"Just keep it in the green and you'll be fine," is what some locals told me before playing. (Silver) Sage advice, it is. The course is challenging but not punishing.

A generous Tee selections lets you play from around 4500 yards on the short end to 7000 yards from the tips. I played the white tees at around 5500 yards and had an awesome time. It's great to find a course that can be beginner-friendly and still be a challenge for those dudes that play from the tips. 

If you normally play at lower altitudes, you'll appreciate the extra yardage that comes with playing at 3000 feet above sea level. Just take care to not overfly too many greens.

The course is nicely paced. Hole 13, for example, is a relatively straightforward drive and chip birdie opportunity. Then you see Hole 15, a long Par 5. You've got desert running on one side, strategically placed bunkers waiting to trap your ball. Then, when you get to the dance floor, you've got rapid greens to deal with. I was happy to mark down a double and move on.

The high desert environment is home to various wildlife. Keep an eye out for coyotes.

One thing I really liked about this facility is how the pro shop seamlessly melds with the grill. Hackers Bistro is a very popular place to eat for the locals, and I can see why. The food is great and our enlisted Airmen can use their ESM credits. You can do a grab and go, or plan your lunch around a long drive contest on the simulator.

I was torn between an all-day breakfast burrito or the Bogey Burger, and well, with a burger so close to my nickname, I just had to go with that. It was the best burger I've had in a long time.

A Sense of Community
There's a feeling of community here. In the pro shop you see squadron merchandise. There's a plethora of events on their calendar, many of those being more community driven than strictly golf.

I got the chance to talk with the golf course manager Stephen Vedder. "We host everything from Wing events to friendly scrambles to meetings," he said, "We hold a beginner-friendly coed nightime golf scramble three times a year that always sells out. If you've not experenced night golf in the desert, with the course all lit up with glow sticks, you really should." 

The Idaho Experience
Idaho is known for outdoor adventure. There's never a shortage of experiences to have and things to do any time of the year. The base Fam Camp offers activities, as does Outdoor Recreation. 

Planning Your Visit
Boise Idaho is about 45 minutes away. If you go in the winter, Sun Valley is about 90 minutes away with possibly the best skiing in the country. Hiking, rafting, alpine coasters are all nearby. You're not going to be bored here.

Facility Facts

• Holes 18

• Type Military

• Par 72

• Length 6959 yards

• Slope 128

• Rating 72.0

•  Architect Bob E. Baldock (1953) Bob Lohmann (2012) Tripp Davis