Have you ever had the itch to hit the links to work on your golf game, but couldn’t because the weather wouldn’t allow you to? Well, fret no more with the opening of The Golf Club, a new Post Falls business offering an indoor simulated golf experience. 

“I started the business because I wanted to get more people interested in golf and allow them a year-round experience at a good price point to improve their game,” owner Blake Wienker said. “Our average membership is about $179 a month. You can golf 24/7 with remote access up to two hours every single day. So, if you really maximize it, you're golfing 60 hours every month.” 

Wienker said he doesn’t view his business as a competitor to local area golf courses. 

“We see ourselves as somewhat of a feeder program to get more people interested in the game and comfortable enough to get out on the course and not worry about their pace of play holding people up,” he said.  

The Golf Club has four individual bays, each with its own golf simulator. 

“Three of the bays are 10 1/2 feet tall, 15 feet deep, and 16 feet wide. The other bay has the same dimensions but is only 14 feet wide,” Wienker said. “The long walls block golfers from being seen by someone in the next bay. We think that's important because it allows people to learn at their own pace in a comfortable environment.” 

Wienker acknowledges that playing simulated golf is different than actually being out on the course because you’re hitting off a mat, striking the ball clean and not taking a divot. But what the simulator can do that golfers won’t experience out on the links is videotape your shot and give you instant feedback on your swing mechanics, ball striking and putting. 

“I can't tell you how many rounds I've played on a real course, spent my entire 18 holes that I just paid $90 for trying to chase what I'm doing wrong, but I have no clue,” he said. “I make minor adjustments that aren't long-term. But using a simulator is a great tool for fixing things — showing me what I am doing wrong.” 

An added bonus, Wienker said, is that you don’t lose any golf balls playing simulated golf, which can be costly. 

Golfers can also choose to play on one of the 2,300 courses recorded on the simulator. 

“You can play at whatever level that you want — beginner to pro,” Wienker said. “You can adjust the settings to make the greens slower and the fairways softer or harder if you'd like to.” 

Wienker said he’s working to get The Coeur d'Alene Resort course added to the simulator's playlist. 

People wanting to improve their game using The Golf Club’s simulator systems must do so through its membership program. 

“We meet every prospective member in person when they're ready to sign up and offer free previews, so they understand the system before they commit to a monthly, recurring payment,” Wienker said. “After becoming a member, you can create an account on our website that allows you to book a tee time and receive instant verification.” 

The verification includes a link that members must activate 10 minutes before their tee time to unlock the door to The Golf Club facility. Members can access the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

“We will be running in-house tournaments where everybody can compete against each other. Golfers will be able to play a round and have their handicap so that it's fair to everybody,” Wienker said. “Our aim through all of this is to promote our local courses. We want people out there golfing.” 

Visit www.thegolfclubpnw.com or call 208-208-7808 for more information. 

    The Golf Club logo
  

    Blake Wienker, owner of The Golf Club in Post Falls.
  

Now the TidBits 

New and Upcoming

• Atlas Aligned Chiropractic, 958 S. Lochsa St., Post Falls, is open for business. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Bare Root Skin Essential & Esthetics opened its new location at 14777 Highway 53 in Rathdrum. 

• Remedy Massage at Midtown, a boutique, calming space designed for deep therapeutic relief and total relaxation, has opened in Coeur d’Alene at 1022 N. Fourth St., Suite 104. 

• Alpine Web Design LLC, a new, locally owned home-based custom web design company in the Cd'A area, is open for business. It specializes in fully customized, hand-coded websites with a focus on clean design and performance.  

• NextGym, a new fitness studio at 2120 Northwest Blvd., Suite C in Coeur d’Alene, is now open. The gym offers one-on-one personal training along with advanced recovery and performance technologies, including ARX adaptive resistance, Vasper, Hugo Pro PEMF, Power Plate, red light therapy and complimentary Seca BodyScan assessments for members. 

• Grain & Gather Mercantile, a new boutique at 6288 N. Government Way, Dalton Gardens, offers furniture, home decor, apparel, apothecary and more. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p,m. 

• River & Rye will be opening in May at 424 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene. The menu will include "various flavors from Spain, France and Italy, along with some PNW flair," and craft cocktails. 

• Jitterz Espresso is coming to Athol, with crews breaking ground earlier this week at the corner of East Howard and Athol Crossing Road, near Dollar Tree and Grease Monkey/Monkey Shine Car Wash. 

• A second Jersey Mike’s is listed as “under development” at 201 W. Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, while a Chipotle is in the planning stage for 167 W. Neider Ave. Both will join the new Raising Cane’s as Lake City Marketplace continues to grow.  

Ongoing Projects 

• Coeur Dance Arts is a new dance studio under development at 4131 Early Dawn Ave. Suite 105B, Post Falls. Classes should begin in May; check coeurdancearts.com. 

• A state-of-the-art pickleball facility called The Flying Pickle is coming to The Pointe at Post Falls at 140 N. Beck Road. Opening is anticipated by mid-2026. 

• El Jefe's Grill in Coeur d'Alene is expanding with a new venture in Post Falls, called Jefe's Tacos and Tequila. The opening date is undetermined, but the restaurant is in the former Bullet Bar and Grill space. 

• American Universal Storage is planned for Spirit Lake along Highway 41, across from the Jiffi Stop. 

• Spill the Tea and Benzo Box is opening a combined brick and mortar location at the southwest corner of Greensferry Road and Seltice Way in Post Falls. 

• Ross Point Gas Station, a fuel station and convenience store, is planned for 310 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls. 

• A new commercial building is planned for the Riverstone development at 1570 W. Tilford Lane and will bring at least one new dining option to the area. The 7,500-square-foot mixed-use building's targeted finish date is this summer. 

• Super 1 Foods will anchor Prairie Crossing, a major shopping and mixed-use center under development at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue. 

• A new location for Syringa Dental and Implants is under construction at 7533 W. Prairie Ave. Their current location at 1850 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls, remains fully operational.  

• A five-story, 173-room Hilton Dual Brand Hotel is planned for a 2.71-acre parcel of land off Lee Court and Appleway Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. The project's start and completion dates haven't been determined. 

• A new facility for One Place Church is under construction at Prairie Avenue and Huetter Road.  

• Crunch Fitness is taking over the former Big Lots space at 101 E. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene. 

• A new location for The Man Shop, a regional chain of family-owned barber shops, is under construction at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue. 

• A NomNom location is under construction at 5231 W. Riverbend Ave., Post Falls.  

• An Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) branch location is scheduled to open later this year across from Super 1 Foods along Highway 53 in Rathdrum. 

• The 33-unit, mixed-use "Nonna" building across from Post Falls City Hall on Spokane Street is anticipated to be completed by October of 2026.  

• Construction is also underway on Rooted Social House at 310 N. Spokane St. The project is described as "an elevated space offering food, coffee, tea and entertainment in a social house setting." A completion date for Rooted has not been announced. 

• An AutoZone auto parts shop is under construction at U.S. 95 and Dakota Avenue in Hayden, next to Dirty Birdy Car Wash. 

• Spokane-based Golden Rule Brake is under construction at 3627 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene. 

• The Habit Burger & Grill is taking the place of the former Pizza Hut at 212 W. Appleway Ave. The chain, known for its "Charburgers," is eyeing an opening sometime in late spring or early summer 2026. This location will be the first for North Idaho.

• • •

Have a tip on happenings in the local business world? Contact Bob at [email protected].