Highland Golf Course

Highland Golf Course in Post Falls, Idaho, was designed by George Von Elm, a notable figure in American golf during the 1920s and 1930s. Von Elm, who won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1926 and competed as both an amateur and professional, turned to course architecture later in his career. His design work, though less documented than his playing achievements, reflects the strategic principles common to architects of his era. Highland represents one of his contributions to golf in the Pacific Northwest, a region where course development expanded significantly in the mid-twentieth century. The course occupies terrain characteristic of northern Idaho's Spokane River valley area, where Post Falls sits near the Washington border. The landscape features rolling topography shaped by glacial activity and volcanic soil, with stands of ponderosa pine and other native vegetation framing the holes. Von Elm's routing likely takes advantage of natural elevation changes to create variety in shot requirements and visual interest throughout the round. Post Falls developed as a residential and recreational community benefiting from its proximity to Coeur d'Alene and Spokane, and Highland serves the local golfing population in this growing region. The course provides a traditional layout that reflects the design sensibilities of its era, offering a straightforward test of golf without the elaborate features of modern championship venues. For visitors to northern Idaho, Highland represents an opportunity to play a Von Elm design in a setting that showcases the area's distinctive pine-studded terrain and moderate climate.