Esmeralda Golf Course

Spokane's most-played municipal course, built in 1956 in the Hillyard neighborhood and credited to Pacific Northwest architect A.V. Macan. The clearer signal, though, is playability: a flat, open 6,331-yard par-70 framed by more than 2,000 trees, easy to break 100 on, hard to break par. The par-3 12th (159 yards, elevated tee, single left-side bunker) is the signature hole. The rest of the layout plays as a generous tree-lined muni that punishes crookedness without making it feel like punishment, the real questions get asked around the greens, not off the tee. Conditioning holds up remarkably well given the play volume. One of three city-run Spokane courses and the one locals pick first. A good warm-up round for an Inland Northwest golf loop that can also include Coeur d'Alene, Indian Canyon, and The Creek at Qualchan.