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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Golfing in Boise offers familiar benefits to home

I’ve spent some time in Boise.

I watched future Olympian Ian Waltz launch the discus so far that officials at the 1995 state track meet had to find a longer tape to measure his record throw.

I covered numerous Idaho-Boise State football showdowns, including the Vandals’ gutsy two-point conversion that clinched a Humanitarian Bowl berth in 1998.

On a recent trip I started counting the different hotels I’d stayed in, reaching 12 without hesitation and 20 in a matter of minutes.

The first two, by the way, are long gone and have been converted into other businesses.

What I hadn’t done in Boise is play much golf – until recently. The golf scene in Boise is similar to Spokane: Interesting, quality courses and affordable green fees. That’s a great combination.

Spring temperatures were in the 60s and 70s and the courses weren’t packed. At one venue, our foursome never waited to hit a shot.

I toured Quail Hollow, BanBury and Falcon Crest and the most expensive 18 holes was $36.50, including roughly $5 for a pull cart.

I played Quail Hollow about a dozen years ago and several holes started coming back to me when I stepped on the tee boxes.

I played BanBury about five years ago and I could recall most of the holes. It was my first time on Falcon Crest, which has one of the most talked-about holes in the Boise area – the unforgiving 18th. Grabbing a bite later at an airport eatery prior to catching a flight home, I overheard a Boise resident debating the pros and cons of the 445-yard par-4 hole.

In the following pages, you’ll find a recap of my 54-hole tour.