Golf in Caldwell

As a PGA-certified pro, Jeff Thomsen's distinguished golf career began decades ago, when the 16-year-old Thomsen swung his way to the Idaho State Amateur championship, becoming the youngest player ever to earn that rarefied distinction. His early success would pave the cart path to a long career that included 55 PGA Tour events, participation in four major championships, multiple tournament victories, and once saving a course-side community from a feral golf cart. Today, Jeff showers pupils with golf wisdom culled from both his 35-year competitive career and a certification from the Nicklaus/Flick Golf School. The passionate pedagogue helps players sharpen their game, lengthen their drives, and fold scorecards into paper cranes with hands-on, comprehensive lessons conducted at multiple courses throughout the hills of Treasure Valley.

Indian Lakes Golf Course's nine-hole course showcases a 3,027-yard labyrinth framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Owyhee Mountains. The par 35 course sports two sets of ladies' tees and two sets of men's tees to create a distinct front- and back-nine experience for players looking to schmooze their boss into letting them borrow the company caddy over an 18-hole round.

A staff of PGA pros presides over the grounds, which encompass a grass-tee driving range for lessons and practice sessions. Players can seek post-round refuge in the outdoor pool or within the cozy confines of the onsite restaurant, which offers a full-service bar, patio seating, and a menu of grill fare and dinner specials that go well after a mid-round snack of bunker sand.