tamarack resort

Tamarack Resort CEO Jean-Pierre Boespflug and Chairman Alfredo Miguel envisioned an amenity-rich resort destination.

Not just any amenities mind you.

"The best," said Boespflug

Top of the bell curve or not at all has been the operating principle for these dynamic men who, along with a deep and talented team led by Director of Golf Tom Altmann, are painstakingly building a masterpiece in the Payette River Mountains of Idaho.

The word � and critical acclaim � is getting around.

The latest objective endorsement for Tamarack Resort comes from Men's Journal , which named Osprey Meadows the "Best New Golf Course" in its annual "The Best Issue" (December 2007), which is currently on newsstands.

Men's Journal �the national adventure, travel and leisure lifestyle magazine � stated this about Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort.

You can play golf at your dull-as-divot local 18, or you can play it the way God intended: surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery and followed by any adventure sport you can possibly think up. Splayed across 400 acres wedged among Tamarack's great new ski mountain, wakeboard-friendly Lake Cascade, and a wildlife preserve, the course teems with elk, bald eagles, and the namesake ospreys. Oh, and the golf's great too: The course is pleasantly eccentric, with extra par 5's and par 3's, plus a 4,800-foot elevation that makes you want to unload on every shot. The highlights include a maddening 608-yard split fairway fourth and an intimidating 246-yard par 3 17th that somehow plays short. And for after the 18th, there are more than 30 miles of mountain bike trails, hiking, fishing, rafting, six ziplines, and always another round (from $75; tamarackidaho.com).

"We are gratified, of course, by this honor," said Miguel. "But honestly we would have been disappointed with anything less. From Day One we told Tom and his team to build the best in the country and they have delivered."

The Men's Journal accolade comes nearly one year after Osprey Meadows' first "Best New Course" honor by Golf Digest. GOLF Magazine and ZAGAT Survey have also singled Osprey Meadows out for distinction.

Osprey Meadows lies in a sweeping meadow between the forest of the steep-rising Tamarack Mountain and shimmering Lake Cascade. The course borders a bird sanctuary and is home to a wide array of wildlife including osprey, bald eagles, and sandhill cranes.

While showcasing panoramic views, the course is spread over 400-acres of varied terrain featuring rolling meadows, creek crossings and forested holes. The par-72 course utilizes multiple tees at each hole to provide a variety of lengths � from 7,319 for experienced players to 5,003 for more casual players.

Osprey Meadows is at an elevation of 4,800 feet―ideal for carrying the ball and providing a longer mountain golf season, yet eliminating the need for acclimation.