The 10 Best Golf Courses Near Boise (2026 Guide)

The best golf courses near Boise are Ridgecrest Golf Club in Nampa, BanBury Golf Club in Eagle and TimberStone Golf Course in Caldwell. For value close to downtown, the City of Boise runs Warm Springs and Quail Hollow, both about five miles or less from downtown.

The list at a glance

| # | Course | Location | Access | Distance | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Ridgecrest Golf Club | Nampa | Municipal | about 20 mi | Links-style golf at city rates | | 2 | BanBury Golf Club | Eagle | Public | about 10 mi | River-side golf with USGA history | | 3 | TimberStone Golf Course | Caldwell | Public | about 35 mi | Length and fast greens | | 4 | Quail Hollow Golf Course | Boise | Municipal | about 5 mi | Foothills golf near downtown | | 5 | Warm Springs Golf Course | Boise | Municipal | about 5 mi | A quick round close to downtown | | 6 | Shadow Valley Golf Course | Boise | Public | about 15 mi | Scenery and elevation change | | 7 | Boise Ranch Golf Course | Boise | Public | about 10 mi | Water and a monster par 5 | | 8 | Eagle Hills Golf Course | Eagle | Public | about 10 mi | A walkable classic | | 9 | River Birch Golf Course | Star | Public | about 20 mi | A long par-73 test | | 10 | Falcon Crest (The Valor Club) | Kuna | Public tee times | about 15 mi | 36 holes in one stop |

How we chose

Every course in the top 10 takes public tee times. We ranked them on quality, published recognition, design pedigree and variety of price and style. We checked facts against course and city websites in October 2026. Private clubs are listed separately at the end.

1. Ridgecrest Golf Club

Location: Nampa, ID · Access: Municipal · Holes: 27 (championship 18 is par 72) · Designer: John Harbottle III (1996) · From downtown: about 20 miles

Ridgecrest is a links-style course laid over old rolling cornfields. The City of Nampa bought the land outright in 2023 to keep it in golf. Golfweek's 2024 ranking of Idaho's public-access courses placed it tied for second in the state.

Along with the championship 18 there is an extra nine, which makes it a good stop for mixed groups. It also hosted the Saint Alphonsus Nampa Open in June 2026.

Around the greens: As a links-style layout, Ridgecrest rewards the ground game; from just off the green, a 7- or 8-iron chip that lands early and runs is often the safest play.

2. BanBury Golf Club

Location: Eagle, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 71) · Designer: John Harbottle III (1999) · From downtown: about 10 miles

BanBury follows the South Channel of the Boise River, and lakes and creeks come into play on many holes. It hosted the 2005 U.S. Girls' Junior, and Golfweek ranked it fifth among Idaho's public-access courses in 2024.

At about 6,900 yards from the back tees it tests good players. Expect bentgrass greens and plenty of water. It suits visitors who want a championship-host course about 10 miles from downtown.

Around the greens: With water near many greens, short-siding yourself is costly; aim approaches at the wide side and chip to a planned landing spot instead of forcing a flop.

3. TimberStone Golf Course

Location: Caldwell, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: John Steidel (opened 2011) · From downtown: about 35 miles

TimberStone opened to the public in 2011 on more than 300 acres of former farmland. At 7,051 yards from the back tees, it is the longest course on this list.

Tee times open 14 days ahead online. One GolfPass reviewer warns that the greens carry plenty of undulation and can run faster than visitors expect. It suits players who want length and a serious putting test.

Around the greens: Quick, sloping bentgrass greens mean your landing spot matters more than usual; land chips a little shorter and let them release.

4. Quail Hollow Golf Course

Location: Boise, ID · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 70) · Designer: Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin (1982) · From downtown: about 5 miles

The City of Boise's foothills course opened in 1982 under the name Shamana. It measures only about 6,300 yards, but steady elevation change puts a premium on accuracy.

Views run across the Treasure Valley, and wildlife is common. The city notes a four-star Golf Digest rating.

Around the greens: Foothill slopes leave plenty of uphill and downhill chips, so adjust your landing spot for the slope (how to chip uphill and downhill).

5. Warm Springs Golf Course

Location: Boise, ID · Access: Municipal · Holes: 18 (par 72) · Designer: J.D. Evans (1971) · From downtown: about 5 miles

Warm Springs is the closest course on this list to downtown, set on the Boise River among mature trees. Ponds and foothill views fill out a classic city-park round.

Tee times are booked through the City of Boise's online system. The course also offers family pricing in the evenings, which makes it an easy first round for kids.

Around the greens: Mature trees shade many holes, so a low, running chip that stays under branches is a useful shot to have here.

6. Shadow Valley Golf Course

Location: Boise, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 · From downtown: about 15 miles

Shadow Valley sits off Highway 55 and doubles as an arboretum. It is one of four Audubon-certified courses in Idaho.

The front nine brings real elevation change. A men's association of more than 500 members tells you how popular it is with locals.

Around the greens: Elevation changes on the front nine create sidehill and downhill lies; on a downhill chip, land the ball closer to you than feels natural.

7. Boise Ranch Golf Course

Location: Boise, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 71) · From downtown: about 10 miles

Boise Ranch packs eight lakes and ponds into a 6,611-yard layout. The course also claims one of the longest par 5s in Idaho.

