BOISE, Idaho — Construction is well underway on the reimagined golf course at The River Club, with work progressing across all 18 holes as architect Brian Curley and his team continue a sweeping transformation of the club’s historic layout along the Boise River.
The current routing effectively swaps the club’s original nines. Much of the former back nine, where the holes run through residential corridors and required fewer structural changes, has already been completed, with irrigation installation and bunker construction underway.
The most dramatic changes are taking shape on what will become the new back nine, where holes now play through wider parkland corridors framed by large specimen trees. While the sylvan setting remains familiar, the design bears little resemblance to the original holes.
Among the most striking transformations are along the Boise River frontage on the new 13th and 18th holes. Historically, that portion of the property had little relationship to the river, sitting well below a protective dike and densely forested with vegetation. After years of permitting to clear the area, the land has been raised roughly 10 feet on average, creating two green sites that back into each other while overlooking a gentle bend in the river and nearby rapids.
The result, Curley says, is a dramatic new focal point for the club that also underscores its identity.
“These greens now sit above the Boise River and take in the sound and movement of the water,” Curley said. “As the only course in the market with true river frontage, those holes really reinforce the identity of The River Club, a name the club recently adopted to reflect its renewed connection to the river. In a region where most courses occupy inland valley land, direct riverfront golf is a rarity.”
Throughout the project, the design team has taken care to preserve as many trees as possible, with several also transplanted to maintain the character of the property and create natural backdrops throughout the course.
Curley also drew inspiration from the club’s architectural lineage. The original course, opened in 1917, was laid out by H. Chandler Egan, the celebrated amateur champion and early golf architect who later collaborated with Alister MacKenzie on the 1929 renovation of Pebble Beach Golf Links.
“Chandler Egan was involved here, and he of course played a role in the history of Pebble Beach as well as Pacific Grove Golf Links,” Curley said. “I grew up in Pebble Beach myself, so it felt meaningful to acknowledge that connection while respecting the character of this course in its small greens and bunkers.”
The project carries another personal dimension for Curley. His son, Cooper, is working on the build as a shaper, marking the first time the two have collaborated on a golf course.
Most green complexes have now been shaped, and the majority of fairway bunkering has been completed using modern Z-Line bunker-liner technology. Grass installation is expected to begin in late April, with Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass blends planned for fairways and rough, and Pure Eclipse bentgrass for tees and greens.
The club is planning an official reopening for late spring 2027.
“I’m very proud of what we are accomplishing at The River Club,” Curley said. “This project transforms what had been a relatively modest layout into a much more dramatic and memorable golf experience for the membership.”
Founded in 1917 along the Boise River, the club traces its roots to the original Boise Country Club, which later became Plantation Country Club before recently adopting its current name. Today the club serves as a full-service private lifestyle destination in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, featuring golf alongside amenities that include racquet sports, swimming, fitness facilities and a newly renovated clubhouse.
For more information about Curley-Wagner’s global collection of current and past projects, visit curley-wagner.com, @curley_wagner (Instagram), @curley_wagner (X).
About Curley-Wagner Golf Design
Initially founded in 1997 as Schmidt-Curley Golf Design, Curley-Wagner Golf Design is a full-service, U.S.-based golf course and master-planning design firm with a global portfolio of critically acclaimed and award-winning courses spanning 25 countries. Its work includes 20 courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in China, along with projects throughout the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Sweden and beyond.
Brian Curley has been named “Architect of the Year” by GOLF Magazine, “Best Golf Course Architect” by Asian Golfer for seven consecutive years, and one of golf’s “Most Influential Architects” by Golf Inc. Courses designed by the firm have hosted events on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, the World Cup of Golf and The Skins Game, among other elite competitions.
Curley-Wagner specializes in creating challenging, beautiful and enjoyable courses, often on difficult sites. By balancing classic golf course architecture with evolving design and construction technology, the firm strives to create soul-stirring courses that elevate a golfer’s appreciation for the land and the game, while keeping cost-efficient construction, maintenance and operations top of mind.