Idaho has more than 90 golf courses carved into some of the most dramatic terrain in the American West. From the Palouse grasslands near Coeur d’Alene to the high desert valleys outside Boise, the state delivers mountain golf, links golf, and everything in between. The fairways here wind through canyons, wetlands, volcanic rock, and old-growth forests, and the quality of play rivals far more famous golf destinations.
To rank the 10 best golf courses in Idaho, we partnered with TheGrint, a mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. TheGrint collects course reviews from millions of real golf rounds played by real golfers. Every course on this list earned its spot through verified player ratings across three dimensions: Overall Rating, Fun Rating, and Shape Rating.
This list focuses on public-access courses. Idaho also has several elite private clubs, including Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club, The Club at Black Rock, and the Idaho Club near Sandpoint. Those courses regularly appear on national “best of” lists but require membership or an invitation to play. If you can access the fairways at any of them, do it. For the rest of us, the 10 public courses below are outstanding.
Quick Comparison: Idaho’s Top 10 Golf Courses
| Rank | Course | Location | Par | Overall Rating | Green Fee Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circling Raven Golf Club | Worley | 72 | 97.9 | $85 – $155 |
| 2 | The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club | Coeur d’Alene | 71 | 95.1 | $140 – $290 |
| 3 | Timberstone Golf Course | Caldwell | 72 | 92.5 | $30 – $55 |
| 4 | The Links Golf Club | Post Falls | 72 | 90.5 | $30 – $50 |
| 5 | Falcon Crest Golf Club (Championship) | Kuna | 72 | 90.1 | $59 – $90 |
| 6 | Banbury Golf Club | Eagle | 71 | 89.1 | $35 – $60 |
| 7 | Coeur d’Alene Golf Club (Public) | Coeur d’Alene | 72 | 88.0 | $25 – $45 |
| 8 | Ridgecrest Golf Course (Championship) | Nampa | 72 | 87.8 | $25 – $45 |
| 9 | Redhawk Golf Club | Nampa | 71 | 87.2 | $30 – $50 |
| 10 | Quail Hollow Golf Club | Boise | 73 | 86.5 | $30 – $55 |
The 10 Best Golf Courses in Idaho
1. Circling Raven Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Worley, Idaho
- Designer: Gene Bates (2003)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,571 meters off the Tips / 5,583 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $85 – $155 (includes cart with GPS and practice facility)
Player Ratings: Overall: 97.9 | Fun: 98.2 | Shape: 97.6
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 353-meter par 4 8th plays downhill off the tee over natural grass to a sloping left-to-right fairway. Three bunkers guard the right side, and wetlands lurk behind the green. Shot placement is everything.
Circling Raven sprawls across 620 acres of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation, and every hole feels distinct. Golfweek Magazine has repeatedly voted it the #1 golf course in Idaho, and every major U.S. golf publication has placed it in a “Top 100” ranking. The layout meanders through wetlands, woodlands, and Palouse grasses, demanding forced carries off the tee over tall native vegetation on nearly every hole.
Twisty fairways, well-placed bunkers, and persistent wind add up to a course that rewards strategy over raw power. Expect to hit knock-down shots to keep the ball in play. The all-inclusive green fee covers a GPS-equipped cart and unlimited use of the 25-acre practice facility, which makes the price easy to justify. A 45-minute drive from Spokane International Airport makes this an accessible addition to any Pacific Northwest golf trip.
2. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Designer: Scott Miller (1991)
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,218 meters off the Tips / 5,406 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: $140 – $290 depending on season (includes forecaddie, cart, and practice facility)
Player Ratings: Overall: 95.1 | Fun: 95.9 | Shape: 94.4
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The world-famous 199-meter par 3 14th features the only floating green in golf. The putting surface sits on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and a boat called “The Putter” ferries golfers to and from the green. An underwater cable system moves the green to a new distance every day, so you never play the same hole twice.
This is Idaho’s bucket-list golf experience. Golf Digest once described it as “America’s Most Beautiful Resort Golf Course,” and the amenities back that claim up. A mahogany speed boat shuttles resort guests across the lake to the course. A professionally trained forecaddie accompanies every group. Heated luxury carts with coolers and GPS come standard. A massage therapist works the driving range. At $290 peak season, this is the most expensive round in Idaho, and most golfers who play it say the price is justified.
Beyond the floating green spectacle, the course itself is solid. Scott Miller designed it around four geographic features: the lakeshore, a forested ridge, rolling woodlands, and Fernan Creek. Several left-to-right doglegs with tree-lined fairways demand accuracy, and the multi-tiered greens punish poor approach shots. This is a resort course with real teeth.
