that remind us of where we came from while continuing to welcome those who come next. Downriver is more than eighteen holes. It is part of Spokane’s story, shaped by the people who have walked it, cared for it, and loved it through the years.
And maybe that is the greatest gift of a course like Downriver. It reminds us that some places are not measured by yardage, score, or even time. They are measured by the feeling they leave behind and the part of them we carry with us long after the walk is over.
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