Gozzer Ranch's setting is impressive enough-looking out onto the 60-square-mile Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. More stunning is how the property's developers, Discovery Land Co., have kept the whole place rustic and in low profile. The 700-acre land plan includes a Tom Fazio-designed golf course that snuggles easily into the native contours. Long views of the lake and of the surrounding Coeur d'Alene Mountains are unimpeded, thanks to a relaxed residential envelope: only 266 homesites (each three-quarters to one acre) plus 90 cottages and lakeshore lodges.

At a base elevation of 2,500 feet above sea level, the golf ball travels a long way here. The par-72 course, ranging from 7,237 yards down to 5,100 yards, incorporates native prairie grasses in the roughs and dramatic long views-including infinity-edge looks behind greens into the Wild West. Every few holes, there's a welcome distraction-well-stocked food cabins, replete with premium cheeses, meat and liqueurs.

Gozzer Ranch sits across the lake from downtown Coeur d'Alene and is accessible via a ferry that runs every hour or so. Too bad the ferry also runs back to town. Here's a place you'd like to be stranded for a weekend or a summer.

For more information about Gozzer Ranch, call (208) 765-9034 or visit
www.gozzerranchclub.com.

Airport:

Coeur d'alene (coe)
www.cdaairport.com10 miles north of golf course
Runway: 7,400 ft
FBOs: Resort Aviation Jet Center, (208) 772-3731;
Southfield Aviation (208) 772-6404