3. Timberstone Golf Course
- Official Website
- Location: Caldwell, Idaho
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,341 meters off the Tips / 4,625 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $30 – $55
Player Ratings: Overall: 92.5 | Fun: 94.9 | Shape: 90.2
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 196-meter par 3 17th drops dramatically from tee to green, creating genuine uncertainty with club selection. Wind compounds the challenge, and a long, narrow green protected by bunkers punishes anything off-line.
Timberstone is a beautiful layout that tests all skill levels, and the six tee options mean every golfer can find the right distance to enjoy the round. The course features some genuinely intimidating holes with significant elevation changes, tight landing areas, and strategic bunkering. Bring your best game and attack the pins, because conservative play on this track can leave you grinding for pars all day.
At $30 to $55 for a round, Timberstone delivers exceptional value compared to the northern Idaho resort courses. It sits about 30 minutes west of downtown Boise, making it an easy day trip from the state capital.
4. The Links Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Post Falls, Idaho
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,787 meters off the Tips / 5,109 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $30 – $50
Player Ratings: Overall: 90.5 | Fun: 91.7 | Shape: 89.3
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole: No single signature hole stands out, but the open layout dares golfers to attack the par 5s for birdie opportunities. The wide fairways invite aggressive play, and the scoring chances are there for those who take them.
This is a true links-style course on relatively flat terrain, which makes it a rarity in mountainous Idaho. The wide-open layout looks forgiving from the tee, but when the wind picks up, The Links shows its teeth. Penal rough waits for anything that drifts offline, and the large contoured greens require a deft touch with the putter. Shot-making is rewarded here more than length.
Post Falls sits just minutes from Coeur d’Alene, so golfers on a northern Idaho trip can pair this round with Circling Raven or the Coeur d’Alene Resort for a varied multi-course itinerary.
5. Falcon Crest Golf Club (Championship)
- Official Website
- Location: Kuna, Idaho
- Designer: Hans Borbonus (2001)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,480 meters off the Tips / 4,994 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $59 – $90
Player Ratings: Overall: 90.1 | Fun: 94.2 | Shape: 86.1
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 438-meter par 4 18th keeps you focused right to the finish. Water runs down the entire left side and wraps in front of the green. Beauty and hazards combine to demand a precise mid-iron for the approach if you want a realistic chance at par.
Falcon Crest is a picturesque and challenging layout filled with waterfalls, train trestle bridges, and ponds. The Championship course has earned consistent recognition from GolfPass reviewers, who rate it among the best public courses in the state. The four tee options make the course accessible to average players while still testing low-handicap golfers from the tips.
Falcon Crest also operates the Freedom course on the same property, giving golfers the option of 36 holes in a single visit. Kuna sits about 20 minutes southwest of Boise.
6. Banbury Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Eagle, Idaho
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,281 meters off the Tips / 5,237 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $35 – $60
Player Ratings: Overall: 89.1 | Fun: 90.4 | Shape: 87.8
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 456-meter par 5 18th is a fitting closer. Water flanks the left side of the fairway, and you need to keep your second shot right if you are not attacking the green in two. Bunkers surround the putting surface, so even a layup demands accuracy on the approach.
Banbury is mainly flat but features built-up green complexes that demand precise approach shots. Water and out-of-bounds come into play on a majority of holes. Hitting a controlled fade off the tee and into the greens is the standard requirement to score well. Position off the tee dictates the correct angle of attack into the green, so course management matters more than distance here.
Eagle is one of Boise’s most popular suburbs, and Banbury gives local golfers a quality daily-fee option without the drive to Caldwell or Kuna.
7. Coeur d’Alene Golf Club (Public)
- Official Website
- Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Par: 72
- Length: 5,754 meters off the Tips / 5,040 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $25 – $45
Player Ratings: Overall: 88.0 | Fun: 89.8 | Shape: 86.2
3 tee options available.
Signature Holes: This course has two. The 141-meter par 3 2nd plays downhill to a tree-lined green complex protected by bunkers. The 137-meter par 3 6th is very short, but accuracy is the only way to avoid the bunkers guarding the green.
Do not confuse this course with the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The Coeur d’Alene Golf Club is the affordable public option in town, and it delivers a quality round at a fraction of the resort price. Tree-lined fairways demand accuracy off the tee. Leave the driver in the bag on several holes, because anything offline will cost you strokes.
This course is a smart choice for golfers on a northern Idaho trip who want to play three rounds without spending resort-level green fees on all of them. Pair it with Circling Raven and The Links for a well-rounded trip.
8. Ridgecrest Golf Course (Championship)
- Official Website
- Location: Nampa, Idaho
- Designer: John Harbottle (1996)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,238 meters off the Tips / 5,335 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $25 – $45
Player Ratings: Overall: 87.8 | Fun: 91.8 | Shape: 83.9
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 207-meter par 3 12th plays off a cliff to a green well below, with a large hazard on the right and four bunkers protecting the complex. It is one of the most exciting tee shots on any public course in the Boise metro area.
