Mountain golf at 5,000 feet — Star's closest summer escape, two hours north into the pines
McCall sits in Idaho's high country at the southern edge of the Salmon River Mountains, 110 miles north of Star (about a 2-hour drive on Highway 55). It's a mountain resort town built around Payette Lake, originally a logging community, now a year-round playground for skiers, boaters, and golfers. For Treasure Valley golfers, it's the closest place to play real mountain golf without having to drive to Sun Valley or Coeur d'Alene.
The summer season is short — roughly mid-May through mid-October — but during those months the conditions are spectacular. Cool mornings (40–55°F), warm afternoons (70–80°F), almost no wind compared to the Treasure Valley, and pine-forest scenery with mountain backdrops on nearly every hole. The ball travels 8–10% farther at this elevation. Golf here feels different.
The downside: limited courses. McCall has three serious options and a couple of also-rans. But the three are good, the drive is beautiful, and a McCall weekend is one of the best summer escapes from Star.
Best: July–August. Reliable warm weather, all courses fully open, gorgeous mountain conditions.
Spring (May–June): Variable. Lower-elevation courses (Jug Mountain) open earlier than higher ones (McCall GC). Mornings can be 40°F. Afternoons mid-60s.
Fall (September–early October): Stunning fall colors, fewer crowds, cool temperatures. The locals' favorite season.
Winter: Closed. McCall transitions to skiing (Brundage Mountain). Don't even ask about winter tee times.
Pine-forested mountains at 5,000 feet elevation. Payette Lake sits at the center of town, with most courses tucked into the valleys around it. Trees, water hazards, elevation changes, and views — but not the dramatic alpine drama of Sun Valley. This is friendly mountain golf.
McCall is small (3,500 year-round residents, swelling to 20,000+ in summer). It's a tourist town that locals also love. Pace of play is relaxed. Tee sheets get busy in July and August weekends — book ahead. Otherwise, walk-up play is usually possible.
Downtown McCall has lakeside hotels (Shore Lodge is the iconic one), VRBOs and Airbnbs throughout the valley, and cabin rentals near the lake. McCall is small enough that nothing is more than 10 minutes from anything else.
| Your Situation | Best Course | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best mountain experience | Jug Mountain Ranch | Slope 138, $85–$130, dramatic mountain layout, the marquee round |
| Classic resort feel | McCall Golf Club | Slope 124, $65–$95, in town, walkable, beautiful |
| Budget round, casual | MeadowCreek Golf Resort | Slope 117, $45–$65, forgiving, old-school |
| Two rounds, one weekend | Jug Mountain (Saturday) + McCall GC (Sunday) | The combo. Best mountain + best resort in two days. |
| Bringing a non-golfer | McCall Golf Club | Walking-friendly, beautiful, paired with downtown access |
The marquee round in McCall. Dramatic mountain layout with serious teeth.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 13176 Farm to Market Rd, McCall, ID |
| Type | Public |
| Holes / Par | 18 / 72 |
| Slope | 138 |
| Yards (tips) | 7,108 |
| Green Fees | $85–$130 (peak summer) |
| Twilight | $65–$85 |
| Cart | Included |
| Phone | (208) 634-5072 |
The Experience: Built in 2002, Jug Mountain Ranch is the most ambitious golf course in central Idaho. The course winds through 1,400 acres of mountain meadows, pine forest, and creek valleys. Slope 138 from the tips is genuinely challenging — elevation changes, forced carries, water features, and tight tree-lined fairways punish poor shots. But the wide fairways from the forward tees give you a chance. Conditioning is excellent. The setting feels remote even though town is 10 minutes away. The 7th hole (signature par 3 over a meadow) and the 17th (downhill par 5 toward the mountains) are both worth the trip alone.
Worth knowing: The drive from town is short but the course is up a winding road through forest. Allow extra time. The clubhouse food is decent but unremarkable; eat in town instead.
Best For: The marquee round of your trip, mountain golf experience, when you want the best McCall has.
