There’s no doubt that David McLay Kidd has become one of the hottest names in golf course design over the last couple of decades.  He burst onto the scene when he was selected to design Bandon Dunes, the original design at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort that put this golf mecca on the map. 

Since that time, he has put together an incredible portfolio and most recently his new Scarecrow design at Gamble Sands was just selected as the Best New Course of 2025 by Golf Digest, and his upcoming new design at Streamsong (the name has not yet been released) is already creating a massive buzz in the golf community and we are eager to see the finished product there.

McLay Kidd says “At this point of my life, I don’t know how many courses I’ll build in the rest of my career.  I’m only looking for what I call unicorns.”   Well, my friends, it looks like he has found his next mythical creature as he and the team at KemperSports just announced River Ranch Golf Resort, a new destination set atop the bluffs of the Snake River near Pasco, Washington.

River Ranch Golf Resort brings together golf, land and hospitality in a setting shaped by ancient floods, a historic river corridor and decades of careful stewardship. The course draws directly from the dramatic Snake River landscape, prevailing winds and natural topography to create a strategic and compelling golf experience that feels inseparable from the land itself.

“I’ve been so fortunate to get to create courses on spectacular land throughout my career…from Bandon Dunes to the latest addition at Streamsong. The older I get, the choosier I become. With probably more courses behind me than ahead, I look even harder for those unique sites and opportunities. When I first set foot on the site for River Ranch, I knew I’d found another unicorn!” said David McLay Kidd. “Set high on a bluff overlooking the last reaches of the Snake River before it joins the Columbia, this site has breathtaking views, great contour as well as sand on which to plant my favorite grass, fescue. That fescue will give the firm, fast bounce and roll that makes golf the game we Scots intended.”

River Ranch Golf Resort is the vision of a locally rooted ownership group.  These individuals grew up on the Snake River boating, exploring and developing a deep connection to the land. Through a shared passion for golf, architecture and place, their paths converged to bring River Ranch Golf Resort to life.

The resort will welcome traveling golfers and overnight guests, featuring guest cottages, an integrated real estate offering and a world-class clubhouse overlooking the Snake River. The course is expected to open to the public in August 2027, with members receiving preview access prior to public opening.

Additional details will be released as development progresses, and we’ll be sure to keep you abreast of these changes as time goes on. River Ranch Golf Resort will be managed by KemperSports, who are widely known for their prowess in managing top 100 courses, clubs and resorts.  If a course is managed by Kemper, you know you’re going to have a special day.