Golf Course Review by: Bill Satterfield
The Takeaway: Grade B+
Quick Facts
Designer: Robert Trent Jones II in 2005
Cost:
Phone Number: (208) 325-4653
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Osprey Meadows at Tamarack's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 311 Village Drive, Donnelly, Idaho 83615 – UNITED STATES
Photos: See additional photos of Osprey Meadows at Tamarack
What to Expect: Osprey Meadows has a tumultuous history going through financial hardships with multiple owners, but the layout that RTJ Jr. put on this landscape has always been incredibly engaging, visually stimulating, and boasting tons of variety. With views of Lake Cascade at times and the privacy of towering trees at others, the outdoor experience at Osprey Meadows is enjoyable with a unique routing that features five par 3s, seven par 4s, and six par 5s; which delivers a ton of variety. The risk/reward par fives are fantastic for both stroke and match play with many ways to play them to score. The back nine is the stronger of the two sides with the stretch of 13-17 being particularly good. Some frustration will inevitably occur with lost golf balls that sail into the native areas; and higher handicappers may struggle to get around the course well. The conditioning is outstanding throughout the course with the greens rolling pure and being receptive to approach shots. That being said, hitting the ball high and far is a great benefit here given the number of carries required to score well at one of Idaho's premier public courses.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Diamond | 73 | 7447 | 74.6 | 142 |
| Black Diamond | 73 | 6721 | 71.9 | 136 |
| Blue Square | 73 | 5956 | 67.6 | 129 |
| Green Circle (Women) | 73 | 5107 | 68.9 | 129 |
| Bunny Rabbit | 73 | 3321 | N/A | N/A |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 7th Hole – 562 Yard Par 5 – Picking out the signature hole at some courses is easy; the floating green at Coeur d'Alene Resort, the mind-blowing 16th at Cypress Point, and the much televised 18th at Pebble Beach all come to mind. At other courses it isn't near as apparent. In the end though a signature hole should epitomize the course's feel, style, and name/logo. With that in mind, the 7th hole edges out the stiff competition at the Osprey Meadows course at Tamarack Resort. For those that don't know, Tamarack gets its name from the prominent tamarack trees (a member of the pine tree family) found throughout the property. On the par five 7th a large pine tree sits in the middle of the fairway with slightly more playable room right of the trunk than left. From the tips the landing area is blind and the best play is a fade played right at the tamarack. From there the player enjoys an uphill hole that finishes at a green protected by a pair of bunkers and boasts panoramic views of Lake Cascade. With a semi-blind tee shot, a tamarack tree in the middle of the fairway, panoramic views of Lake Cascade, and isolation from the rest of the property give the 9th hole at Tamarack the qualities it needs to be deemed the signature hole at this stunning course.
Best Par 3: 6th Hole – 204 Yards – Osprey Meadows best par three was in the original routing as the third hole, but the 2024 renovation to the course saw it get the boot and converted the 19th hole; a gambler's offering. As such, the 6th hole takes over as the finest one-shotter to pick from with the tee shot playing into an amphitheater of trees before diving deep into the forest. Named Lumberjack for the number of towering pines surrounding the green, don't let that distract you from carrying the native grass that fronts the green and will result in a lost ball if not properly judged. A trio of bunkers are more likely to come in play short of the green, so if you haven't checked the altitude and makes adjustments for your iron distances, now would be the time.
Best Par 4: 13th Hole – 450 Yards – Great par fours do two things. First, they reward you for being able to shape your tee shot and secondly they require a precise approach shot to avoid the damage lurking around the green; Tamarack's 13th hole does just that. With an aiming bunker straight away, the golfer needs to shape his tee shot right-to-left in order to thread the fairway bunkers and catch the downward-sloping fairway for maximum distance. Next, you'll be faced with a forced carry approach shot over a wetlands arroyo to a relatively shallow green with bunkers protecting short and long. Not only does the 13th reward a shaped tee shot and require a precise tee shot, but the views of Lake Cascade and mountains in the distance doesn't hurt the hole either.
Best Par 5: 17th Hole – 546 Yards – I find myself yearning to go back to 2005 when the original 4th and 18th holes, both par fives, were part of the course and delivered unique offerings with plenty of options and challenges to contend with. Alas, they are gone, and of the current six par fives to pick from I find myself drawn mostly to the 17th. The previous hole plays as a par 4 or 5 depending on the day, and as a four, the green is brutal and narrow. But the 17th is an intriguing option that plays downhill with views of Lake Cascade creating the background. The hole is reachable in two and is a great chance to score a birdie before tackling the very difficult closing hole.
Birdie Time: 14th Hole – 377 Yard Par 4 – While the opening downhill par five will yield it's fair share of birdies, Osprey Meadows' short 14th will render more short birdie putts than any other hole on the course. Depending on which tee box you are on and what the wind speed/direction is at the time, this can be a drivable par four. With ten bunkers protecting the inside portion of the dogleg and the line on which you'd have to take to reach the green off the tee, wisdom says to take a fairway wood or long iron off the tee to the receptive fairway before pulling out a wedge to attack this green with. The approach is downhill which assists the golfer in being able to stick it, or the opportunity exists to run the ball down the hill and nestle it up close to the hole. Whether you're going to drive the green or just play it safe, now's the time to take a stroke back from the course.
Bogey Beware: 12th Hole – 445 Yard Par 4 – As brutal as the 496 yard uphill par four 18th hole is, how can you pass on a hole named "The Beast" as the most likely bogey on your round? "The Beast" is Tamarack's 12th hole where you will find the most intimidating tee shot of the day as you face a severe uphill climb with trees lining both sides of the fairway and a bunker resting on the inside corner of the dogleg. Your approach shot is to a long, narrow green with a bunker lining the left side and a steep hill on that right side that will kick approach shots out into the forest. Like any challenging hole, "The Beast" will gobble up any mediocre shot and make saving par extremely difficult.