Classic in-town resort course. Three nine-hole loops, walkable, beautiful.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 925 Fairway Dr, McCall, ID |
| Type | Semi-Private (public play) |
| Holes / Par | 27 (three 9-hole loops) / 72 if 18 |
| Slope | 124 (Aspen + Birch) |
| Yards | 6,400 (18-hole combination) |
| Green Fees | $65–$95 |
| Walking | Allowed and encouraged |
| Phone | (208) 634-7200 |
The Experience: McCall Golf Club has been the heart of the local golf scene for decades. Three nine-hole loops (Aspen, Birch, and Cedar) play in different combinations depending on what's open and what you want. The course is tree-lined parkland golf with mountain views — gentler than Jug Mountain Ranch but still beautiful. Slope 124 is moderate. Walking is encouraged and the layouts are pedestrian-friendly. Conditioning is good. The course sits right in town near Payette Lake, which means you can finish a morning round and walk to lunch downtown.
Best For: Walking rounds, in-town convenience, classic resort golf, couples or casual rounds, anyone who values playing 18 (or 27!) over playing the most dramatic course.
The forgiving budget option. South of McCall toward New Meadows.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Meadow Creek Loop, New Meadows, ID (15 min west of McCall) |
| Type | Public |
| Holes / Par | 18 / 72 |
| Slope | 117 |
| Yards | 6,300 |
| Green Fees | $45–$65 |
| Phone | (208) 347-2555 |
The Experience: Built in the 1980s and showing its age, but in a charming way. MeadowCreek is forgiving, friendly, and significantly cheaper than the marquee courses. Slope 117 means recreational golfers can actually post good scores here. The setting is pretty — meadows and creeks with mountain backdrops — even if the course design isn't world-class. Good pace, friendly staff, locals' atmosphere. The drive from McCall (15 minutes west to New Meadows) is part of the experience.
Best For: Budget rounds, beginner-friendly play, when the marquee courses are booked, when you want to actually post a decent score.
Whitetail Club (McCall) — Private. Tom Weiskopf signature design. Considered one of the best courses in Idaho but very limited public access. If you know a member, take advantage. Otherwise wave at it as you drive past Jug Mountain Ranch.
Tamarack Resort Golf Club (Donnelly, 30 min south of McCall) — Tom Weiskopf design at the Tamarack ski resort. Has gone through ownership changes and operational hiccups over the years; check current public access status before driving down. When open, it's a top-tier mountain experience.
Council Mountain Golf Course (Council, 45 min south on Highway 95) — Small 9-hole course, slope 105, $25–$35. Worth knowing if you're driving Highway 95 between Star and McCall and want to break up the trip.
Friday afternoon: Drive Star to McCall (2 hours up Highway 55 — beautiful drive). Check in. Dinner downtown.
Saturday: Morning at Jug Mountain Ranch (the marquee). Lunch in town. Afternoon: walk along Payette Lake or rent a SUP/kayak.
Sunday: Morning at McCall Golf Club. Lunch. Drive home.
Total: 2 rounds in 2 days, perfect summer weekend escape.
Day 1: Drive up, late afternoon round at MeadowCreek (warm-up).
Day 2: Jug Mountain Ranch (the showcase).
Day 3: McCall Golf Club, then drive home.
3 rounds in 3 days, all McCall-area golf, around $200–$250 in green fees total.
If you're bringing the family for a McCall lake vacation, plan one round per day (morning), then meet the family at Payette Lake or downtown for the rest of the day. Course choices: Jug Mountain Day 1 (the marquee), McCall GC Day 3 (walkable, near downtown). Skip MeadowCreek unless you have time for a third round.
Brundage Mountain (just outside McCall) has world-class summer mountain biking. Many trips combine MTB and golf — bike Brundage in the morning, play golf in the afternoon. Jug Mountain Ranch is your best bet for an afternoon round because it has the latest tee times.
McCall is the closest place to play real mountain golf from Star. Two hours up Highway 55, three good courses, and a town built around lake-and-mountain summer recreation. Jug Mountain Ranch is your bucket-list round. McCall Golf Club is your walking, downtown round. MeadowCreek is your value option. Most Treasure Valley golfers should make this trip at least once a summer.
Book a cabin on Payette Lake, play 36 holes over two days, eat at Salmon River Brewery, swim in the lake. There aren't many summer weekends better than that.
Two hours from Star. World away in atmosphere.