Mirror Lake course green gem of Boundary County

BONNERS FERRY — “I’ve driven by a hundred times but never stopped,” is heard almost daily during the summer at Mirror Lake Golf Course.

When they do stop, golfers are amazed at the beauty, condition and challenge of the course.

“The response is overwhelmingly positive,” said Ralph Lotspeich, PGA Head Golf Professional and golf course manager. “We try to make it fun.”

Tucked away at the south end of the Kootenai Valley, the golf course is a true gem that had a tumultuous start. The idea for a golf course started in 1959 but construction didn’t begin until 1973, when funding could be secured.

Ongoing projects have resulted in the course reaching regulation length at just over 6,000 yards.

“It is not a typical nine hole course,” said Lotspeich. “It is more difficult than what most people think and in a lot better condition than what most people expect.”

Lotspeich, his wife Julie Williams, and six other employees work hard all season to maintain the course’s high standards.

“It takes a lot of time to do it well,” said Williams. “It takes specialized knowledge on how to best mow and prevent disease.”

The greens are mowed four to five times a week and take nearly two hours each time. The fairways are mowed two to three times per week and take four to six hours each time. The rough takes an entire day to mow and is mowed at least once or twice a week.

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Then there is the trim mowing, weed-eating, spraying, fertilizing, raking sand traps, changing cups and mowing the driving range.

“I will work over 100 hours some weeks,” said Lotspeich. “There is way, way more than meets the eye.”

“It is about the customers,” said Williams. “You have to love the game to make it work.”

Except for the last two years, there has been a steady growth in the number of golfers playing at Mirror Lake Golf Course. Williams explained the number of local memberships stays steady and the fluctuation is with the tourists.

Last year, they experienced the most rain-out days they could remember. The weather the last two years has been terrible said Lotspeich.

“I think this year we will have a really good year,” said Lotspeich.

Opening earlier than normal, the golf course opened on March 16 this year. Typically the course opens the last weekend in March or the first weekend in April.

The course stays open through the last Sunday in October. During that time, between 13,000 and 16,000 rounds of golf are played by all ages.

On average, one to two golf balls are lost per game, which equates to approximately 30,000 golf balls lost each season.

That doesn’t take into consideration other golfers finding them and losing them again joked Lotspeich.

“It is a hard, hard game,” said Lotspeich. “[The golf course has] a lot of character and elevation changes to it.”

Wildlife can add an interesting twist. Lotspeich has instructed golfers to aim right of a tree to avoid hitting a bear that has been hanging out in the tree all day. Last summer, a duck nested and laid her eggs on the number eight tee box and a pack of coyotes kept digging up a green. A moose has even charged Lotspeich while he was mowing.

The golf course has seen numerous improvements in the last ten years since Lotspeich starting working there. The health of the greens has improved, the golf course has been returned to the original design, a new tee was built on five, cart paths have been added and the irrigation system has been improved.

As a PGA head golf professional, Lotspeich has been able to provide professional golf instruction and lessons, add a junior golf program and teach golf seminars.

“Golf is the game of a lifetime,” said Lotspeich. “A lot of kids on the high school golf team started on the junior team.”

Compared to other golf courses, it is very cheap to play here said Lotspeich. A season pass is $350, a nine-hole round of golf on weekdays is $16 and on weekends and holidays it is $18 and 18 holes is $23 and $25 respectively. Juniors play nine holes for $9 and 18 holes for $13.

“The golf course is a huge asset to the city and community,” said Lotspeich. “We are grateful to be involved in the course. It has been a great place for us.”

Mirror Lake Golf Course is located one mile south of Bonners Ferry on Hwy 95. For more information, call Mirror Lake Golf Course at 267-5314.