When golfers talk about going to Idaho for a golf trip, most of their buddies will immediately start thinking about the northern end of the state. You’ve got places like Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint that have been recognized nationally for their golf and lodging options. Boise, and it’s surrounding areas, are beginning to draw more players with a vibrant nightlife and an excellent collection of golf courses.
The Boise-Nampa area, which includes five counties, is known as the Treasure Valley. At the center of the area is downtown Boise, an area that’s undergone an impressive revitalization over the last ten years and is quickly becoming a place that more people want to live. Inside the downtown area is an impressive group of hotels and restaurants, all centered around a pedestrian zone that makes it easy to get around.
Boise is great because it’s extremely easy to get to and you can play golf there pretty much year round. Sure, the area averages around 19 inches of snow per year, but it doesn’t typically stick around long and you hit the links throughout the winter.
LODGING
As with any large metropolitan area, Boise has a wide range of places to stay. The aforementioned downtown is a great place to start, whether you’re on a trip with the boys or on a getaway with your significant other.
The Grove Hotel, one of the city’s most prestigious hotels, is a phenomenal place to stay. With a variety of rooms to choose from, as well as workout facilities and a couple of the best bars and restaurants in town, it’s a hotel that will work for everyone. The rooms are elegantly apportioned and the staff is attentive to every need and detail during your stay.
As with anything, the Grove is all about location, location, location. It’s awesome to look out your hotel window and get a view of all the activity happening on the streets.
The Grove is within walking distance of restaurants and bars sure to suit any fancy you may have for food or drinks. Not to be missed is the city’s Basque Block, a tribute area to the large Basque population in Boise. There you’ll find distilleries and the popular Basque Market where you can sample cuisine that you just won’t find anywhere else.
Breweries have become a downtown staple for lovers of both beers and ciders; and nearly all of the watering holes have added some form of outside seating. One of the most packed – Barbarian Brewing – had dozens of taps with beers of all styles..
GOLF
With 20 golf courses to play, Treasure Valley is truly special. Golfers of all abilities and tastes will have no trouble finding a course that fits their game and their wallet. Nearly all of these courses present views of the surrounding farmlands, the mountains, or the downtown buildings rising into the sky. Many that are set up in the hills allow players to see for miles in all directions.
Falcon Crest Golf
Located in Kuna, just south of downtown, is the massive facility known as Falcon Crest. It’s the kind of golf course that everyone dreams of with three courses to choose from, ample practice facilities, and nothing but farmland around it. Once you’re at Falcon Crest, the only thing to remind you of the daily grind is the view of downtown Boise in the distance.
The three courses at Falcon Crest are distinct and designed for players of different skill levels. The Robin Hood Course is an executive par 3 and 4 course with beginners and juniors in mind, but the holes are interesting and can challenge better players. The prices are a little lower for this one, making it affordable for the entire family to get out and play.
The Freedom Course is also a nine hole loop but is more of a championship course. It measures over 3,900 yards from the tips but can play as short as 2,700 from the forward tees. Freedom combines generous fairways with brutal rough, bunkers, and water to make for a challenging nine holes.
Finally, the Championship Course is a full 18 holes track playing anywhere from 5,400 to 7,000 yards. It doesn’t take long to see why this one is a favorite of golfers in Treasure Valley as it meanders around, up, over, and down a series of hills that offer incredible views of the valley and surrounding mountains. The course makes excellent use of the natural terrain and blends it seamlessly with rocky outcroppings, strategically placed bunkers, and plenty of water. The best part of the Hans Borbonus-designed course is the variety of shots players must hit to score well; no two holes are the same.
Falcon Crest is not only a great golf facility, it’s also a pillar in the local community. The course hosts a variety of leagues and junior golf programs, fundraising events, and is one of the home courses used by the Boise State University men’s and women’s golf teams.
Banbury Golf
Just east of downtown, in Eagle, is Banbury Golf Club, one of the area’s most popular and highly rated clubs. Another wonderful golf course, Banbury’s home-lined fairways and tight fairways are very different from what golfers find at other courses in the area.
Banbury, designed by John Harbottle III, follows the south channel of the Boise River and perfectly blends the waterway and natural habitat into a true test of golf. Yes, there are homes along several of the fairways, but the course itself requires so much attention on each shot that it’s easy to forget they’re there.
The course offers a variety of holes requiring players to hit just about every club in their bag. The consistent course conditions, however, are what really set Banbury apart from other courses in the area. Despite a lot of public play, Banbury manages to maintain lush fairways and some of the best greens you’ll ever play. They’re big, they’re fast, and they roll true thanks to an aggressive sanding and rolling program. Locals rave about them.
Off the golf course, in addition to a driving range and short game practice area, Banbury features a large clubhouse with well-stocked pro shop and a restaurant with plenty of covered, outdoor seating. If you need a bite before or after your round, don’t miss the totchos.
Banbury also hosts home matches for the Boise State University golf teams.
GETTING THERE
Boise is a surprisingly easy place to get to. Boise Airport features nonstop service from all over the country. If you’re already on the West Coast, Boise is an easy drive from most major markets: 8.5 hours from Sacramento, 7.5 hours from Seattle, 7 hours from Portland, and just 5 hours from Salt Lake City.
THE BEST SHOT: Banbury Hole #9
The par four 9th hole at Banbury really sums up what awaits players over the course of an 18 hole round. Ranging in length from 341- to 402-yards, the hole features one of the most narrow fairways on the course and is an excellent end to the first half of the round. Water guards the entire left side of the hole with the driving range running down the right side. Once you get the ball in the fairway, your approach to the small green is one of the most daunting shots you’ll face
all day.