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BANBURY
Golf Course
PAR 5 544 YARDS
Eagle, ID
208.939.3600
www.banburygolf.com
Built in the watery wilderness of the south channel of the Boise River, BanBury Golf
Course is the paramount creation of the late John Harbottle III. Water comes into play
on all 18 holes, and it was Harbottle's challenge to make the water as strategic as it
was beautiful. He forged a track that is annually voted among Idaho's best; a track
designed to look more difficult than it is while still maintaining its stirring challenges.
The stretch of holes starting at the eighth and ending at the 14th is known by locals
as Eagle's Revenge. Perhaps pivotal is the 544-yard 12th, a risk/reward hole for very
few and a darn-hard, three-shot par 5 for the rest.
To say water comes into play is an understatement. A creek crosses the fairway twice,
once in front of the tee and again about 290 yards from the back tees and 250 from
the mortal tees. A few big-hitters can attempt to drive the second creek, a play that
requires a high draw over some trees. For the rest there is a 240-yard layup shot,
setting up a second shot that must be short of bunkers to the right side of the fairway
about 100 yards from a green that slopes from back-left to front-right.
Following Eagle's Revenge are a few birdie holes, including the go-for-it par-5 18th,
where in 2005 Morgan Pressel, the 17-year-old who lost to an improbable chip-in at
the US Open one month prior, saw her dreams of winning the US Junior Girls end
when she plunked one in the lake at the 18th.
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Photograph courtesy of BanBury Golf Course
