River Birch Golf Course

This course seems to get better and better each year. Well maintained and a better play than when it was wide open and trees were little.

River Birch seems to stay busy even thru Covid.

This course was new when I first played it. It is now maturing nicely with well placed trees growing and making this a more challenging track. Wish they had deals on GolfNow!

I like that a course names River Birch does it's best to get as many of it's trees into play as possible. There are several "shoots" to tee off through or to navigate on the fairway; keeping people wanting to try to take a little too much club honest.

There's not a ton of water on this (fairly uncommon) par 73 track, but much of it is situated so that it can be found by even moderately errant shots. Right out of the gate, the first hole gets you on your toes with not one but two ponds. It's a relatively short (486) par 5 with a corner that can be cut to reduce that a bit; however water awaits any attempt to do so that comes up short. I used a 7 iron off the tee and found myself in perfect position for my layup second shot. From there is was a short (129) wedge shot into the green.

It's not all target golf and exercises in club selection though, the number one handicap hole is a full grown par four. A dog leg right with three ponds stacked in the elbow, my 231 yard drive that cleared only the first one left me with 220 on my second shot. If you avoid the water altogether your driver will wind up in the rough (and you'll be a good 250 out). If you attack the second pond with anything less than 230-235 of carry you will be wet. Though flat as a pancake, this is just a good tough hole to play.

At 6515 from the blues RiverBirch is far from a monster (remember, it is also a par 73, so some of that distance is in the extra par 5). However, it does keep the challenge up by mixing in a few hole which, while not super long, are quite curvy and require either a very long and accurate tee shot, or conservative play. I tried both approaches with mixed results.

The staff in the clubhouse and the folks out on the course were all very nice and just the right amount of engaging. Pace of play was great, we came in in about 3:45 and never had to wait on any of the groups in front of us. Similarly, while we never really lost the group behind us, they were never waiting for us either.

Overall it was a great round of golf (although the Boise summer heat is in full swing and I was sweating profusely by the third hole (and we tee'd up at 7:08), so be prepared for that if you play in July or August.

I was in a chatty group and didn't get many pics today, but will try to get back out there and snap a few more soon.

Played 9 holes with cart. We loved the WIDE Fairways. Greens Fast. Fairways very Lush. Plenty of Rain lately. When the Heat comes ???. Pro Shop staff very friendly.