Golf Recommendations in Boise, ID area and northeastern OR ?

[Garland Bayley]

Matt,
NE Oregon is like that Dwight Yokam song - it's a Thousand Miles from Nowhere.

Wallowa County, Oregon has only one traffic light.  There aren't many people living up there, and it's quite challenging to get to.  I lived in metro-Portland from '85-'93, and only got up there a couple of times.

Bend is a LONG way from, say, Enterprise, OR. 

Honestly, I don't see a golf market up there with the short golf season and the remoteness.

Dan,

I think you are out of date with respect to the booming of Enterprise, OR. If Rock Creek Cattle Company can be done outside Deer Lodge, MT, then almost any place along I-84 east of Pendleton in Oregon qualifies. Even Enterprise which is well off the freeway qualifies IMO.

[Dan Herrmann]

Garland - that would be cool, but who would the customers be?  Methinks the era of multiple homes is coming to an end (at least for a decade or two).

I also wonder about soil quality up there.  The scenery is grand, for sure, but can you grow grass?

[Garland Bayley]

...
I also wonder about soil quality up there.  The scenery is grand, for sure, but can you grow grass?

The soil in my estimation would be way better than RCCC. I grew up playing golf in areas like RCCC, and when I played in eastern Oregon at Buffalo Peak, I was amazed at the grass growing naturally off course.

[Garland Bayley]

Garland - that would be cool, but who would the customers be?  Methinks the era of multiple homes is coming to an end (at least for a decade or two).
...

Come to think of it, I believe an 18 holer opened in Enterprise a couple of years ago. Apparently the community itself can support a course. I haven't been out there recently, but my son goes out there every year to hunt.

[Craig Van Egmond]

I was in Enterprise last May and it was still only Alpine Meadows the local 9 hole course.

My great grandparents homesteaded up Joseph creek and if its all the same, I hope the area stays the way it is.

[Scott_Burroughs]

I'll echo some sentiments below, that Jug Mountain Ranch is the choice in the McCall area, over Tamarack and Whitetail, and it's the most affordable.  The newer 9 holes at JMR (to make it a full 18) are the highlight.

In the Boise area, Ridgecrest is fun, especially when the wind blows, though Banbury is tougher (housing and water).  For a change of pace over popular Hillcrest, try Crane Creek (mentioned above), an interesting design (re-done quite well by GCA's David Druzisky about 5 years ago) for it's location up and down creek canyons just above downtown Boise.

Some Jug Mountain Ranch:









Hey, these pics don't have my usual date stamp on them.  Somewhere, Redanman is smiling.....

[Sean Leary]

Scott,

Did you like Tamarack at all? Maybe it isn't as bad as I thought. I was just really disappointed.

Crane Creek is fun, I agree.

[Michael Dugger]

For those who have played it -- how good is the layout at Wildhorse Casino? The closing hole looks quite strong, to name just one aspect from their Website. Is the talk really worth a peak.

I appreciate the info on the new WSU course in Pullman.

It's shite.

Why don't you go play Gozzer Ranch??

[Sean Leary]

Mike,

Gozzer is in Coeur d' Alene.....

I do hear great things about it, however..

[Scott_Burroughs]

Scott,

Did you like Tamarack at all? Maybe it isn't as bad as I thought. I was just really disappointed.

Disappointed is a good term for Tamarack.  There are some good holes there, for sure, but not nearly enough.  Supposedly they've 'fixed' #18 (or at least improved it), which was the real clunker.   Funny thing is that  Tamarack won Best New Upscale Public a few years ago (over Bandon Trails, which I haven't played yet) in GD.  Those views must really enhance those Shot Values more that I thought!

[David Druzisky]

Yes, I am an architect in a virtual golf wasteland chock full of opportunity here in Boise!  Nothing of architectural significance if that is what will make you stop to play.  A lot of inexpensive golf though so it is nice for a majority of the golfing public.

I would agree that Jug Mountain designed by Don Knott up just short of McCall is your best bet.  It has a couple awkward transitions between holes but good tee shots and holes throughout.  I like it.  The course now plays as intended out of the new clubhouse up on the hill.

Two courses that should have opened this year have gone bust.  Hunters Point in Nampa designed by Gene Bates was meant to go private but ran out of steam at the 11th hour.  Bentgrass fairways and all.  Ouch.  Unfortunate.  Most consider BanBurry here in Eagle as the best daily fee in the Boise metro area.

If you want to see one of of the most incredible pieces of property for golf, stop by Blue Lakes CC in Twin Falls down in the Snake Canyon - just off I-84.

DbD

[Matt_Ward]

Thanks to one and all -- I'll be heading to Bend with my cruise control on since the golf options are what you all have described.

[Michael Dugger]

Thanks to one and all -- I'll be heading to Bend with my cruise control on since the golf options are what you all have described.

It really is a wasteland.  My buddy was out in that neck of the woods and I sent him to Buffalo Peak or whatever it's called.  He said it is a pretty neat course, but nothing so amazing you'd regret not stopping.  And it's not like it's right on the beaten path.