Ridgecrest is a course of total contrasts. The first 11 holes play with a links-type feel on open, rolling terrain. Then the character shifts dramatically, with water hazards and steep elevation changes dominating the closing stretch. The finishing holes will create plenty of post-round discussion and keep you coming back to figure them out.
9. Redhawk Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Nampa, Idaho
- Designer: Gene Bates (2009)
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,219 meters off the Tips / 5,227 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $30 – $50
Player Ratings: Overall: 87.2 | Fun: 91.5 | Shape: 83.0
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 460-meter par 5 5th plays to a steep left-to-right fairway that feeds the ball into position. Long hitters can attack the uphill approach for eagle, while the smart play is a layup to the difficult undulating green.
Redhawk overlooks Lake Lowell with the Owyhee Mountains as a backdrop. Gene Bates, the same architect behind Circling Raven, designed a layout where rolling, undulating fairways work with the natural terrain to guide the ball into scoring positions. The contours reward golfers who read the land and use it to their advantage.
Bring every shot in your bag. This course demands creativity and the ability to manufacture different ball flights to post a good number.
10. Quail Hollow Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Boise, Idaho
- Par: 73
- Length: 5,782 meters off the Tips / 5,235 meters off the Front
- Green Fees: Approximately $30 – $55
Player Ratings: Overall: 86.5 | Fun: 89.6 | Shape: 83.4
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole: The 204-meter par 3 17th can break a scorecard. A semi-island green has a small bailout area on the right, but anything short or left is wet. This is a hole where you commit fully to the shot or pay the price.
The closing three holes at Quail Hollow are as strong a finishing stretch as you will find on any public course in Idaho. Known as the “Green Mile,” this scenic trio demands target golf into difficult contoured greens. The hills and undulations throughout the course make Quail Hollow a fun, visually striking round that plays more difficult than the yardage suggests.
Other Idaho Golf Courses Worth Playing
Narrowing this list to 10 meant leaving out several courses that deserve attention. Here are three more public options that just missed the cut.
Falcon Crest Golf Club (Freedom Course)
- Official Website
- Location: Kuna, Idaho
Player Ratings: Overall: 85.6 | Fun: 89.4 | Shape: 81.7
Wide open with a few water hazards, the Freedom course plays long and rewards power off the tee. If you are a long hitter who likes to let the driver loose, this is your course.
Pinecrest Golf Course
- Official Website
- Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Player Ratings: Overall: 85.3 | Fun: 84.7 | Shape: 86.0
A 9-hole executive layout with hills and ponds that tests both experienced golfers and beginners. The historic lodge with its old-style charm adds character to the experience. A solid option if you are passing through eastern Idaho on I-15.
Prairie Falls Golf Club
- Official Website
- Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Player Ratings: Overall: 85.1 | Fun: 85.5 | Shape: 84.7
Mountains surround this layout, and running streams and waterfalls provide a scenic backdrop throughout the round. A fun course that all skill levels can enjoy, Prairie Falls gives northern Idaho golfers another quality public option near Coeur d’Alene.
Idaho’s Best Private and Resort Courses
The public courses above represent the best golf most travelers can access in Idaho. But the state also has a collection of elite private and resort courses that regularly appear on national rankings. If you have access through membership, a member invite, or a resort stay, these tracks are among the best in the Pacific Northwest.
Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club in Coeur d’Alene occupies an elevated, forested peninsula jutting into the eastern flank of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Tom Fazio designed the course, and Golf Digest ranks it as the #1 course in Idaho across all access types. The Club at Black Rock, also near Coeur d’Alene, is a Jim Engh creation known for bobsled-run fairways, dramatic rock formations, and wildly creative green complexes. Between Gozzer Ranch Golf and Black Rock, the northern Idaho panhandle holds two of the most celebrated private courses in the entire western United States.
Sun Valley Resort in central Idaho offers the Trail Creek Course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout routed through meandering streams where water comes into play on a majority of the front nine holes. Sun Valley also offers the White Clouds and Elkhorn courses, giving the resort three distinct options across hundreds of acres of mountain terrain. The resort amenities extend well beyond golf, with world-class skiing, dining, and outdoor recreation.
In eastern Idaho near the Grand Tetons, Tributary Golf Club (formerly Huntsman Springs) is a David McLay Kidd design built on an old cattle ranch in Driggs. Kidd reportedly moved more than four million cubic yards of soil to create a course filled with lakes, ponds, and interconnecting streams. Nearby, the Headwaters Club at Teton Springs offers 27 holes of golf designed by an eclectic team of Byron Nelson, Steve Jones, and architect Gary Stephenson. Also in the Teton Valley, The Club at Rock Creek features open front-nine terrain and a forested back nine, both beautifully routed across a site that rewards shotmaking.
