An Overview of Golf in the Boise Area

By Chris Wood

The Boise Metro area is a golfer’s playground with 16 championship, 18-hole layouts within an hour’s drive of downtown enticing visitors who want to enjoy their favorite pastime.

The City of Boise operates two public courses, Quail Hollow and Warm Springs, that are just minutes from any hotel in the city. The neighboring city of Eagle has three excellent choices, and more great golf awaits in the suburbs of Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, and Star.

Here are some of my favorites:

Banbury Golf Club – Eagle (16 minutes from downtown Boise)

Overview: Banbury features water on most holes and has been host of several prestigious tournaments, including the 2005 USGA Girls Championship. Banbury consistently is rated among Idaho’s top 10 courses.

What makes it great? The par 5’s, all four of which are reachable in two but only for the golfer who is willing to challenge the hazards. The par-5 18^th is a classic risk/reward hole that adds spice to any tournament or match.

Desert Canyon Golf Course – Mountain Home (40 minutes from downtown Boise)

Overview: The drive is an easy one on Interstate 84 heading east. What you may spend on gas is returned with the most affordable golf in the area at $38 weekdays and $43 weekends, including cart.

What makes it great? Small, sloping greens combined with the prevailing wind will challenge your short game on nearly every hole.

Falcon Crest Golf Club – Kuna (22 minutes from downtown Boise)

Overview: Falcon Crest’s championship course consistently is ranked as one of the best in Idaho with its elevation changes and large, sloping greens. The facility is undergoing construction with new homes and soon will reopen its 9-hole Freedom nine and 9-hole Robin Hood executive nine.

What makes it great? The 18^th hole, perhaps the toughest finishing hole in the state. It’s a par 4 that requires a long carry over water to reach the green in two. There is an option to lay up left and try to make your par with a wedge and a putt.

Quail Hollow Golf Course – Boise (11 minutes from downtown Boise)

Overview: Quail Hollow features steep terrain in the Boise foothills and offers stunning views of downtown and the Treasure Valley.

What makes it great? The 5^th and 18^th holes share a green that would make the Old Course in St. Andrews jealous of its acreage. If no one is around, you can putt from one hole to the other, a large curve that measures well over 100 yards!

Ridgecrest Golf Club – Nampa (20 minutes from downtown)

Overview: Ridgecrest is a links-style layout with punishing fescue rough in places, much like its Scottish descendants. The course offers panoramic views of the entire Treasure Valley.

What makes it great? Well, one could argue that the 17^th hole isn’t exactly “great,” but it certainly is memorable. The approach shot plays steeply uphill to a shallow green that slopes severely back to front.

For more information on each of these golf facilities, scan the QR code to access the All Golf Idaho mobile app, which is 100% free to all users.