Tamarack Resort: Osprey Meadows now back open

When Tamarack Resort’s Osprey Meadows Golf Course opened for play in 2006, the reviews were so good that it seemed like it would always be one of the top courses in Idaho.  The Robert Trent Jones Jr. design was a gem, sitting about two hours north of Boise. It was named the best New Course in America in 2006 and ranked the top course in Idaho a few years later.

But something happened on the way to winning more awards.

The course shut down in 2015 as the resort ran into ongoing legal proceedings and ownership issues.  It seemed all was lost with Osprey Meadows. But fast forward to 2022. New owners came in during 2019 . They regained control of the course in 2021 and started renovations.

And now, Osprey Meadows has re-opened with a few tweaks here and there and is a course that just might be even. There are a couple of holes that have been re-routed and a new 19th hole called The Gambler that has been put into play, giving golfers a chance to break any ties.

Jones and his design team were called by the new owners to come back to the course and see what they could do. Lead designer Bruce Charlton saw there was plenty left to make it work. “It was amazing how well preserved everything was,” said Charlton. “It was not like starting from scratch.”

Osprey Meadows is a place that has to be seen to be believed. The holes are carved out of wetlands and tall trees. It can play as long as 7,265 yards to 4,435 yards. With five sets of tees to choose from golfers will find the right place to tee it..

What sets this courses apart from others is the way the holes are lined up. You don’t see a par-4 hole until the fifth tee box. There are three par-3s, three par-4s and three par-5s on the front side. It opens with a dramatic par-5 with a wide fairway and views of Cascade Lake in the backdrop with bunkers dotting the fairway and around the green.

The golf course adds even more flavor to a resort that has a challenging ski hill, zip lines, mountain biking, hiking, axe throwing, a village with shops and restaurants and a nearby lake that featuring boating and fishing. There is plenty to like, including a variety of lodging available on site.

See www.tamarackidaho.com for more.