b'OFF THE BEATEN PATHThe book on Galena RidgeI ve learned the lesson about not judging a book by its cover many times.Likewise, dont judge a golf course by the size of the pro shop. Welcome to Galena Ridge in Kellogg, Idaho. The clubhouse looks like an old miners shack left over from the silver mining days. The driving range consists of four mats aiming straight into uncut forest. So, you can be forgiven for being a little skeptical about the golf experience that awaits. But, from the first tee on, you are faced with one scenic thrill after another and a serious challenge for any golfer. Youll experience 400 feet of elevation change from the clubhouse to the top of the course.Its a nine-hole track, but if you play from different tees on your second loop youll get a whole new perspective. Both par 3s play two to three clubs downhill. It seems like the ball stays in the air forever; just hold your breath until it lands. The greens were perfect, the fairways lush and the traps well maintained.Galena Ridge is next to Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Some of the fairways would make great downhill runs. This property was a Superfund cleanup site, said Jeff Colburn, the resorts general manager. Major reforestation and remediation were needed to make the land productive after decades of mining on this hill. Until 1980, there were no trees on what is now a beautifully forested mountain.Galenas architect, John Thronson, has also had a hand in creating the Ridge Course at Eagle Crest and Running Y in Oregon, as well as the Prospector course at Suncadia in Washington. Colburn says there are plans on paper for another nine holes, but no starting date yet for construction.Bill Yeend26 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER| MAR 2024'