Sand Creek Golf Course

About Sand Creek Golf Course

Sand Creek is the City of Idaho Falls' second course, built because Pinecrest couldn't handle the city's golfers on its own. The council hired William P. Bell and Son in 1970 to design it on the big sand dunes in Bonneville County. That turned out to be too expensive, so superintendent Chuck Deming re-routed it off the dunes. Federal matching money came through in 1972, the National Guard's 116th Engineering Battalion built bridges and did the grading, and the final bill was $721,880.47. It was dedicated on June 27, 1980.

From the back it's a par 72 of 6,804 yards, with 6,416, 5,730 and 4,861 yard sets, and the closing hole is a par 5 that stretches to 609. In 1975 the USGA Green Section's western director pointed to the rolling dunes and the water when he called it one of the potentially great courses in the West. The city wants 18 holes played in four hours, with no lingering at the turn.

Next to the big course is a six-hole short course built for beginners: $5 a round, no tee times, and irons only for anyone who hits driver over 150 yards. There's a driving range and a clubhouse café.

It's one of 3 courses in Idaho Falls on Yoink, and the closest alternative is Pinecrest Golf Course, about 8 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.

Booking a tee time at Sand Creek Golf Course

Idaho Falls takes tee times four days out, starting at a time posted at the clubhouse that's usually 7 a.m. Book online, call the golf shop at (208) 612-8115 or walk in, but times go fast and online gives you the best shot. No-shows get your online booking suspended for a week, and a second one shuts it off for the year. Season passes for 2026 are priced separately for city residents (inside the Idaho Falls property tax district, with a City Resident Card) and non-residents.

How to get a tee time at Sand Creek Golf Course