Planning Your Idaho Golf Trip
Idaho golf season runs roughly from mid-April through mid-October, depending on elevation and weather. Northern Idaho courses near Coeur d’Alene tend to open in late April and close by mid-October. Southern Idaho courses around Boise may open a few weeks earlier and stay open a few weeks later.
Northern Idaho (Coeur d’Alene area): Three of the top 10 courses cluster here: Circling Raven, The Links, and Coeur d’Alene Golf Club. Add the Coeur d’Alene Resort for a premium bucket-list round. Fly into Spokane International Airport (about 40 minutes away) and build a 2 to 3 day trip around these courses.
Southern Idaho (Boise/Nampa area): Five courses in the top 10 sit within 30 minutes of downtown Boise: Timberstone, Falcon Crest, Banbury, Ridgecrest, and Redhawk. Quail Hollow is in Boise proper. Fly into Boise Airport and play three to four courses over a long weekend without a drive longer than half an hour.
Eastern Idaho: If you are visiting Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park, detour through the Teton Valley for Tributary Golf Club or the Headwaters Club at Teton Springs. Pinecrest Golf Course in Idaho Falls offers a quick 9-hole option along the I-15 corridor.
Final Thoughts
Idaho’s golf scene does not get the national attention it deserves. Circling Raven is a genuine top-100 public course by any measure, with a 97.9 player rating that puts it among the highest-rated public tracks in the GolfSpan database. The Coeur d’Alene Resort delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience around its famous floating green on Lake Coeur d’Alene. And courses like Timberstone, Falcon Crest, and Ridgecrest offer outstanding layouts at green fees well under $100.
Whether you are building a dedicated Idaho golf trip or adding a round to a broader Pacific Northwest vacation, these 10 courses will reward the effort. If you are fit enough, walk a few of the flatter layouts to experience the terrain up close. The scenery alone is worth the trip. The golf makes it unforgettable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best public golf course in Idaho?
Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley, Idaho holds the top spot with a 97.9 overall player rating from TheGrint. Golfweek Magazine, Golf Digest, and other major publications have also ranked it as the #1 public course in Idaho. The Gene Bates-designed layout spans 620 acres of Palouse grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.
How much does it cost to play golf in Idaho?
Green fees at Idaho’s top public courses range from about $25 at municipal courses like Coeur d’Alene Golf Club and Ridgecrest to $290 at peak season for The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Most highly rated courses in the Boise area charge between $30 and $90 per round, making Idaho one of the better values for quality public golf in the western United States.
What is the best time of year to play golf in Idaho?
The Idaho golf season generally runs from mid-April through mid-October. June through September offers the most reliable weather, with warm days and minimal rain across most of the state. July and August are peak season, which means higher green fees at resort courses but the best course conditions. Shoulder season months like May and September can deliver excellent golf at lower rates.
Are there any golf courses with floating greens in Idaho?
Yes. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club features the world’s only movable floating green on its par 3 14th hole. The green sits on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and an underwater cable system changes the distance daily. A boat called “The Putter” ferries golfers to and from the green.
What are the best golf courses near Boise, Idaho?
Five of Idaho’s top 10 rated courses sit within 30 minutes of downtown Boise: Timberstone Golf Course in Caldwell, Falcon Crest Golf Club in Kuna, Banbury Golf Club in Eagle, Ridgecrest Golf Course in Nampa, and Redhawk Golf Club in Nampa. Quail Hollow Golf Club in Boise is the closest option in the city itself.
What are the best golf courses near Coeur d’Alene?
The Coeur d’Alene area offers several top-rated courses. Circling Raven Golf Club (rated 97.9) is about 25 miles south in Worley. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club (rated 95.1) features the famous floating green. The Links Golf Club in nearby Post Falls (rated 90.5) provides an affordable links-style option. Coeur d’Alene Golf Club (rated 88.0) is the best budget-friendly choice in town.
How many golf courses are in Idaho?
Idaho has more than 90 golf courses spread across the state, ranging from championship resort layouts to 9-hole executive courses. The highest concentration of top-rated public courses splits between the Coeur d’Alene area in the north and the Boise metro area in the south.
Is Circling Raven Golf Club worth the green fee?
At roughly $85 to $155 per round (depending on season and day of the week), Circling Raven is a strong value for a nationally ranked course. The all-inclusive rate covers 18 holes, a GPS-equipped cart, and unlimited use of the 25-acre practice facility. Reviewers consistently rate the experience as comparable to courses charging significantly more.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
