Championship at Ridgecrest Golf Course

Love the view, and how the course was maintained. We had a blast everywhere but the pro shop. The more mature staff seemed to be annoyed of us even being in the clubhouse paying to play or asking any questions. Would recommend to anyone to ever play a fun well maintained course with hopes the younger more friendly staff would greet them.

My dad and I played the executive 9 on Friday. We needed a course we could play quickly and still had a few holes to take out our drivers. The value and course fit what we needed:cheap, 9 holes walking in under 2 hours, mostly irons but a few chances to hit drivers.

I thought this would be the perfect course to use while visiting Nampa, but maybe playing the main course for 9 holes is a better; however, the pricing sheet doesn't indicate that is an option, The fairways and greens were well kept but narrow. Hazards were marked with red flags, and on two holes I was aiming there instead of the greens flag! There are no cart paths, and pulling a load of heavy clubs up and down hills was difficult, especially in the rough between holes. It would be better to just carry a few clubs in a backpack bag.

While Boise has a host of nice course there are not a lot you can play with a rating of 73+ and slope of 135, even from the back. Ridgecrest give you just that.

At nearly 7000 yards, there is plenty of length on this course. Large waste areas throughout the course are a mixed hazard; you can get a lot of roll on them extending your drive, but you will be hitting off rocky sand on your second shot, so if you don't pick it clean you might be doing the whole thing over again on your third.

There is also a decent amount of water on the course, including in play ponds on three of the par 3's (one with water left, one right, and one you must carry). Even if you don't play the back tees, the (very) elevated first shot on the 236 yard par 3 12th hole is not to be missed. I placed a 6 iron pin high, just to the left of the green (the pond on the right hand side of the green might, or might not, have been on my mind as I hit).

The finishing hole is a run winding par 5 that might be reachable for a big hitter, it is well under than 500 yards if you *don't* cut a bit off the corner. Having said that, there is a nice bunker complex in front of the green. Laying up right in front of the bunkers leaves you only about 90 to the center of the green and a very good chance to finish your round with par or better.

Ridgecrest has always been in great shape every time I have played out there (it's a bit of a commute from my house, so I don't play it as often as I'd like).
Pace of play is seldom and issue either in my experience (although the group in front of me yesterday spent entirely too much time on the putting surface).

The service in the pro-shop and clubhouse in general is always good as well. Grounds crews and players assistants at this course are also uncommonly helpful (I was even offered a ride up the rather steep 17th fairway, which I passed on) and friendly.

The other sets of tees are easier and set at angles that make the holes more approachable, so the course can really be played by a golfer of any skill level (on the par 5 7th, for example, the back tees were about 70 yards back of the next set of tees yesterday). Ridgecrest is a bit of a gem that probably doesn't get the attention it deserves in the valley because of it's Nampa location. Try it out, I think you'll like it!

Nice course for the average golfer (me). Course is in excellent condition. Greens are very well maintained. Not a lot of difficulty but don't get greedy, especially on the shorter holes.