[DFarron]

May be moving to Boise, what are the best courses in the metro area?

[Daryl David]

The city of Boise is not overflowing with great courses. Best private is Hillcrest. (A.V. Macan designed 9 holes). Best public is Quail Hollow. That said, Boise is an outstanding place to live and there is plenty of really interesting golf within short driving trips.

[DFarron]

Are those the only good ones ?

[Daryl David]

I guess it depends on what you mean by “good”.  These two are the best. It drops off pretty quick from there. I know some guys that like Banbury which is 20 minutes outside of Boise. I have not played it, so can’t vouch.

[Craig Sweet]

Too hot in summer....

[Kalen Braley]

Silvies Ranch and Wine Valley are in the region, but are both 3.5+ hours away.  I'm not aware of anything else in the area up to par with those two...

Twin Falls at 2 hours away has a couple of courses right on the river, which I heard are good.  And Shoshone Falls is certainly worth a visit.

[JLahrman]

Military courses are always a mixed bag...how is the course at Mountain Home AFB?

[Matt_Cohn]

I haven't been there in 25 years, but Crane Creek is at least decent, right?

[Buck Wolter]

Seems like there might be an opportunity --lots of California money moving to Boise, much to the natives chagrin from what I understand.

[Daryl David]

I haven't been there in 25 years, but Crane Creek is at least decent, right?

Yes, decent is a good description.

[DFarron]

What club/course would be good to join if I was looking for a decent walking course and some guys to compete with?

[Daryl David]

Hopefully someone with more recent knowledge will weigh in, but I would say Hillcrest would come closest to filling that bill. Not cartball and plenty of games.

[Lyman Gallup]

I lived in Boise for 32 years and served 6 years as the Executive Director of the Idaho Golf Association.  Hillcrest is probably the best private course.  They have hosted a Korn-Ferry Tour event since the inception of the Hogan Tour about 30 years ago.  Crane Creek CC and SpurWing CC also deserve mention.  Crane Creek used to host a day of the pro-am for the Albertsons Boise Open (the event at Hillcrest).  Quail Hollow, in my opinion, is far from the best public course.  I would recommend Banbury first with Ridgecrest and Falcon Crest worthy of mention.  My count is there are four private or semi-private courses and perhaps 10 public courses in the metro area.

[Lyman Gallup]

Hillcrest is definitely walkable, can’t say much about the size of their “player” group.  Crane Creek is in the foothills and more of a hike. it was recently renovated by David Druzisky and, I think, considerably improved.  SpurWing, in my opinion, is a quite bland design but probably more walkable than Crane Creek. 


If you are interested, I could give you a good player contact name at each of these 3 private courses.  When I say good player I am talking low single digit handicap.

[Lyman Gallup]

Military courses are always a mixed bag...how is the course at Mountain Home AFB?

MHAFB is perhaps best described as wind-swept.  Lots of sunny, windy days.  When I was there last, perhaps 15 years ago, it was suffering some for maintenance. 

[Lyman Gallup]

Of the public courses both Banbury and Ridgecrest are John Harbottle III designs.  He also had his fingers in an incremental plan underway at Hillcrest CC before his much too early demise.  Gene Bates, who did Circling Raven in north Idaho and Salish Cliffs in western Washington, did a course now called Redhawk, a publis courxse, in SW Nampa—perhaps 45 minutes west of downtown Boise.  I haven’t been there in 10+ years but it was fun to play.

[Brad Tufts]

I played Falcon Crest one year after flying into town and looking for a place nearby to play the same day...it was decent if I remember correctly, if not world-beating.

I remember it clearly because I made two eagles (one from 80y, one putting) in a row during my round!

My only other nearby Idaho courses played are Tamarack (2-2.5h north, a good ski town course), and Blue Lakes in Twin Falls, which I really liked.

[DFarron]

Hillcrest is definitely walkable, can’t say much about the size of their “player” group.  Crane Creek is in the foothills and more of a hike. it was recently renovated by David Druzisky and, I think, considerably improved.  SpurWing, in my opinion, is a quite bland design but probably more walkable than Crane Creek. 


If you are interested, I could give you a good player contact name at each of these 3 private courses.  When I say good player I am talking low single digit handicap.

Thanks when we get closer to
moving I will pm you. Crane Creek I think will be out as we are looking to live in Eagle/Star but Spur Wing and Hillcrest are possibilities

[DFarron]

Of the public courses both Banbury and Ridgecrest are John Harbottle III designs.  He also had his fingers in an incremental plan underway at Hillcrest CC before his much too early demise.  Gene Bates, who did Circling Raven in north Idaho and Salish Cliffs in western Washington, did a course now called Redhawk, a publis courxse, in SW Nampa—perhaps 45 minutes west of downtown Boise.  I haven’t been there in 10+ years but it was fun to play.

Just played Redhawk for the third time, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I also like River Birch and Ridgecrest. Was pretty disappointed with Spur Wing

[Blake Conant]

What about Plantation CC, which I understand was at one point a Chandler Egan?

[DFarron]

May try it, looks over watered but has an old school charm to it. Hard to get to from where I live.

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