Its 2026 season passes are on sale, and online booking runs through the course website. It suits players who want a fair test with plenty of water.

Around the greens: The course describes its greens as undulating, so read the slope where your chip will land, not just the slope near the hole.

8. Eagle Hills Golf Course

Location: Eagle, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 · Opened: 1967 · From downtown: about 10 miles

Eagle Hills opened in 1967, with water features and the Boise foothills as a backdrop. Both nines are walkable, and GPS carts are available.

Indoor Trackman simulators run year-round, which makes it a useful winter stop too. It suits walkers and anyone after a relaxed, traditional round.

Around the greens: Use the winter simulators for full swings, but keep chipping on real grass; note how far your chips release here and use that as your baseline.

9. River Birch Golf Course

Location: Star, ID · Access: Public · Holes: 18 (par 73) · From downtown: about 20 miles

River Birch plays to par 73 and 6,980 yards, one of the longer setups in the valley. It runs a full 2026 schedule of men's and women's leagues and association events.

It suits golfers who want a long test in the west valley.

Around the greens: A long course means more missed long approaches; from there, a lower-lofted club that lands on the green and rolls is easier to control than a high pitch (what club to chip with).

10. Falcon Crest (The Valor Club)

Location: Kuna, ID · Access: Public tee times (club plans to go private) · Holes: 36 (championship 18 is par 72) · From downtown: about 15 miles

The 6,914-yard Falcon Crest Championship Course anchors a 36-hole facility. It also has the nine-hole Freedom course and the nine-hole Cadet par-3 course.

The Valor Club currently takes public tee times but says it will move to fully private as the community grows. Confirm public access when you book.

Around the greens: The Cadet par-3 nine, at 923 yards, is a ready-made place to sharpen wedge distances before a full round.

Private clubs worth knowing

• Hillcrest Country Club (Boise): A. Vernon Macan design that hosted the Korn Ferry Tour's Albertsons Boise Open every year from 1990 through 2025. Member invitation required.
• Crane Creek Country Club (Boise): Bob E. Baldock design that sat in Golf Digest's Idaho top five from 1977 to 1997. Member invitation required.
• The Club at SpurWing (Meridian): Myron Tucker design that stretches to 7,305 yards. Member invitation required.

Tips for playing golf near Boise

• Season: Some valley courses, such as BanBury, list year-round play when weather allows. Eagle Hills adds indoor simulators for winter.
• Booking: Book weekend mornings early. TimberStone opens tee times 14 days ahead, and the City of Boise books Warm Springs online.
• Walking: Eagle Hills is walkable on both nines. Ask about cart policy before you arrive elsewhere.
• Greens: BanBury and TimberStone both list bentgrass greens, and courses such as BanBury, Boise Ranch and Warm Springs bring lakes and ponds into play.
• Worth the drive: Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort in Donnelly (about 90 miles north, per the resort) and Jug Mountain Ranch in McCall (about 105 miles) both rank high in our best golf courses in Idaho list.
• New course routine: Use our 15-minute pre-round routine to check green speed and chipping turf before you tee off.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best public golf course near Boise?

Ridgecrest Golf Club in Nampa and BanBury Golf Club in Eagle are the top public picks. Both are John Harbottle III designs, and Golfweek's 2024 Idaho public-access ranking placed Ridgecrest tied for second and BanBury fifth in the state. Ridgecrest is city-owned, and BanBury hosted the 2005 U.S. Girls' Junior.

What is the best value golf course near Boise?

The City of Boise's two courses, Warm Springs and Quail Hollow, are the closest city-run options to downtown. Warm Springs sits on the Boise River, and Quail Hollow climbs into the foothills. Ridgecrest, owned by the City of Nampa, is the value pick if you want a state-ranked design.

Can the public play Hillcrest Country Club?

No: Hillcrest Country Club is a private club, and you need a member invitation to play. It is best known as the longtime host of the Korn Ferry Tour's Albertsons Boise Open, played there every year from 1990 through 2025. For a public alternative nearby, Quail Hollow and Warm Springs are both close to downtown.

When is golf season in Boise?

Boise's main season runs from spring through fall, and some valley courses, such as BanBury, list year-round play when weather allows. Mountain courses to the north, such as Osprey Meadows at Tamarack and Jug Mountain Ranch, have a shorter summer season, so check their opening dates before you plan a trip.

How do I handle unfamiliar green speeds on a new course?

Ask the pro shop how fast the greens are running; many staff know the latest Stimpmeter reading. Then hit a few chips and long putts on the practice green before your round. Our green speed guide explains how speed changes where each chip should land.

Find your landing zone on every green

From river-bottom parkland in Boise to links-style ground in Nampa and quick bentgrass in Caldwell, the greens on this list roll at very different speeds. Green speed changes where every chip should land, and it changes from course to course. ELZS (Essential Landing Zone Systems) turns three inputs, your distance to the hole, your club and the green speed, into the number of paces to land the ball so it rolls out to the hole. It was built by former teaching pro Chaz H. Smith and comes as an app for iOS and Android and as a waterproof pocket chartbook. Before your next round, ask the pro shop how fast the greens are running, then look up your landing zone and chip with a plan.

Download ELZS for iPhone · Get ELZS on Android · Learn how landing zones work