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For US visitors
Birchbank is an 18-hole course on the Columbia River in Genelle, BC, about three hours north of Spokane via the Paterson crossing on US-395 and BC-22. This page covers what you need to know before you drive: crossings, documents, US drive times, and how Canadian rates work for US-dollar visitors.
Border crossings
Hours vary by season and crossing. Always check the CBSA border wait-times page the morning of your drive, especially on a summer weekend.
Paterson · Frontier
BC-22 ↔ US-395
Coming from Spokane, Kettle Falls, Colville. The shortest route to Birchbank.
About 30 minutes from the crossing to the first tee.
Waneta · Boundary
BC-22A ↔ WA Boundary Rd
Closest physical crossing to the course, useful as an alternate when Paterson backs up.
About 15 minutes from the crossing to the first tee.
Nelway · Metaline Falls
BC-6 ↔ WA-31
Coming from Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, or anywhere south through Metaline.
About 45 minutes from the crossing to the first tee.
Drive times
Summer, no-traffic estimates via Google Maps. Add 20 to 45 minutes for border processing on a busy weekend.
Spokane, WA
via Paterson
~3 hours
Colville, WA
via Paterson
~1.5 hours
Kettle Falls, WA
via Paterson
~1.5 hours
Sandpoint, ID
via Nelway
~3 hours
Coeur d'Alene, ID
via Nelway
~3.5 hours
Seattle, WA
via Sumas → Hwy 3
~8 hours
Currency
All Birchbank rates are listed in Canadian dollars. With the USD typically stronger than the CAD, our published CA$80 day rate converts to well under US$70 at most current rates.
The Pro Shop takes every major US card with no surcharge from us. Your card issuer may apply a foreign-transaction fee; most travel cards (Chase Sapphire, Capital One travel, AmEx Platinum) do not.
Check today's exchange rate at the Bank of Canada.
Across the line
You're in Canada now. Different units, different spelling, same game.
Yardages on our scorecard are still in yards (RCGA convention). Temperatures on the conditions page are Celsius. Tipping at the Bistro is the Canadian standard, 15 to 20 percent.
What to bring
Not exhaustive, just the questions first-time cross-border golfers usually ask. CBSA and CBP's own sites have the official, current word.
For the border
For the round
For re-entry
Official sources: CBSA (Canada entry), CBP (US re-entry), Trusted Traveler Programs (NEXUS).
Making it a trip? Hotels, after-the-round dinner, and the four Kootenay Golf Trail courses (Birchbank, Redstone, Castlegar, Champion Lakes) are all on /stay-and-play.
Three hours, passport on the dash