SHADOW VALLEY GOLF COURSE

15711 Idaho 55, Boise, 939-6699

www.shadowvalley.com

The golf course category is usuallytightly packed, but there’s little doubt who’s going to win. Shadow Valley took the honor for the fourth time in five years — holding off the newer, bigger layouts at BanBury and Falcon Crest with its old-school, tree-lined course and an emphasis on customer service.

Ben Stadler built the public course to be a “working man’s country club,” opening the first nine holes in 1973. The second nine were added in 1983. It wasn’t much in the early days, but the course has matured into one of the best-maintained facilities in the area. The greens on the front nine have some wicked slopes, and the back nine features a snake-like par-5 No. 13 that can make or break a round.

The signature hole is the short par-4 No. 2 — which requires nothing more than a short- to mid-range iron and a wedge — and yet it produces double-bogeys with ease.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Falcon Crest Golf Club, 11102 S. Cloverdale Road, Kuna, 362-8897, www.falconcrestgolf.com

• BanBury Golf Club, 2626 S. Marypost Place, Eagle, 939-3600, www.banburygolf.com

• Warm Springs Golf Club, 2495 Warm Springs Ave., Boise, 343-5661, wsgc.cityofboise.org

• Hillcrest Country Club, 4610 Hillcrest Drive, Boise, 343-1769, www.hillcrest.cc